OCA Hosts Gender Equity Seminar 2025 in Brunei, Issues Call to Action

The Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) wrapped up its two-day Gender Equity Seminar 2025 at the Empire Brunei, Bandar Seri Begawan, this week, with a strong call to Action for National Olympic Committees (NOCs).

Led by Chair of the OCA Gender Equity Committee Valerie Tarazi, the seminar outlined four key priorities: maintaining gender equity efforts, providing more support for NOCs, creating leadership training for women, and integrating initiatives into the Asian Games. NOCs were also urged to aim for 30% female participation and strengthen women’s leadership roles.

Chair Tarazi praised the progress made, saying, “We can set the standard across the globe. Let’s create the way so we can ‘Watch Her Shine’.”

The seminar, themed “Watch Her Shine,” welcomed 95 participants from 43 NOCs, with special support from Brunei’s HRH Prince Sufri Bolkiah. IOC Executive Board Member HRH Prince Feisal Al Hussein closed the event, emphasizing that “gender equity is not an option, it is a necessity.”

All participants received OCA certificates of appreciation, marking another important step towards gender equality in Asian sport.