I am very pleased to be here today to participate in what must mark the beginning of a transformation to reform and repair the organisation of FIFA.
I would like to comment on one area of the game, and of the reform proposals, that is of special concern to me, and that is the role of women.
In recent weeks, we have seen a wave of global interest from women and men supporting more women in FIFA. And yes, that's a hashtag - #womeninFIFA - and it has reached millions of users on social media.
There has been a chorus of voices calling for greater inclusion of women in decision-making, and a fair share of investment in the women's game.
We've seen a deluge of support from sportspeople in football and beyond, from governments and NGOs, from Billie Jean King to UN Women, from every part of the globe, voices have been raised calling for gender balance in football to be embedded as part of these reforms.
Why? Because it's 2015. Because it's fair. And because diversity leads to better decisions.
To those who spoke up, I want to thank you for speaking out, and I want to tell you that your voices have resonated here at FIFA.
The Reform Committee, and now the Executive Committee, have incorporated reforms to address the legacy of exclusion that women have suffered over many decades.
So I'm very pleased to say that greater recognition and promotion of women in football is reflected as follows:
First, FIFA should recognize that women represent the biggest growth and development opportunity to football and that governance at all levels needs to include more women in order to create a more diverse decision-making environment and culture.
Second, there should be a substantial increase in the number of voting seats on the FIFA Council for women, and that each Confederation shall have not less than one voting FIFA Council seat reserved for women.
And third, FIFA’s statutory objectives must include promoting the development of women’s football and the full participation of women at all levels of football, including in governance and technical roles. Further, all members and Confederations of FIFA must commit to respect for women and promotion of gender equality. That means using efforts to ensure that the game of football is available to and resourced for all who wish to play the game, regardless of gender.
These recommendations - if approved by Congress in February – will be a landmark in a long journey toward gender equality for women and girls who represent the future growth of the game. I thank my colleagues on the Executive Committee for their support of this vision.
As you've heard, the decision today was unanimous. If I can put that in football terms, we had a team meeting, and we decided to play as a compact block to protect this goal.
This is not only a "women's issue" - it's a boost to good governance and integrity. It's a profound cultural shift. It's about diversity, inclusion and respect - and that's good for the game, and for the world.
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