Sport plays an important role in society and for promoting human rights. Through sport, and its principles of respect and fair play, we can unite people across borders and we can bridge social, cultural, and economic divides. Sport can teach us valuable lessons about non-discrimination and inclusivity and can show us what equal participation can look like. Sport can challenge stereotypes, which helps us to break down barriers in society and drive progress on issues that are fundamental to the enjoyment of our human rights. However, there are still issues that impact the enjoyment of human rights of those involved in sport, at every level from athletes and fans, to workers and the media.
National Human Rights Institutions have a unique role to play in helping to embed human rights into sport. In 2018, the CFNHRI adopted the London Declaration on Sport and Human Rights. This declaration sets out how NHRIs can protect human rights within sport, and drive progress in society by promoting human rights through sport. The Declaration highlights the importance of NHRIs providing advice and guidance to governments, sporting bodies, and civil society organisations across a broad range of human rights issues such as racism, gender equality, corruption, modern slavery and climate justice. Further, the Declaration recognises NHRIs’ unique monitoring and investigatory powers, as well as their ability to support legal action and seek justice for victims of discrimination and human rights abuses.
Our members are driving forward sport and human rights by developing guidance, influencing policy and legislative change, and by providing education and advocacy on human rights issues at local, national and global level.
NIHRC – Sport and Human Rights
The NIHRC began its work on sport and human rights in 2016, when it partnered with the Northern Ireland Commonwealth Games Council (NICGC). In 2019, the NIHRC launched this animation with the NICGC on sport and human rights in Northern Ireland.
London Declaration on Sport and Human Rights
The London Declaration on Sport and Human Rights was developed by the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission during its term as Chair of the CFNRHI and in consultation with member NHRIs and Ombudsman Offices across the Commonwealth.
The Australian Human Rights Commission has been working in partnership with a number of local and national sporting associations over the years on an anti-racism campaign, Racism. It Stops With Me. The campaign was refreshed to coincide with the world premiere of The Final Quarter, a documentary about Australian Football League star Adam Goodes and the racism he experienced on and off the pitch. In conjunction with this refresh, the AHRC launched, Let’s talk race: A guide on how to conduct conversations about racism.
The AHRC has published guidelines which provide information about the operation of Australia’s federal Sex Discrimination Act in the context of sport. In addition to providing information on the operation of the law, both sets of guidelines also provide practical guidance on how to make sports more inclusive.
The Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission began working on sport and human rights in 2016, engaging with its Commonwealth Games Association, the Northern Ireland Commonwealth Games Council (NICGC). Since then, the NIHRC has developed partnerships with key sporting bodies in Northern Ireland, working to embed human rights at the core of their practices.
During its tenure as chair of the CFNHRI (2015-18), the NIHRC built a partnership with the Commonwealth Games Federation and led the CFNHRI’s work on sport and human rights. At the 2018 Biennial, CFNHRI members adopted the London Declaration on Sport and Human Rights and the NIHRC agreed to continue as the CFNHRI focal point on sport and human rights.
In May 2019, the NIHRC launched a Declaration on Sport and Human Rights, which was drafted with the NICGC. At the launch, the NIHRC announced the establishment of a Northern Ireland Sport and Human Rights Forum as a multi-stakeholder platform for the exchange of knowledge and good practice on sport and human rights issues. By this stage, Northern Ireland’s five major sports bodies had already adopted the Declaration: the Belfast Giants, Irish Football Association, Northern Ireland Commonwealth Games Council, Ulster GAA, and Ulster Rugby.
The Forum continues to expand its membership, bringing together representatives from across the sporting spectrum. Its members are currently developing a programme of work for 2020/21. The NIHRC also continues to develop relationships with international sporting bodies and the Centre for Sport and Human Rights, to ensure that NHRIs participate in the protection and promotion of human rights through sport.
