The International Research Center for Sports and Gender Equality (SGE) was invited as the only Asian organization to attend the "High-level Meeting of the Global Observatory for Gender Equality" held at the UNESCO headquarters in Paris, France, co-hosted by the Global Observatory for Gender Equality and Sport (GO)^（※1）and the United Nations Education, Science, and Culture Organisation (UNESCO). The conference was held for two days on November 27th and 28th, aimed to discuss gender equality in sports and identify indicators for monitoring gender equality through sports. It brought together international organizations working on gender equality in sports and major supervisory bodies from each continent. SGE, as part of the Japan-ASEAN Actions on Sports: Gender Equality project, entrusted by the Sports Agency for the Post-Sport for Tomorrow Promotion Project in fiscal year 2023. As a key partner of the GO, SGE was expected to provide input on gender issues and initiatives for resolving such issues in sports in Southeast Asia and East Asia. It was an opportunity for SGE to showcase the projects it has undertaken internationally and the current situation in Japan within the context of the international discourse.

※1Global Observatory for Gender Equality and Sport (GO)
An organization dedicated to coordinating and accumulating research and expertise on gender equality and sports among diverse stakeholders. Supported by UNESCO as an outcome of discussions at the 4th UNESCO World Conference of Ministers Responsible for Sport (MINEPS IV) in 2003, GO was welcomed by 195 countries in 2017 within the framework of the Kazan Action Plan (KAP), which was approved at "MINEPS VI." At "MINEPS VII" in 2023, GO was approved as an advisor on the gender domain of UNESCO's Fit for Life initiative, collaborating with UNESCO to promote gender equality in sports.

※1Global Observatory for Gender Equality and Sport (GO)
An organization dedicated to coordinating and accumulating research and expertise on gender equality and sports among diverse stakeholders. Supported by UNESCO as an outcome of discussions at the 4th UNESCO World Conference of Ministers Responsible for Sport (MINEPS IV) in 2003, GO was welcomed by 195 countries in 2017 within the framework of the Kazan Action Plan (KAP), which was approved at "MINEPS VI." At "MINEPS VII" in 2023, GO was approved as an advisor on the gender domain of UNESCO's Fit for Life initiative, collaborating with UNESCO to promote gender equality in sports.

Part One: Significance of Establishing a Statistical Data Platform

Research Director of GO, Lombe Mwambwa, explained GO's future initiatives, including the establishment of a statistical data platform accessible to people worldwide, the development is starting in 2024 with defining the scope of content. GO aims to fill the gap between policy and practice in promoting gender equality in sports and collaborate with international sports organizations and UN agencies to advocate for policy action and promote collaboration.

It aims to expand its research network that currently has over 60 researchers representing 28 countries (Africa, Asia, Oceania, North America, South America, Europe), 40 universities, and 20 research centers.

The conference covered four main topics: GO's main monitoring areas, principles for creating indicators in data projects, the content of digital platforms, and GO's role and next steps in collaboration with relevant organizations.

It also deliberated on the principles for collecting data for the Data Project, aligning with the slogan of the SDGs, "No One Behind," and discussed the feasibility and appropriateness of collecting data based on these principles. Concerns were raised about prioritizing the five principles and the difficulty in collecting data classified by gender in a society recognizing the diversity of gender identities.

Principle 1: Aggregate all populations comprehensively.
Principle 2: Classify and make data easy to analyze (by age, gender, ethnicity, etc.).
Principle 3: Obtain data from all sources of information.
Principle 4: Fulfill accountability.
Principle 5: Carry out appropriate and effective data utilization.

After explaining the principles, there was an exchange of opinions from the perspective of whether collecting data based on these principles is appropriate and realistic. From the related organizations, opinions such as "Prioritizing the five principles is necessary," and "Collecting data categorized by gender is challenging in a society recognizing the diversity of gender identities" were expressed. Additionally, suggestions like "The collected data and information should reach not only policymakers, but also more people" were made. While collecting data is indeed challenging, the significance of statistical surveys was acknowledged, leading to strong encouragement and an agreement to continue discussions for further concretization in the future.

Part Two: Sharing Matrix for Measuring Progress in Gender Equality in International Sports

Furthermore, discussions focused on shared matrices to measure progress in gender equality in international sports. Specific indicators were discussed based on GO's draft, covering areas such as physical education, health and well-being, leadership and empowerment, policies, regulations, monitoring and evaluation, and governance. As a key member of the UNESCO Fit for Life Alliance, the Global Observatory is collaborating with UNESCO to contribute to the global shared indicators and activities of Fit for Life.

Learning and experience from ongoing data projects where shared by the "All In Plus Project" conducted by the Council of Europe. This project is a collaborative effort between the European Union (EU) and the Council of Europe, working with 20 countries to tackle gender issues in sports and promote awareness of gender inequality. Data collection and sharing are being done through an online platform to support these goals. The Commonwealth Secretariate shared learning from their data project that has indicators and data collection on sport and the SDGs including gender equality. Both shared some strategies and challenges they have encountered.

In conclusion, the conference emphasized the need to refine proposals for data platforms based on the discussions held and to ensure ongoing stakeholder engagement. SGE's participation as the only Asian organization, provided an opportunity to contribute Asian perspectives to the international discourse on gender issues in sports. It highlighted the importance of adopting tailored approaches to gender issues in Asia while considering global trends in gender equality.

Comments from participants:

- Professor Rieko Yamaguchi (SGE Special Guest Researcher/Professor, Josai University Faculty of Business Administration): Acknowledged the wide-ranging discussions on digital tools for data collection, content and approach to data collection, and expressed concerns about resource allocation and timelines. Recognized the vision of GO and its leadership and driving force. Will use the materials provided to assess the accumulation of data, information, and research on sports and gender equality in Japan.

- Sari Nakatogawa (SGE Junior Researcher): Highlighted the significance of understanding global trends in promoting gender equality and sharing the situation of gender in Asia. Emphasized the need for a nuanced approach in using globally unified indicators for data analysis. Recognized the importance of gender equality amongst the stakeholders in promoting gender equality globally and in Asia and pledged to contribute to promoting gender equality in Asia and beyond.