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UNESCO and Sport & Rights Alliance Put Athlete Voices at the Heart of Global Safe Sport Standards
Consultation with impacted athletes held today by UNESCO and the Sport & Rights Alliance (Paris, November 21, 2025) – UNESCO and the Sport & Rights Alliance (SRA) have joined forces to place the experiences of those impacted by abuse, harassment, and violence in sport at the core of global policy development. As part of the […]
“This may be the most important story you will tell, and you want it done right”
Workshop Recap: Media Training for Impacted Athletes: Sharing your story with journalists On September 24th, The Athletes Network for Safer Sports held its third workshop of the year focusing on “Media Training for Impacted Athletes.” Featuring top sports journalists with extensive experience covering abuse cases, Shireen Ahmed and Suzy Wrack, the session marked an important […]
Youth Football Dream Turned Into Nightmare
Senegalese Player Cheikh Touré’s Death Reignites Football Trafficking Debate On November 2, a funeral was held for Cheikh Touré, a promising young Senegalese goalkeeper, after his body was finally returned to his family from Ghana. According to media reports, Touré had traveled to Ghana to meet people he believed to be football scouts. They allegedly kidnapped him, extorted money from his mother, and […]
Australia: Van de Velde denied visa for World Beach Volleyball Championships
Content warning: This statement mentions sexual assault, rape, and the abuser’s name. (Amsterdam, October 28, 2025) – Kyniska Advocacy, The Army of Survivors, and the Athletes Network for Safer Sports, are once again calling on the sports world to take action to prevent athletes convicted of sexual offenses from competing on the global stage. Last year, […]
On 20th Anniversary, BWI joins Sport & Rights Alliance to advance labour rights in mega-sporting events
BWI becomes newest Core Partner of the Sport & Rights Alliance (Amsterdam, October 22, 2025) – On the occasion of its 20th anniversary, the Building and Wood Workers’ International (BWI) has joined the Sport & Rights Alliance as its newest partner, the SRA announced today. Representing approximately 12 million workers worldwide in construction, wood, and […]
New report: “No one wants to talk about it”
Voices of impacted people on participation of athletes convicted of sexual offenses (Amsterdam, October 6, 2025) – The Sport & Rights Alliance’s Athletes Network for Safer Sports has released a crucial new exploratory study, “No one wants to talk about it:” Voices of impacted people on the participation of athletes convicted of sexual offenses at […]
Global: Amnesty International calls on FIFA and UEFA to suspend Israeli Football Association
Six clubs in OPT in violation of international law and FIFA Statutes Amnesty International has sent a letter to FIFA and UEFA calling on them to suspend the Israeli Football Association (IFA) from their tournaments until it excludes clubs based in illegal settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT) from continuing to play in Israel’s football […]
Olympics: Secret Process Threatens Fairness and Inclusion
Working Group on Women’s Category Lacks Transparency, Legitimacy (Amsterdam, September 30, 2025) – The International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) decision to create a new working group on the “protection of the female category” without disclosing its members or process presents an alarming risk for all women athletes, the Sport & Rights Alliance said today. This move, […]
Survey: Help Shape UNESCO’s Global Safe Sport Policy Standards
Take the Survey to Help Guide Safe Sport Policies Across the Globe **This survey is now closed.** In collaboration with UNESCO’s Sport Section, the Sport & Rights Alliance is conducting a survey to gather the perspectives of impacted people on UNESCO’s Global Policy Standards for Inclusive, Equitable and Safe Sport and Physical Education. The purpose […]
Anatol Kotau, BSSF International Coordinator, Reported Missing in Turkey
Stand in Solidarity with Anatol Kotau The Belarusian Sport Solidarity Foundation (BSSF) calls on the international sports community and human rights organizations to urgently pay attention to the disappearance of Anatol Kotau, a prominent sports official and long-standing advocate for the rights of Belarusian athletes. Anatol Kotau is currently Coordinator for International Relations of the Belarusian Sport […]
“It’s often still dangerous for athletes to speak out.”
Workshop Recap: Athletes as Human Rights Defenders The Athletes Network for Safer Sports held a workshop on June 27th on the topic of “Athletes as Human Rights Defenders.” Moderated by Network Coordinator Joanna Maranhão, the session explored what athletes face when they speak up for human rights and what practical measures should be put in […]
US: FIFA Cancels Anti-Bias Messaging for Club World Cup
Soccer Governing Body Action For US Tournament Bodes Ill For 2026 World Cup (New York) – The global soccer governing body FIFA’s reported decision to cancel previously planned additional anti-racism and anti-discrimination messaging at Club World Cup venues in the United States signals a human rights risk for FIFA’s upcoming 2026 World Cup in the US, Canada, and Mexico, the Dignity […]