Following on from what has come to light in relation to the exclusion of the K-16 girls' national basketball team, which was based on gender discrimination, the Office of the Gender Equality Commissioner welcomes the fact that arrangements have finally been made to allow the team to participate in the European Development Championships (FIBA) to be held next summer.
This was made possible following systematic consultations between the Gender Equality Commissioner and the President of the Cyprus Basketball Federation (CFF), Mr Andreas Mouzouridis, following the Commissioner's meeting with the parents of the affected basketball players. This was followed by Mr. Mouzouridis' actions towards the relevant FIBA bodies, which led to the achievement of the initial goal, which was the participation of the K16 girls' team in the European Championship.
In addition to the above, in the context of a broader cooperation that the Office of the Gender Equality Commissioner wants to establish with the KOC, Mr Mouzourides assured that there will not be any gender exclusions of girls' or women's basketball teams in the future. At the same time, talks have already begun to establish a partnership to promote women's basketball and gender equality in basketball and ways to ensure that girls and boys are treated equally. To this end, the Office of the Gender Equality Commissioner and the KOK will proceed with the drafting of a Memorandum of Understanding for actions related to gender equality and equal participation of girls and boys.
At the same time, the Office of the Commissioner is actively involved in the process of amending the Cyprus Sports Organisation Law, which is being discussed before the Parliamentary Committee on Education, in order to enshrine the principle of gender equality in sport.
It is essential to instil a gender culture in sport and to implement gender budgeting in order to avoid discrimination.
(NG/SX)
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