INT'L WOMEN DAY AND SOCCER 2016: 'It's high time for gender equality in football"

Co-founder and former captain of the Palestinian National Women’s Football Team and FIFA Corporate Communication Manager Honey Thaljieh pictured with new FIFA President Gianni Infantino enjoying a friendly game on the President’s first day at FIFA (Photo: Getty Images)
LAUSANNE, March 8, 2016 - Honey Thaljieh is the co-founder of women’s football in Palestine, the first captain of the Palestinian national women’s football team, and the first woman from the Middle East to obtain a FIFA Master and be employed by FIFA.  Through her life playing football and leading her team, Honey Thaljieh broke all the social and political barriers and became a role model to women and girls throughout the Arab world. Following a series of career-ending knee injuries, Honey directed her efforts to empower the next generation; creating, developing and maintaining sports initiatives for thousands of boys and girls in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. Honey’s impact in Palestine continues as a member of the Supreme Council of Youth and Sport and as member of the Palestine Women's Football Committee. Today, Honey continues to be a poignant voice for empowerment and equality through sport around the world. As Corporate Communications Manager for FIFA, Honey works to communicate the important role of sports in empowerment and social development, and the efforts made by FIFA in the areas of education and health, gender equality, life skills and peace initiatives through Football. Honey is also recognised as a Champion for Peace by the organisation Peace and Sport and serves as Ambassador for several pro-social sports organisations. She has spoken at many prestigious international organisations, including United Nations, UNESCO, UNICEF, and TEDx Zurich.  Thaljieh’s commitment to promoting gender equality in sports continues in her career at FIFA. For the occasion of the International Women’s Day, Honey is leading the FIFA annual Women’s Football & Leadership conference. The second edition of the FIFA Women’s Football and Leadership Conference, which took place at the Home of FIFA on 7 March, is titled “Equality through Reform“ and brings together diverse voices from sport and wider society to discuss the development of women’s football and the promotion of women in the leadership and governance in the football industry particularly given the recent reform proposals. In light of the FIFA reforms and new leadership, FIFA regards this event as a proactive step forward for the organisation to listen, learn and drive progress, a signal of intent for a new era of development and engagement in women’s football, on and off the pitch. “The FIFA Women’s Football and Leadership Conference provides an international platform for honest and open debate that is inclusive of both genders, different ages and experiences, and from different regions around the world” said Honey Thaljieh, “now is the moment when we can achieve equality in football, it is the time to stop talking and start implementing and turn policy into action.”