GIVE A RED CARD
TO DISCRIMINATION AND VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN AND GIRLS
AN INITIATIVE LAUNCHED BY THE AFRICAN RENAISSANCE AND DIASPORA NETWORK
The FIFA Women's World Cup 2019, hosted by France, has highlighted women's outstanding achievements in sports and generated enthusiasm on all continents. Yet while the world applauded the skills of women on the pitch, around the globe billions of women and girls were experiencing and still experience numerous forms of discrimination and violence too often disregarded. They are deprived of basic rights proclaimed in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, denied opportunities, and suffer physical and emotional abuse. It prevents them from living truly fulfilling lives and also hampers social, economic and health progress for all human beings.
This is why several teams engaged in the Cup decided, with the support of FIFA, to give a red card to all forms of discrimination and violence against women and girls everywhere in the world, and to invite men and women all over the world to follow suit. Together with FIFA, UNDP, UNFPA, UN Women, the French Presidential Council for Africa and the ARDN they call for signing the "Equal Light" appeal and pledge and living up to that commitment.
If you are ready, add your name.
EQUAL LIGHT
APPEAL AND PLEDGE
A red card in soccer spotlights and helps prevent unfair or dangerous behaviour. We, therefore, give the RED CARD to discrimination and violence against women and girls in all forms and in all countries.
We commend all governments for committing on 25 September 2015 at the United Nations to achieve - by 2030 at the latest - 17 "Sustainable Development Goals" in order to end poverty and hunger; reduce inequality; build peaceful, just and inclusive societies; protect the planet and its natural resources; and generate decent work for all.
We appeal to women and men around the globe to help reach Goal number 5 for achieving gender equality everywhere and empowering all women and girls.
We urge individuals, associations, enterprises, local and regional authorities, governments and intergovernmental bodies - to make this an absolute priority. It is long overdue, and it is a prerequisite for reaching other Sustainable Development Goals.
We pledge to fully respect every other human being, regardless of gender, culture, colour, language, social origin, birth, property or religion, hence to put an end to all forms of discrimination and violence against women and girls.
This will enable everyone to stand together in an Equal Light of progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals