EHF signs Brighton Plus Helsinki 2014 Declaration on women and sport

EHF President Jean Brihault has signed the Brighton Plus Helsinki 2014 Declaration on women on sport on Friday in Gothenburg at the final tournament draw for the Women's EHF EURO 2016.

"Following the introduction of the Women's Handball Board and the implementation of a full-time position to focus on women's handball, that was the next step to take," Brihault said.

The Brighton Declaration was adopted at the first international conference on women and sport in Brighton in 1994.

It was then updated and called Brighton Plus Helsinki 2014 Declaration at the IWG World Conference on Women and Sport in the Finnish capital in June 2014.

The Brighton declaration's overriding aim is to develop a sporting culture that enables and values the full involvement of women in every aspect of sport. That means in particular strengthening women's rights, gender equality, providing leadership opportunities for women and ensuring the better representation of women at all levels and in all roles of the sport.

This was also mirrored in the contract signed by Jean Brihault as it stated that "in recognition of the important role that sport and physical activity play in the lives of girls and women, we [the European Handball Federation] support the aim of the Brighton Plus Helsinki 2014 Declaration on Women and Sport to develop a sporting culture that enables and values the full involvement of females in every aspect of sport."

Representing the IWG (International Women's Group) at the signing in Gothenburg was Kristina Thuree, the chairwoman of the European women and sports organisation.

"The EHF sends an important signal by signing the Brighton Declaration and committing itself to enforce gender equality across all levels of the sport," Thuree said.