Mar 09: Marking International Women’s Day 2026, the UK-based international NGO Youth Charter has called for a new partnership between the Commonwealth of Nations and the African Union to empower women and girls through sport, martial arts and community leadership programmes.
The organisation emphasized that alongside stronger laws and enforcement to tackle gender-based violence, prevention through community-based empowerment initiatives must play a central role. According to Youth Charter, programmes delivered through sport and education can help build confidence, resilience and leadership among women and girls, equipping them with essential life skills and strengthening community safety.
To support this vision, the organisation has proposed delivering one million hours of free self-defence, leadership and confidence training for women and girls across Commonwealth and African nations. The initiative would be implemented through the Youth Charter’s Community Campus model, which integrates sport, education, culture and digital skills to promote youth empowerment and social development.
For more than three decades, Youth Charter has advocated the role of sport as a powerful tool for development and peace. Participation in sport—particularly martial arts and self-defence disciplines—can help young women develop personal awareness, emotional resilience, leadership abilities and teamwork skills.
The initiative is being led by Janice Argyle Thompson, Co-Founder and Executive Director of Youth Charter and a former world karate champion. Drawing from her experience in youth development and martial arts, she has long championed the role of sport in building confidence and empowerment among women and girls.
“Martial arts are not about teaching violence – they are about teaching awareness, discipline and self-belief. These qualities empower women and girls to feel confident in their communities and in their own lives,” Thompson said ahead of International Women’s Day.
Youth Charter said the proposed programme aligns with global and regional development goals, including United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 5 – Gender Equality, the African Union’s Agenda 2063 priorities and the Commonwealth’s commitment to youth empowerment and social inclusion.
The initiative would be delivered through Community Campuses, which act as local hubs for youth engagement by combining sport and physical activity with education, leadership development, cultural programmes and digital skills training. By embedding empowerment programmes within communities, the model aims to create sustainable, locally driven solutions that support safety, dignity and opportunity for women and girls.
Youth Charter is urging governments, development agencies and sporting institutions to invest in prevention strategies that empower women and girls and strengthen social cohesion. The organisation believes International Women’s Day 2026 offers a timely opportunity for global leaders to expand the role of sport as a platform for empowerment and community development.
“If we are serious about ending violence against women and girls, prevention must begin in the community – on the training mat, the playing field and in the spaces where confidence, dignity and respect are learned,” the organisation.
