Submission to UN Human Rights Report on Combating Discrimination and Violence Against Intersex Persons

Ensuring the Rights of Intersex Athletes to Safe, Inclusive Sports Environments

The LGBTI community faces numerous, often unique challenges when it comes to their right to participate in sport. Discriminatory narratives, exclusionary policies, and pervasive online harassment are just a few of the significant obstacles that hinder their ability to engage and enjoy in sports at all levels. These barriers are a clear violation of their fundamental rights to inclusion and equal participation.

This submission, provided to the call for inputs for the preparation of the Report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights pursuant to the Human Rights Council Resolution A/HRC/RES/55/14, to explore the distinct challenges that intersex individuals face within the sporting context. By exploring these issues through a human rights lens, the submission highlights the urgent need to address these escalating challenges. The goal is to shed light on how sports from grassroots and recreational to elite levels can evolve to be more inclusive and affirming for intersex athletes.

The report concludes by offering recommendations to sports governing bodies and government entities outlining urgent measures these institutions should adopt to protect the rights of intersex individuals to participate in sports at all levels.

You can read our full submissions below.

Related news

Brazil: Ensure Justice for Children Killed in Flamengo Fire

Brazil: Ensure Justice for Children Killed in Flamengo Fire

Case Underscores Urgent Need for Safeguarding, Reforms at Training Centers (Rio de Janeiro, November 24, 2025) – Reports that alleged systemic failures at Brazil’s top football club led to the deaths of 10 child athletes in a fire in 2019 raise critical questions about safeguarding and accountability in Brazilian sport, the Sport & Rights Alliance […]

READ MORE

“This may be the most important story you will tell, and you want it done right”

“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 […]

READ MORE

Related resources

Submission to UN Human Rights Report on a World of Sport Free Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance

Submission to UN Human Rights Report on a World of Sport Free Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance

Countering Hate and Discrimination Against All People Impacted in Sport The world of sport is often perceived as a place in which none of the burdens and inequalities of society take place or could possibly exist. Embedded by ideals of excellence, respect and friendship, its philosophy often misleads people to discount the importance of critical […]

READ MORE

New report: “No one wants to talk about it”

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 […]

READ MORE

Join the Network

Sport has the potential to be a catalyst for human development, unity, and freedom, but too often it instead brings harm to its athletes, fans, and communities. We exist to uncover and rectify the many abuses that exist both in and around sport. We aim to transform sports into an authentic force for good.