As a dedicated signatory of the Brighton plus Helsinki Declaration, the Montenegrin Olympic Committee (MOC) is setting a new benchmark in gender equity through its transformative initiative, EmpowerHER – Protecting Female Athletes’ Health. In a region where women’s health in sport is often underrepresented, MOC is leading with innovation, courage, and collaboration.
A pioneering partnership for change
EmpowerHER was launched with the strategic support of Olympic Solidarity and in partnership with two of the world’s foremost institutions in sports medicine and athlete health — Harvard Medical School and Boston Children’s Hospital. These partnerships brought cutting-edge expertise to Montenegro, ensuring the initiative was grounded in world-class research and best practice.
Together, they tackled head-on the unique health and performance needs of female athletes – needs that are too often neglected in male-dominated sport systems. The project delivered a series of expert-led workshops, created Montenegro’s first female athlete health protocol, introduced specialised screening tools, and built a multidisciplinary medical team dedicated to supporting women and girls in sport.
Breaking new ground, sparking national conversation
At the heart of EmpowerHER is education and empowerment. The initiative equips athletes, coaches, medical teams, and sport federations with evidence-based knowledge on vital issues such as menstrual health, RED-S (Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport), mental health, and injury prevention.
“These are extremely important topics, because women make up 50 percent of the population, yet historically there has been a huge gap in the scientific fields and research within sports medicine dedicated to female athletes,”
said Meghan Keating, PA-C of Boston Children’s Hospital.
“Only six percent of sports medicine publications have focused exclusively on women. That is a shocking number, and we are working to change it. Montenegro is leading the way on that path.”
A ripple effect of impact
Beyond technical training, EmpowerHER is creating cultural change. It has sparked national conversations around gender-specific care and encouraged athletes to speak openly about their health – a groundbreaking shift in Montenegro’s sporting environment. The ripple effects are already evident: stronger regional cooperation, inspired federations, and new visibility for female athletes’ needs across all levels of sport.
An Inspirational Model
EmpowerHER is more than a programme – it’s a model for transformation. Through its strategic international partnerships, holistic approach, and robust commitment to gender equity, the Montenegrin Olympic Committee is proving what’s possible when bold leadership meets global collaboration.
Inspired?
What could your organisation do to better support the health and wellbeing of female athletes?
Are you investing in the right partnerships to drive real change?
How are you contributing to a more equitable sporting world?
Join the global IWG movement. Learn more about what it means to become an IWG Signatory and how your organisation can commit to the principles of the Brighton plus Helsinki Declaration: iwgwomenandsport.org/signatories
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