At the Council of Europe’s EPAS Forum on Sport and Human Rights on 16 December 2025 in Paris, participants focused on mental well-being and women’s health in sport. The hybrid event brought together athletes, researchers, medical specialists, policymakers and sport organisations to examine how sporting environments can affect psychological and physical health, share best practices and contribute ideas for future EPAS work.

Discussions highlighted widespread mental health strains — including performance pressure, media exposure and online abuse — as well as gender-related barriers such as low health literacy, limited support systems and inadequate sport-specific equipment and facilities. These factors were identified as safety risks that require systemic action to protect athletes and improve inclusion.

The forum also noted that many girls disengage from sport during adolescence, which can negatively affect long-term health, and called for targeted policies to make sporting environments safer, more inclusive and supportive of overall well-being.

Two new initiatives were promoted: a joint EU–Council of Europe “Active & Equal” project to integrate women’s health needs across the lifespan into sport systems, and a mental health taskforce under the EPAS 2026–2027 strategy, feeding into a Ministerial Conference in Monaco in 2026.

ENGSO Secretary General Theo Neyenhuis, and EWS Vice-Chair Sarah Townsend attended the event and actively contributed to workshops on both women’s physical health and mental health, emphasising collaboration, education and evidence-based approaches.

Read more on ENGSO website