Girls’ Rights Network: Reframing Sport for Teenage Girls - A Girl's Right to a Healthy, Happy & Active Life

Join Plan International UK and Women in Sport for the second in a series of girls’ rights focused events exploring and acting upon the challenges and barriers facing young women in the UK.

Every young person has the right to good health and wellbeing, but for many girls and young women sport plays a negative or non-existent role in their life.

Women in Sport’s research has found that as girls go through their teenage years, habits and attitudes are formed which have a critical impact on their future engagement in sport and exercise. Shockingly, studies have shown that teenage girls are significantly less active than teenage boys from a young age and the gap is even more marked when it comes to attitudes, with confidence and enjoyment lagging way behind. Barriers to exercise created at this age then inhibits participation throughout their life, with girls missing out on the lifelong benefits of sport.

Research conducted by Plan International UK has found that gender stereotypes are still limiting girls’ choices, from PE kits to school sport, and girls in the UK are routinely being harassed on the streets and in public spaces. This everyday harassment hinders their opportunities and their ability to move freely in their communities, including participating in affirming activities such as running or cycling.

Join us to learn more about the gendered nature of sport, and our collective role to ensure all girls have the right to good wellbeing, including:

• Presentations from Women in Sport and Plan International UK on their girl-focused research and other organisations working to challenge the barriers holding girls back
• Panel discussions exploring how we can reframe sport for teenage girls
• Opportunities to network and meet other girl-focused NGOs, entrepreneurs and activists, and join a girls' rights network to put girls' needs at the heart of solutions to tackle the world's biggest problems
• Young people are more than welcome to attend, but we suggest the event is suitable for those aged 14+. Youth under the age of 18 will need to be accompanied by an adult
• Refreshments will be provided

Tuesday 31st March, 6-8pm at the House of Sport, 190 Great Dover Street, London SE1 4YB