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New ITUC Report “Qatar: Profit and Loss” Workers Paying with Lives as Companies Extract Billions in Profit
A new report from the International Trade Union Confederation estimates that $15 billion profit will be made by companies working in Qatar on infrastructure for the controversial 2022 FIFA World Cup using up to 1.8 million migrant workers who are modern day slaves. The report released on International Migrants Day is critical of Qatar for […]
The IOC’s human rights responsibilities and 2022 Olympics Host City Contracts
The Sport and Rights Alliance (SRA), committed to upholding human rights, labour rights, children’s rights, anti-corruption and sustainability standards and principles in sport, particularly in the context of Major Sporting Events (MSEs), wishes to draw the attention of the IOC to its responsibility to respect human rights in the preparations, hosting and staging of an Olympic event.
Barcelona Football Club: ITUC Appeals to Voting Members and Fans to Reject Qatar Airways Deal
The ITUC has called on FC Barcelona “socis” (voting members) and fans to end the club’s Qatar Airways sponsorship, saying that the airline is the very worst sponsor for a club with a 100-year tradition of democracy and universality. The appeal comes as an election contest for the club’s Presidency hinges on candidates’ opposition to […]
BRAZIL: 2016 Summer Olympics
In 2016, the Summer Olympics are held in Brazil. This requires a great effort: building sports facilities, hotels and infrastructure. A lot needs to be done, also in the field of human rights. For example to prevent excessive police force against peaceful demonstrators. In Brazil, demonstrators are arbitrarily detained and labelled as criminals by charging […]
RUSSIA: 2018 World Cup Football
The human rights situation in Russia is abysmal. Since 2012, numerous new laws further suppress the rights to freedom of expression, association and assembly. Journalists, human rights activists, lawyers, gays and artists are thwarted in many ways to prevent them from voicing any criticism. The ‘law on foreign agents’ paralyzes civil society. Ahead of the […]
SOUTH KOREA: 2018 Winter Olympics
In 2018, the Winter Olympics are being held in South Korea. Some victories are desired for human rights in that country. The rights of migrant workers are severely violated in South Korea. They have very long working hours and are underpaid. They don’t get any days off or holidays and they live in bad housing […]
FIFA Men’s World Cup Qatar 2022
In 2022, Qatar will host the FIFA Men’s World Cup – an historic moment as it will be the first time the tournament has ever been held in the Middle East. Scores of football stadiums and other facilities are being built for this event by migrant workers. Their working conditions are brutal, rife with coercion and […]
Beijing Olympics 2022
Happening just six months after the delayed Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, all eyes turn toward China for the Winter Olympics and Paralympics. Just as in 2008, the Communist Party of China will continue its legacy of sportswashing – using these Games to distract from its major human rights abuses. This Olympics will also provide the opportunity […]
KAZAKHSTAN: candidate 2026 World Cup Football
Kazakhstan is candidate for hosting the World Cup Football in 2026. The human rights record of the country is poor. Beautiful words cover up bad practices: Kazakhstan “will not rest until torture is completely eliminated”, the government announced. But torture is still taking place. The freedom of expression, association and assembly are restricted. Peaceful protesters […]
HUMAN RIGHTS AND SPORTS : Amnesty’s recommendations
Amnesty International has the following recommendations in order to stop or prevent human rights violations related to major sporting events: • States hosting a major sporting event should ensure rights are not violated in the context of this event. • The organizing bodies, like IOC and FIFA, should have in place robust due diligence procedures […]
VIOLATIONS OF HUMAN RIGHTS AT SPORTING EVENTS: who is responsible
In relation to major sporting events, like the World Cup or the Olympic Games, Amnesty International distinguishes two forms of human rights violations. • Violations directly related to the staging or hosting of the event. Examples are forced evictions carried out to construct sports stadiums or other infrastructure, or labour exploitation in the construction sector […]
AZERBAIJAN: 2015 European Games
‘All fundamental freedoms are honoured in Azerbaijan,’ said President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan in June 2014. Solemn words. But not true. In Azerbaijan, human rights defenders, journalists, politicians and bloggers are arrested, detained and silenced. While the spotlights are on the country during the first European Games in June 2015, the repression only gets worse. […]