Australian Rugby Union today announced a new partnership with UN Women Australia allowing the two organisations to work closely on raising awareness about the role women play in leadership and sport.
The partnership will also have ARU and UN Women Australia driving support to ensure young men and women are provided with the skills, knowledge and experience necessary to become leaders in their communities, workplaces and families.
ARU Managing Director and CEO, John O’Neill AO, welcomed the new partnership.
“I am delighted we have formed a partnership that will help us build the profile of women, both in sport and in the area of community leadership,” Mr O’Neill said.
“Rugby is a sport for men and women across multiple tiers in our game, from grassroots development to the elite level.
“This has never been more evident than with the inclusion of Rugby Sevens – for men and women – to the Olympic Games calendar from 2016.
“It is important that we continue to raise awareness about the opportunities that Rugby presents both sexes and to women in particular on and off the field.
“Working with UN Women Australia will allow us to continue to build the profile of Women’s Rugby Sevens and to promote women’s participation in Rugby as administrators, members, leaders, players and supporters.”
ARU will also support the expansion of UN Women Australia’s activities and fundraising through the promotion of annual International Women’s Day celebrations and by supporting the growth of UN Women Australia’s Young Women’s Leadership programs. .
Executive Director of UN Women Australia, Julie McKay, welcomed the new partnership and said the collaboration would benefit both organisations.
‘We are extremely pleased to have ARU come on board as an official partner of UN Women Australia,” Ms McKay said.
“Rugby Union is a sport that connects communities in our region and globally and through this partnership we will work together to advance gender equality by using sport as a vehicle for driving social change.
“This is an exciting new venture for UN Women Australia and we look forward to working with ARU to further our shared goal of increasing public discussion and debate about women in leadership and sport.”
About UN Women Australia:
UN Women Australia is the National Committee for UN Women in Australia and is one of 18 National Committees globally including the USA, UK, Sweden and Canada.
The National Committees support UN Women through membership programs, raising public awareness of gender and development issues and fundraising for UN Women projects around the world.
Since its inception in 1989, UN Women Australia (formerly UNIFEM Australia) has grown significantly and now includes the National Office in Canberra, as well as UN Women Australia Sub-Committees, IWD Committees and Young UN Women Australia Chapters.
UN Women Australia is an active contributor to UN activities relating to gender equality and development. The organisation sends a delegation to the annual UN Commission on the Status of Women, including a Youth Delegate chosen each year to represent the voice of young Australian women.
For more information on UN Women Australia please visit www.unwomen.org.au
