Online Workshop: Exploring Impacts and Protections for Athletes who Speak Up for Human Rights
According to the United Nations, Human Rights Defenders are defined as “…individuals, groups, and associations contributing to the effective elimination of all violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms of peoples and individuals…” The 1998 Declaration on Human Rights Defenders – adopted by consensus in the General Assembly – clearly outlines specific protections that human rights defenders should be able to access.
Human rights defenders come from all genders, regions, and professional backgrounds, including the world of sports. However, the connection between sport and human rights is still not always recognized – and long-held beliefs that sport should be “politically neutral” and “autonomous” keep sport governing bodies from recognizing athletes’ rights to freedom of expression and opinion.
Athletes who advocate for issues such as gender and racial equality, LGBTI+ inclusion, or labour rights – or even when they disclose experiences of abuse – are often met with retaliation and significant personal and professional risk. But as UN High Commissioner Volker Turk stated last year: “When athletes use their voice to promote equality in sport, they are human rights defenders.” And that means they deserve special protections.
The primary goal of this workshop is to discuss the reality athletes face when they speak up and discuss practical measures that sport governing bodies and stakeholders can take to ensure that athlete human rights defenders are appropriately recognized and protected.
Date: Friday 27 June, 2025
Time: 07:00 New York // 08:00 São Paulo // 13:00 Zurich // 21:00 Sydney
Event format: This 75-minute interactive online session will be held on Zoom. If possible and available to you, try logging in from a laptop and make sure your Zoom app is up to date before connecting.
Interpretation in Portuguese, Spanish and French can be provided at request.
Panelists:
- Kaiya McCullough: Former U.S. National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) player, graduate of Harvard Law and member of Athletes Network Advisory Council
- Joel Wilkinson: Former Australian Football League (AFL) player and anti-racism campaigner
- Nikki Dryden: Former Olympic swimmer for Canada and human rights lawyer
- Antoine Duval: Senior researcher at Asser Institute and founder and editor-in-chief of the Asser International Sports Law blog
- Serri (Sura) Mahmood: Human rights officer at UN Human Rights
Moderator: Joanna Maranhão, coordinator of the Athletes Network for Safer Sports
Registration:
** Please note the Registration Form will close 24 hours before the event. **
