Saudi Arabia sponsors Women's World Cup being held in Aotearoa

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GOOD NEWS UPDATE March 2023:

FIFA dropped plans for Visit Saudi to sponsor the 2023 Women's World Cup. The pressure from caring people like you was quick, it was strong, and it worked. Ka pai – good job!



Sportswashing is not OK.

It would have been entirely inappropriate for the national tourism board of Saudi Arabia to sponsor this global celebration of women, here in Aotearoa New Zealand and Australia, or anywhere.

People power prevailed.

Around the world, the Amnesty International movement spoke out. Players and fans spoke out. Football associations spoke out.

Are we done yet? No. Because this is about more than football.

We're not done standing in solidarity with Saudi women, girls and human rights activists. We're not done saying the Saudi male guardianship system is oppressive and wrong. We're not done speaking out for an end to legally entrenched gender discrimination.

And we're not done fighting for the release of people who are still imprisoned in Saudi Arabia because they stood up for human rights.

Big thanks to every one of you who signed the our petition. We will continue to call on the New Zealand Government to speak out on Saudi Arabia’s human rights record.

Now, let's get back to celebrating women's potential in a world based on equality, respect and justice. Bring on the Women's World Cup!

Background info:

SAUDI ARABIA, A COUNTRY THAT DENIES BASIC HUMAN RIGHTS TO WOMEN AND GIRLS, WILL BE SPONSORING THE HISTORIC 2023 FIFA WOMEN'S WORLD CUP IN AOTEAROA THIS JULY.

Visit Saudi, the national tourism board of Saudi Arabia, will soon be unveiled as one of the sponsors of the tournament.

Saudi Arabia has a horrific human rights record that includes the ongoing oppression of women’s rights defenders.

Sign the petition calling on Sports Minister Grant Robertson to speak out on Saudi Arabia’s human rights record and pressure FIFA to do the same.

This is not a celebration of women's sports, this is a sportswashing. A distraction from the horrific human rights abuses faced by women, girls, and LGBTQIA+ people in Saudi Arabia.

This is not just a matter of sport, this is a matter of basic human dignity and equality.

Sign the petition and join us in standing in solidarity with Saudi women and activists, and in showing that the people of Aotearoa will not tolerate sportswashing or the hiding of human rights abuses.