TABLE OF CONTENTS

History of the Committee………………………………………………………………………

Statement of the Issue…………………………………………………………………………..
History of the Issue………………………………………………………………………………….
Current Situation…………………………………………………………………………………….
Past UN Actions………………………………………………………………………………..
Bloc Positions………………………………………………………………………………….
● In favor of transgender women participating in sports…………………………………………..
● Against transgender women participating in sports……………………………………………..
● Neutral viewpoint……………………………………………………………………………….
QARMAs (Questions A Resolution Must Answer)..................................................................
Suggestions for further research………………………………………………………………
Committee’s faculties………………………………………………………………………….
Bibliography……………………………………………………………………………………
History of the Committee
The United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and
the Empowerment of Women, commonly known
as the UN Women Committee, has a passionate
mandate to promote and protect these values
around the world. The committee is also a central
advocate for the reception and standardization of
equal gender perspectives across all of the UN’s
actions and programmes; a strategy through which it aims to accelerate and spread this
progress to foster empowered, just, and sustainable societies for all women at a global level.

The first World Conference on Women in Mexico, 1975, saw the creation of the United
Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM). This key predecessor to the UN Women
committee we know today shared its support for initiatives addressing female economic and
political empowerment through a variety of financial and technical support programs
designed to advance empowerment and equality (Britannica, n.d). The UNWomen committee
was officially created in 2010 after a 4-body merger between women-advocating UN bodies
as a way to combine their strengths and overcome challenges in the mobilization of resources
and political support for initiatives, with the additional advantage of granting the committee a
“unique capacity to promote coordination and coherence across the UN system”
(UNWomen’s strategic plan, 2021) when holistically addressing global problems of
inequality and discrimination.

Notable progress milestones have been evidenced throughout this journey through
international commitments like the Beijing Declaration in 1995; a key framework that would
establish government roadmaps towards female empowerment through training workshops
and increased accessibility to resources to be successful in modern societies.

Presently, UN Women continues to play a crucial role in promoting gender equality and
female empowerment “(...)bolstering capacities central to UN programmes and policies,
advocating for greater resources, and guiding and implementing joint development
programmes to achieve gender equality,” through its 2022-2025 strategic plan (2021). The
plan, which is currently in action, bases itself on the pillars of the Sustainable Development
Goals, with a focus on building effective
rights-advocating institutions to empower women
everywhere to fully realize their rights. Emphasizing
the importance of international collaboration, the
committee seeks a holistic approach to social
challenges in order to continue fighting for
gender-equal approaches to development.
Statement of the Issue

History of the Issue

The inclusion of trans people in sports has a highly controversial and complex background as
a result of sports institutions’ usual sex-segregated policies. Transgender women in sports
face an even larger challenge when trying to access said institutions due to the widespread
belief that they will have a competitive advantage over their cisgender female counterparts
due to attributes of human physiology; fairness is cited as the main reason for hesitation in
their inclusion (CCES, 2021).

The first instance of a transgender woman participating in professional sports occurred in

1976, with Renée Richards participating in the US Open after male-to-female sex
reassignment surgery. After having her biological gender outed on national TV, the US
Opening Committee and the US Tennis Association implemented the prerequisite of genetic
testing to confirm participants’
biological gender before being allowed
to participate in any ensuing female
championships, citing that “there is a
competitive advantage for a male who
has undergone a sex change surgery as a
result of physical training and
development as a male,” (Abrahams,
Northeastern University Press, 2010).

After being pressured to take the Barr genetic test to confirm her gender, Richards’ results
denoted ambiguity, and she was thus barred from play. However, after suing the US Tennis
Association for discrimination in front of the New York Supreme Court, the 1977 ruling
came out in her favor: Judge M. Ascione recognised her as a female and declared that her ban
from competition would be “grossly unfair, discriminatory and inequitable, and violative of
her rights under Human Rights Law.” (Amdur, New York Times, 1977) This case was a crucial
landmark in the official recognition of transgender women in professional sports, though it
also tested the vulnerability of policy regarding eligibility to participate in said institutions.

In 2003, the International Olympic Committee put out a set of guidelines permitting
transgender women to participate in sports under the condition that they had undergone sex
reassignment surgery, had testosterone levels below a certain threshold, and took hormone
treatments for a minimum period of two years (Olympics, IOC, 2004).
In 2016, these guidelines were updated to allow athletes to complete without the prerequisite
of sex reassignment surgery, as a response to increased research on the medical aspects of
gender transition, and under the statement that “To require surgical anatomical changes as a
precondition to participation is not necessary to preserve fair competition and may be
inconsistent with developing legislation and notions of human rights.” (IOC for Time,
Rhodan, 2016)

Current Situation
Although Transgender athletes' concerns have become an increasingly relevant conversation,
the sports world has a very divided approach to their participation in school competitions,
league tournaments, and international championships, such as the Olympics.

The International Swimming Federation (FINA) has banned transgender women from taking
part in women’s elite competitions under the premise that they can prove they have not
experienced “male puberty” before age 12. This implies having had the use of hormone
blockers, hormones, or other methods to transition into the male sex. Nonetheless, reports
suggest that although gender dysphoria is experienced at around age seven or less for 73 to
78% of participants, Transgender women live around 27.1 years and Transgender men 22.9
years before socially transitioning and/or beginning hormone therapy (Cedars-Sinai
Transgender Surgery and Health program). This suggests that this policy is exclusive to a
large section of the Transgender community, even those in the athletic division.

Nonetheless, FINA also created the first “Open” category, in which trans athletes are allowed
to compete. This considers the biological differences that men and women have inherently by
birth. Physiological factors such as muscle force, cardiorespiratory capacity, and metabolic
factors are at play. In addition, based on past mentioned research, most individuals grow into
these characteristics as time progresses before their transition. On average, the male
advantage over female performance in sports is in the range of 10 to over 50 per cent. This
can be attributed to factors such as body fat, which is genetically predisposed to be higher in
females, muscle mass, and overall higher strength.

The United Nations believes forcing female athletes to reduce testosterone could breach
international human rights rules, according to the UN’S Human Rights Council. In response
to Intersex athletic champion Semeya’s hyperandrogenism, a condition that makes her body
produce extra testosterone and whose competition believes gives her an extra advantage, the
group passed a South African-led resolution on eliminating the International Association of
Athletics Federations’ rules on testosterone suppression.

The UN has partnered with the Swedish Federation for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Queer
and Intersex Rights Organization (RFSL) which works in collaboration with the Swedish
Sports Confederation and specialist sports organizations. With policy implementation,
they’re seeking to implement

- “Development of policies and guidelines for the inclusion of trans people in sports.
- Development of pedagogic and methodological training material for leaders in sports.
 - Training of specialized sports federations (members of the Swedish Sports
Confederation).
- Internal training within RFSL.
- Empowerment of athletes with trans experience.” (UN.org)

Past UN Actions
Since 2003, the UN has highlighted the killing of individuals based on their sexual
orientation or gender identity. By raising awareness, they’ve taken multiple measures on the
protection of LGBTIQ+ individuals to also promote influence in sports.

In July 2013, the OHCHR implemented its program “Free and Equal”, which consisted of a
campaign whose main objective was to promote equal rights and freedom amongst
LGTBIQ+ individuals.

The latest progress report (2021) describes the following actions that have been carried out,
such as:

- Implementing national campaigns seeking LGBTIQ+ equality in the nations of

Albania, Brazil, Cabo Verde, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Mongolia, Panama,
Serbia, Timor-Leste, Ukraine, and Vietnam.
- Partnerships with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and its
Secretary-General’s Envoy on Youth to launch two thematic campaigns: One on
LGBTQ+ migrants and one on LGBTIQ+ youth
- The dissemination of social media publications with over 24 million video views and
an overall 7.4 million likes, shares, and comments through separate online mediums.

In addition to these milestones, the OHCHR has also developed and enacted the following
resolutions through the Human Rights Council & The General Assembly (Multiple versions
have been approved, with their last updates below):

- The mandate of the Independent Expert on protection against violence and

discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity (adopted 19 July 2019)
- A/HRC/RES/41/18
- Elimination of discrimination against women and girls in sport (adopted 21 March
2019) - A/HRC/RES/40/5
- Protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender
identity (adopted 30 June 2016) - A/HRC/RES/32/2
- Human Rights Council resolution - Human rights, sexual orientation, and gender
identity (adopted 26 September 2014) - A/HRC/RES/27/32
 - General Assembly resolution - Extrajudicial, summary, or arbitrary executions -
A/RES/57/214

Bloc Positions
Countries will most likely fall within one of the following categories (or perhaps a
combination of two)

● In favor of transgender women participating in sports:

○ Supporting the notion that transgender women should be allowed to compete
based on their gender identity, as banning so would constitute a violation of
individual freedoms and human rights.
○ Further research should be made to prove the effect of testosterone on
performance, and genetic testing should not be an automatic exclusion for
athletes whose levels of testosterone deviate from the threshold.
○ Standardized guidelines should be created to make sports fair for everyone.

● Against transgender women participating in sports:

○ Supporting the argument that transgender inclusion in sports would jeopardize
its principles of fairness due to biological advantages attributed to male
physiology.
○ Testosterone and genetic regulations should be strictly followed and reinforced
by international institutions to level the playing field for cisgender athletes.

● Neutral viewpoint:
○ Require further research to understand the impact of gender reassignment and
hormone levels on athletic performance.
○ Policies and regulations should balance both scientific evidence and the need
for fair and free competition.
○ Policies should be developed multilaterally to ensure their transparency and
relevancy in a real context.
QARMAs (Questions A Resolution Must Answer)
1. Which should be the rights LGBTIQ+ individuals should access in sports, alongside
their limitations?
2. How should LGBTIQ+ involvement in sports be approached in nations with
constraints on transgender rights? How could representation and diversity be
promoted in the international community?
3. Is it possible to draw parameters to qualify participants as “eligible”? If so, should
they be standardized, or should they be left up to each institution or event to define?
4. What measures could be implemented to balance transgender participation rights in
sports while still maintaining a fair playing field for cisgender athletes?
5. How could we educate coaches and other sports officials on the implications of
transgender people’s participation in sports? Should further understanding and
awareness be pursued?

Suggestions for further research

Delegates may also find pertinent information on the topic when researching the related
prompts:
● Analyze the strengths and areas for improvement in current policy and guidelines
among prominent sports organizations (such as the World Athletics, the IOC, the
NCAA, etc.) Their evolution over time and trends could be looked at to gain insight
into country policy.
● Further understanding of the impact of gender transitioning on an athlete’s
performance (regarding hormone treatment, reassignment surgery, and other factors).
This will act as a base for the definition of limits/parameters of eligibility and bring
other substantiated ideas for regulation to the table.
● Elaborating on the legal and ethical implications of the participation of transgender
athletes in sports, and defining the concept of “fair play.” Risk assessment of the
benefits and drawbacks of regulating policy.
● Socio-cultural factors of coverage of transgender participation in sports in media;
identifying strategies to tackle stereotypes and prejudices. Contrasting varying
country perspectives, and evaluating the challenges of reaching a universal
agreement.
 Committee’s faculties
● Plan national budgets to generate concrete advances for the protection of women by advocating public
financing for gender equality, adopting gender-sensitive funds, which influence the advancement of equality
between men and women, as well as the execution and protection of the rights of girls and women;

● Supports non-governmental organizations (NGO) and Member States in the elaboration of policies, norms
and international standards for gender equality, through technical or economic assistance and is in charge of
the negotiation of international norms in order to work on laws focused on gender equality. protection of
women and girls;

● Leads and coordinates United Nations progress on gender equity by overseeing databases, research, and
annual consensus.

Bibliography
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. “Most Gender Dysphoria Established by Age 7: Cedars-Sinai.”
Cedars, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, 8 Apr.
2021,
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“LGBTQI+.” United Nations, United

Nations, https://www.un.org/en/fight-racism/vulnerable-groups/lgbtqi-plus.

Resolutions on sexual orientation, gender identity and sex characteristics. (n.d.). Retrieved
April 1, 2023,
from
https://www.ohchr.org/en/sexual-orientation-and-gender-identity/resolutions-sexual-orientati
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“Sex and Gender in Sports Policy: A Human Rights Perspective.” Centre for Sport and
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Rights,
https://www.sporthumanrights.org/sex-and-gender-in-sports-policy-a-human-rights-perspecti
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“TEMPLATE FOR REPORTING ON RECENT INITIATIVES ON SPORT FOR

DEVELOPMENT AND PEACE.” United
Nations,
https://www.un.org/development/desa/ageing/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2020/09/The-Swe
d ish-Federation-for-Lesbian-Gay-Bisexual-Transgender-Queer-and-Intersex-Rights.pdf .

“Transgender Women in Female Sport: Why Biology Matters.” Sports Performance Bulletin,
https://www.sportsperformancebulletin.com/injuries-health/endurance-health--lifestyle/transg
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Un Free & Equal Campaign Impact Report 2021 - unfe.org. (n.d.). Retrieved April 1, 2023,
from https://www.unfe.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/2021-UNFE-Report.pdf