HeForShe Lithuania: Ex President D. Grybauskaitė, prominent figures of sports community, and celebrities stand up for gender equality in sport

On Friday, in the shopping and entertainment center “Akropolis” in Vilnius, the United Nations project HeForShe for the advancement of gender equality was introduced. In Lithuania this initiative was started by the Lithuanian National Olympic Committee (LNOC). It invites Lithuanian men to join women in their fight for gender equality in sport, to discard old stereotypes and to become a united and outstanding force that brings change.

The event was attended by the former President of the Republic of Lithuania Dalia Grybauskaitė, the Minister of Education, Science and Sport Algirdas Monkevičius, prominent figures of sports community, and celebrities.

“We are used to seeing female athletes as being strong and hardened personalities. But these fighters, however tough they might seem, need a lot support from their families, closest people, sports community, and the whole society. Therefore, I want to congratulate the Lithuanian National Olympic Committee for their aspiration to further advance gender equality in sport and for joining the United Nations campaign HeForShe“, said D. Grybauskaitė.

During the project, stories of five famous athletes and their male supporters – husbands, colleagues, and friends – will be introduced to the society. The initiative aims at reminding that women’s sport, just like gender equality, is a common goal for everyone.

“We still see cases where beliefs and attitudes of men and even women themselves become an obstacle for women’s achievements in life. However, the potential and power of women is undeniable. They are the givers and nurturers of life, their work and achievements create the ultimate value. Sport is very important to everyone. Those who learn to win in sports, also become winners in everyday life.

I would like to encourage men and women to change the society’s stereotypes and behavior together and to become contributors to this important change. In this case, the unity of both genders in sport may help every girl and woman to discard old repressing beliefs, to achieve victories in life and often to change it completely”, said the Minister of Education, Science and Sport Algirdas Monkevičius.

The project also aims at giving more consideration to women’s team sports, to demonstrate what full stadiums or arenas mean to female athletes and to encourage discussions whether women’s sport is given adequate attention and support.

Ex President of Lithuania Dalia Grybauskaitė together with 2012 Olympic champion pentathlete Laura Asadauskaitė unveiled the symbolic solidarity board where everyone willing to express support for this initiative and women’s sport could leave their signatures.

Among the first to do so were the Minister of Education, Science and Sport Algirdas Monkevičius, Secretary-General of the Lithuanian Rugby Federation Irmantas Kukulskis, Head of the Lithuanian Women’s Basketball League Giedrius Gustas, Secretary-General of the Lithuanian Football Federation Edgaras Stankevičius, expert in gender equality Donatas Paulauskas, Vilnius “Kibirkštis” Director Dainius Virbickas, players of the BC Rytas Vilnius Dovis Bičkauskis and Arnas Butkevičius, President of the Lithuanian Volleyball Federation Darius Čerka.

“I am glad for this initiative. I have two kids – son and daughter – and I want them both do equally well in life. I support this kind of projects from the bottom of my heart”, expressed musician Viktoras Diawara.

Jūratė Žilinskaitė, member of Lithuanian women’s national handball team, awarded all the men who made speeches on the stage and put their signatures on the symbolic HeForShe board with tickets to the closest upcoming game. After obtaining a promise to meet her in the match between Lithuania and Italy on 26th of March in Alytus City, Lithuania.

“We want this initiative to spread from this signing board to the arenas. We love playing in the crowded arenas as well and it‘s really important for us to feel the support“, told handballer.

The first project HeForShe Lithuania video will be launched on 8 March.

HeForShe is a solidarity campaign for the advancement of gender equality, initiated by the United Nations. In 2014, the campaign was launched with a speech by the famous actress Emma Watson about her own path to feminism and her call to involve men and boys in promoting gender equality. In just three days the campaign mobilized 100,000 men, among them the former United States President Barack Obama.