FIFA Women's World Cup

i n Africa, there are places where children and youth are so determined to play soccer, they will gather enough plastic bags and string to literally build a soccer ball. Their story goes beyond victory on the pitches and fields; it is a story of triumph of the human spirit. FIFA athletes, fans and visitors to Win- nipeg will discover many such stories in a unique place: The world's only museum solely dedicated to the evolution, cele- bration and future of human rights. Inter- nationally recognized for its architectural design, the Canadian Museum for Human Rights' (CMHR) spectacular spire rises up and beckons people to The Forks, the so- cial centre of the city of Winnipeg. "The CMHR is a journey of inspiration designed to spark thought and conversa- tion about human rights, with stories re- layed in powerful and diverse ways through an amazing visual and sensory experience using the latest technology and the oldest forms of storytelling," says CMHR media relations manager Maureen Fitzhenry. Guests will want to set aside a generous block of time for a visit to the museum, which extends through some 24,000 square metres on eight levels. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the United Nations Convention of the Rights of the Child specify that every human being has the right to leisure and play. Girls and women in sport continue to face barriers to this right. It may be as gender discrimination and stereotypes in sport; lack of access to equitable funding or access to fields and venues of play. In some countries, women are banned from playing many sports, including soccer. "The museum views sport as a potent force for creating positive change and endur- ing benefits for athletes, their communities and the greater society," says Fitzhenry. "It can empower people to action for hu- man rights and provide a platform for edu- cation and awareness." At the youth-oriented Actions Count gal- lery, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights is examined through an interactive table game powered by the shadow of your hand. It explores everyday scenarios like organizing sports teams in inner-city neigh- bourhoods as a way to promote commun- ity, cultural pride and leadership skills. A massive multi-media show in the intro- ductory gallery features Canadian Paralym- pic swimmer and nine-time gold medal winner Benoît Huot, along with five others. Huot's foundation works to promote equity, inclusion, excellence and pleasure in sport. With 11 galleries to explore, visitors will find their hearts and hands engaged with interactive exhibits, film, video, digital kiosks and imagery covering topics such as indigenous rights, labour rights, children's rights, the rights of people of diverse sex- ual orientation, disability rights, immigra- tion issues, racial equality and much more. Women's rights are represented in galleries throughout the museum, which recognizes these rights affect people of all genders, in all places. "The museum has stories from all around the world, so FIFA visitors from other nations who are competing in Winni- peg are likely to find stories about people, events and organizations in their native lands," says Fitzhenry. the Canadian museum for human rights (humanrights.ca) is open from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. every day except monday. open Wednesday until 9 p.m. Admission is $15 for adults (taxes included), $12 for students and seniors, $8 for youth and free for children under 7. A self-guided audio tour is included in the museum's mobile app, which can be downloaded for free from the App Store or google play. FIFA Women's World Cup Canada 2015 June 6 – July 5 03 inSpiration gallerieS right to play and other exhibitS at unique muSeum by Wendy KIng For the Free preSS dISCover StorIeS oF rIghtS ChAmpIonS From Around the World At the CAnAdIAn muSeum For humAn rIghtS. photo by AAron Cohen

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