By Ayomide Otitoju
A United Kingdom–based non-governmental organisation, Youth Charter, has called for a new partnership between Commonwealth countries and African nations to empower women and girls through sport, martial arts, and community leadership programmes.
The proposal was announced to mark the 2026 edition of International Women’s Day, with the organisation urging governments to complement law enforcement efforts against gender-based violence with community-based prevention initiatives.
According to the Youth Charter, while many countries are strengthening legislation and policing responses to violence against women and girls, long-term prevention requires programmes that build confidence, resilience, and leadership among young women at the community level.
Across several Commonwealth and African Union member states, gender-based violence remains a significant social challenge affecting the safety, wellbeing, and opportunities available to women and girls.
To address this, the organisation has proposed delivering one million hours of free self-defence, leadership, and confidence-building training for women and girls across Africa and the Commonwealth. The initiative would be implemented through the Youth Charter’s Community Campus model, which integrates sport, education, culture, and digital skills development to support youth empowerment.
The organisation said sport has long served as a practical tool for social development and peace, helping young people build life skills that support safer and more inclusive communities.
According to the Youth Charter, participation in sport—particularly martial arts and self-defence—can help young women develop confidence, emotional resilience, leadership abilities, and awareness of personal boundaries.
The initiative is being championed by Janice Argyle Thompson, Co-Founder and Executive Director of the Youth Charter and a former world karate champion. Thompson said martial arts training can play an important role in building self-belief and discipline 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,” she said.
Thompson has been involved in youth development initiatives across the United Kingdom, Africa, and the wider Commonwealth, where sport is increasingly being used as a platform for youth leadership and social change.
The proposed programme aligns with global and regional development priorities, including United Nations initiatives such as Sustainable Development Goal 5 on gender equality, as well as the African Union Agenda 2063 and Commonwealth commitments to youth empowerment.
Under the proposal, programmes would be delivered through Youth Charter Community Campuses, which serve as local hubs for youth engagement. These campuses combine sport and physical activity with leadership development, education, cultural expression, and digital skills training.
The organisation said the programmes would be community-led, trauma-informed, and centred on the needs of women and girls to ensure safe participation and meaningful personal development.
The Youth Charter also called on governments, development agencies, and sporting institutions to support prevention-focused strategies that empower women and girls while complementing legal frameworks addressing gender-based violence.
According to the organisation, strengthening community-based empowerment programmes alongside legal enforcement measures will be critical to building safer societies and advancing gender equality across Africa and the Commonwealth.
