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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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2022 Annual Report: Catalyzing the Power of Sport for Human Rights
The Sport & Rights Alliance was born out of a deep commitment to champion human rights and anti-corruption in and through global sport. Since our inception in 2015, we’ve embarked on a transformative journey to harness, organize and amplify the expertise of our partners to drive systemic change throughout the world of sport. 2022 was […]
Spanish Women Players Spotlight Crisis of Abuse
All Players Deserve Harassment-Free Work Environment When Spanish Football Federation President Luis Rubiales refused to step down after kissing Spanish football player and 2023 World Cup champion Jenni Hermoso without her consent, he instead justified his actions. In a speech to the general assembly of the Spanish Football Federation, Rubiales centered himself as the victim, blamed “false feminism” for […]
FIFA Must Show The Red Card To Sexual Abuse
The Goal Is A Safe Place To Work For Women And Teen Players The Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand is on track to become the most attended stand-alone women’s sporting event in history as 32 top women’s teams compete for the coveted title of World Champion. What fans of the sport don’t see is […]
Women’s World Cup Shows Equality Still Has A Long Way To Go
The 2023 Women’s World Cup tournament begins this week to great fanfare and broadcasting revenues estimated at close to $200 million. This is great news for the sport’s global governing body, the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA)— but not so great for the women players on the field. As a flagship event in women’s sport, the […]
FIFA: Letter Seeking Update on Safe Sport Entity Status and Timeline
FIFA Should Provide Transparency on Status, Funding & Timeline (Nyon, Switzerland, July 19, 2023) – FIFA should urgently provide transparent and detailed information on its plans for an Independent Global Safe Sport Entity to address systemic sexual, emotional and physical abuse in sport and provide remedy and support to victims and survivors, the Sport & […]
Mali: Girls’ Coach Gets Life Ban for Sexual Abuse
FIBA Punishes 5 Basketball Officials But Needs to Exclude Abusers, Protect Witnesses (New York) – The International Basketball Federation’s (FIBA) sanctions on top women’s basketball officials in Mali confirm the responsibility to remedy systemic abuse of young athletes, Human Rights Watch said today. But the appointment of another official suspected of abuse as head of the Mali Basketball […]
Japan Passes Law to ‘Promote Understanding’ of LGBT People
Fight Continues for Comprehensive Nondiscrimination Legislation In June, the Japanese Diet, the national legislature of Japan, passed its first-ever law on sexual orientation and gender identity. It seeks to “promote understanding” and avoid “unfair discrimination.” The law states that “all citizens, irrespective of their sexual orientation and/or gender identity, are to be respected as individuals […]
World Players Association Calls For Embedding Fundamental Labour Standards Across Sport At UN Conference
This week, the World Players Association (WPA) represented the player association movement at UNESCO’s MINEPS VII Global Sport Conference. The meeting in Baku, Azerbaijan, brought together hundreds of representatives from sport ministries from around the world, along with other key stakeholders, including UN agencies, sport governing bodies, brands and civil society. In a session dedicated […]
Landmark New Report Finds Trade Union Rights A Top Concern For Players Worldwide
A landmark survey released by the World Players Association (WPA) today uncovers that players face significant barriers to exercising their internationally recognized human rights to organize and to collectively bargain- #R2O – in global sport. The report titled, #R2O: Effective Athlete Representation in Global Sport 2023 outlines why #R2O is essential to the ability to effectively represent […]
Global: Human Rights Should be Essential to FIFA’s Choice of World Cup 2030 Host
Opinion Poll Conducted in 15 Countries Shows a Majority of the Public Agree (Nyon, Switzerland, June 22, 2023) – A global coalition of human rights groups, trade unions, players and fans is urging FIFA to ensure that human rights are a primary consideration in choosing which countries can host the 2030 men’s football World Cup. […]
Olympics: Act on Sex Abuse Complaints by Indian Athletes
Sport & Rights Alliance Calls for Independent Investigation After Protesters Detained (Nyon, Switzerland) – The International Olympic Committee (IOC) should immediately act to ensure reports of alleged sexual abuse of athletes by the president of the Wrestling Federation of India, Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, are investigated fully, the Sport & Rights Alliance said today. In a statement on May […]
Switzerland: Parliament Must Ensure Respect for Human Rights by Sports Federations
Bern (6 June 2023) – Strong measures are needed to ensure that sports federations based in Switzerland comply with their human rights due diligence obligations, says Amnesty International. The human rights organization, together with the global coalition Sport & Rights Alliance, is calling on the Swiss Parliament to support two policy initiatives that seek to […]