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Get the latest news and updates from our partners on the human rights issues in and around the world of sport.
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Letter to the IOC: Adopt an Eighth Fundamental Principle of Olympism
As we’ve seen time and time again over this last year through cases of unimaginable abuse, gender and racial discrimination, silencing of athlete voices, threats to athlete safety and wellbeing, and restrictions on athletes’ ability to make a living – the ever changing and often arbitrary rules of sport continue to supersede the rights of athletes. Until the IOC places a priority on human rights within its policy framework and above all else, its Olympic Charter, this will continue to be the case.
Refugee Footballer Hakeem al-Araibi Freed
The ITUC has welcomed the release of refugee footballer Hakeem al-Araibi from prison in Thailand and his return to his place of asylum, Australia. His release followed an unprecedented campaign led by sports players, their unions and the ITUC Australian affiliate ACTU, with governments, global unions, human rights groups and international sports federations FIFA and […]
Letter: International Olympic Committee “Athletes’ Rights and Responsibilities Declaration”
Dr. Thomas BachPresidentInternational Olympic CommitteeAv Général-Guisan 701009 PullySwitzerland October 2, 2018 Dear President Bach, It has come to our attention that the International Olympic Committee (IOC) may adopt the now titled “The Athletes’ Rights and Responsibilities Declaration (Athletes’ Declaration)” this week at the 133rd IOC Session in Buenos Aires. While we support the intent of […]
Letter to IOC President Bach: Athlete rights are human rights
Dr. Thomas Bach President IOCAv Général-Guisan70 1009 PullySwitzerland cc. Kit McConnellIOC Sports DirectorSwitzerland cc. Kirsty CoventryChair of the IOC Athletes CommissionZimbabwe cc. Sarah WalkerIOC Athletes Commission member and Chair of the Steering Committee for the Athletes Charter of Rights and ResponsibilitiesNew Zealand Dear President Bach, When the Sport and Rights Alliance last met with you […]
Best Practices for Whistleblowing in Sport
What are good practices in establishing whistleblowing mechanisms in sports to combat corruption, match-fixing and other illegal and unethical practice in sports? Content Overview of corruption in sport Whistleblowing in sport Examples of good practices in whistleblowing in sports Further reading References Summary Sport is a sector that is particularly vulnerable to corruption, characterised by […]
ITUC, BWI and ITF Welcome End of Exit Permits for 1.5 Million Migrant Workers in Qatar
The ITUC, the Building and Wood Workers’ International (BWI) and the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) have welcomed the announcement by Qatar on 4 September of new legislation which means migrant workers covered by the Labour Code will not have to seek their employer’s permission to leave the country. Law No. 13 of 2018 amends […]
FIFA – North America World Cup in 2026 a New Test for Human Rights
FIFA’s award of the 2026 World Cup to the “United” bid of Canada, Mexico and the USA will provide a further test of FIFA’s human rights commitments, with the inclusion of mandatory human rights requirements, including labour standards, in the bidding process. FIFA delegates meeting in Russia on 13 June chose the United bid ahead […]
Iran: FIFA Called on to Enforce Human Rights and non-Discrimination Policy
The International Trade Union Confederation, along with several union and civil society organisations, is calling on FIFA to ensure that its human rights policy is fully respected, and ensure that Iran ends its ban on women attending men’s football matches. The ITUC and the Building and Woodworkers’ International BWI, Human Rights Watch, the Centre for […]
Letter to FIFA President Infantino on the detention of Iranian women football fans
Re: Iranian women football fans and journalists detained outside Azadi Stadium Dear President Infantino, The Sport and Rights Alliance (SRA), a global coalition of NGOs and trade unions committed to embedding human rights and anti-corruption in world sport, is greatly disappointed by the events yesterday in Iran in which female football fans and sports reporters […]
World Players Association launches Universal Declaration of Player Rights
Today, the world’s leading player associations unveiled the Universal Declaration of Player Rights(the Declaration) to protect players from ongoing and systemic human rights violations in global sport. The Declaration, the first comprehensive articulation of athletes’ rights, sets a benchmark for international sporting organisations to meet their obligations to protect, respect and guarantee the fundamental rights of players.
ILO Decision Heralds New Era for Workers’ Rights in Qatar. Saudi Arabia and the UAE Must Follow Its Lead
The International Labour Organisation’s (ILO) decision to close the complaint against Qatar, following the government’s commitments to dismantle the kafala system and end modern slavery, signals a new era for workers’ rights in the country. “Qatar has set a new standard for the Gulf States, and this must be followed by Saudi Arabia and the […]
Olympics: Revised Host City Contract to Include Human Rights
The move by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to incorporate human rights principles in its Host City Contract in accordance with recommendations made by a coalition of rights, athletes’ and transparency organisations could help prevent major abuses by future Olympic hosts, the Sports and Rights Alliance said today. The revised Host City Contract was finalised […]