Trans, Gender Diverse and Intersex Inclusion in Sports is a Human Right

This statement calls for inclusive approaches to ensure that everyone, regardless of gender identity or sex characteristics, can participate safely and equitably in sports.

We, the undersigned organizations and individuals committed to gender equality, human rights, social justice, and LGBTIQ+ rights, welcome the report on the right to participate in sports by Alexandra Xanthaki, the United Nations Special Rapporteur in the field of Cultural Rights.

From the elite athlete level to the community level, where the majority of participation in sports lies, we affirm that all people, including trans, gender diverse and intersex persons, must be able to realize their human right to participate in sports as an essential element of engaging in cultural life. We call for inclusive approaches that foreground the positive role that sports play in society and ensure that all people, regardless of their gender identity and sex characteristics, can participate in sports safely and equitably.

Join the Statement

In a world in which we see increased opposition to the human rights of trans, gender diverse and intersex persons, the realm of sport has become a particular focus for attack. Equal inclusion of all in sports continues to be undermined by the rise of movements that oppose the universality of human rights and advance retrogressive interpretations of norms and standards. We are compelled to write this statement to draw attention to the rampant discrimination against trans, gender diverse and intersex people in sports, including under the guise of protecting cisgender women and girls. We reject the co-option of human rights mechanisms to position the protection and fulfillment of the rights of trans, gender diverse, intersex, and cisgender women and girls in sports as conflicting and incompatible and affirm that these rights and struggles are inextricably interlinked.

Many human rights bodies have clarified that the prohibition of sex-based discrimination is enshrined in core international human rights treaties and includes gender-based discrimination. As the Special Rapporteur in the field of Cultural Rights has highlighted in her 2024 report to the General Assembly, since 2010, the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women clarified that “discrimination against women refers to both sex and gender. International law protects all women, including intersex and trans women; that protection includes their right to participate in sport.”¹ The Special Rapporteur also warns that efforts to exclude trans, gender diverse and intersex women from women’s sports and categorize them as “male” are “unacceptable” and “may be regarded as hate speech.”²

However, the misinformation on the participation of trans, gender diverse, and intersex people in sports and the hate directed at trans, gender diverse and intersex athletes are at concerning levels.

Rhetoric and misinformation about trans, gender diverse and intersex women and girls have real-life consequences. They perpetuate harmful stereotypes and a fixed and binary understanding of gender and sex, increasing the risk of violence against trans, gender diverse and intersex women and girls within and outside sports. The most recent example was observed during the 2024 Paris Olympics, where two athletes who competed in women’s boxing, Imane Khelif and Lin Yu-ting, were heavily scrutinized and relentlessly targeted using hateful rhetoric that speculated about their sex characteristics and mischaracterized their gender. This hate speech was fueled by a highly discriminatory and violent practice in competitive sports: the invasive and harmful practice of “sex testing,” an examination of genitalia, chromosomes, and hormone levels of women and girl athletes to try to “prove” or “verify” their sex.³

In general, athletes whose sex characteristics, gender identity or sexual orientation do not comply with normative expectations face severe obstacles to participation in sports, as they routinely experience harassment and abuse, no matter the level of sport they participate in.⁴ Surveys of LGBTIQ+ people in sports in Europe have shown that an overwhelming majority believe that homophobia and transphobia are a problem in sports and have witnessed the use of such language in sports settings.

The violence experienced by trans, gender diverse and intersex athletes can be considered the extreme manifestation of a general pervasive and systemic violence and discrimination against women and girls in sports that require our attention, including both sexual and non-sexual violence and abuse perpetrated by coaches, trainers, sponsors, and others. Ensuring the health, safety, privacy, bodily autonomy and integrity of all women and girls in sports is crucial, including trans, gender diverse and intersex athletes. The misrepresentation of trans, gender diverse and intersex women as a threat to women’s rights and safety carries the high risk of diverting attention from these critical issues and hinders women who experience this kind of violence from access to justice. This not only undermines the gravity of the violence experienced by women and girls in sports but also reinforces patriarchal and colonial legacies. Historically, colonial patriarchal structures have used the concept of a strict binary sex distinction to assert white supremacy, relegating Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC), and especially Black women, to a lesser category of womanhood. The category of ‘woman’ has always been racialized, with white women expected to uphold the boundaries of sex difference to maintain the illusion of binary gender. These boundaries are upheld by violently enforcing them upon the bodies of any person who is seen as ‘non-conforming.’ As a result, athletes who have been disproportionately targeted to undergo sex testing and consequently forbidden to compete in the women’s category often come from the Global South and are women of color. The policing, in particular of intersex women’s bodies and the dismissal of women deemed ‘too masculine’ under the guise of fairness, has a chilling effect on all women’s participation in sports.

Several human rights mechanisms, including various Special Procedures, have emphasized the serious concerns with the exclusion of trans, gender diverse and intersex athletes from sports based on arbitrary classifications and eligibility rules based on testosterone levels, which are overly broadly constructed, and have drawn attention to intrusive and rights-violating practices like sex testing.⁵ Simultaneously, they have repeatedly emphasized intersectionality as an essential tool to understand and address complex forms of marginalization, discrimination and inequalities among different groups to avoid false dichotomies between rights.⁶ An intersectional analysis makes it evident, as UNESCO and UN Women also note, that “all women and girl athletes are susceptible to violence, but LGBTIQ+ athletes, athletes with disabilities, and athletes from disadvantaged racial, ethnic, migration, and/or socioeconomic backgrounds are at particular risk.”⁷ UN Special Rapporteurs have called for the removal of policies that require women athletes, including trans, gender diverse and intersex athletes, from undergoing unnecessary medical procedures to participate in sports and have called for reviewing the rules in relation to the participation of trans, gender diverse and intersex athletes in sports to ensure compliance with human rights standards.⁸

Sport has the power to transform lives, and all women and girls deserve the right to participate in sports free from abuse, violence, and discrimination, and ensuring the respect of their health, safety and dignity. Sports empower trans, gender diverse and intersex people, offer a sense of community, build essential social skills, and help dispel entrenched notions about the capacities and limits of the body.

We call for inclusive approaches that foreground the positive role that sports play in society and ensure that all people, regardless of their gender identity and sex characteristics, can participate in sports safely and equitably. We caution against implementing one-size-fits-all approaches like open categories that risk segregating trans, gender diverse and intersex athletes over case-by-case approaches that seek to balance fairness and inclusion. Efforts to ensure full inclusion in sports must not risk depriving trans, gender diverse and intersex athletes of the same opportunities that their cisgender peers enjoy, including “the best part of sport — learning from and growing with a diverse group of teammates.”⁹

Sign the Statement

Signatories

Initiating Signatories

Global Action for Trans Equality (GATE)
TGEU
OII Europe
ILGA World
Outright International
Human Rights Campaign
Center for Sport and Human Rights
Count Me In! Consortium
Sport & Rights Alliance
The Army of Survivors
World Players Association
Amnesty International
ITUC CSI IGB
Football Supporters Europe

Organizations

IGLYO
EL*C – EuroCentralAsian Lesbian* Community
Queer Olympix
MozaiQ LGBT Association (Romania)
“ver.di” labour union Germany
ILGA-Europe
Activ’Elles04
ARCÓPOLI
Pride Sports
Blue Diamond Society
Bisi Alimi Foundation
Akaliyat Association
Sports Media LGBT+
Association DIH – Equal Under the Rainbow
GIN SSOGIE
Equality California
OUTnewcomers
Football v Homophobia
Anonymous Organization
FNV Rainbow Network
Pride Netwerk NL
Observatori Contra l’LGTBI-fòbia
Espacio Tolomocho
Healthy Life NGO
Queerstion Media
Gruppo Trans APS (Italy)
Diversidad Perú
Movimiento SOMOS – Venezuela
Observatorio de Derechos LGBTIQ+ de Venezuela
Colectivo Seres, A.C.
Corporación Femm
Zagreb Pride
Centro LGBTIQ+ de Mérida – Venezuela
Anonymous Organization
NGO Diversa Patagonia, Chile
Tonga Leitis Association
Red LESLAC – Red de Organizaciones de Lesbianas y Bisexuales de Latinoamérica y el Caribe
Veeduría Ciudadana de la Política Pública Nacional LGBTIQ de Colombia
Equal Namibia
EQUAL GROUND, Sri Lanka
FOCUS DROITS ET ACCES
Lesbian Intersex Trans and other Extensions
Egale Canada
Transgender red umbrella (TGRU.ORG)
Community Care Collective
Spectrum
GIRLxGIRL
Unicorns LGBTQIA+ Netball Club
WEKA ORGANISATION
Cardiff Dragons FC
The Women’s Football Collective
Fierté Canada Pride
LEAP Sports Scotland
MPact Global
Diversidad Dominicana (DIVERDOM)
Round o.z.
Nexus Solidarity Initiative
Intersex Iceland
Anonymous Organization
Asociatia TransCore (Romania)
European Gay & Lesbian Sports Federation
Cymric Netball Clwb
AMIGAY aps
Cardiff 62s FC
Foundation for Freedom / Etnoliga
Anonymous Organization
Arcigay Modena “Matthew Shepard”
Be Gay Do Climbs
Intersex Venezuela
Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Ontario
Syndicat des Métallos
“DiverCity” Social-Cultural, Human Rights Defender NGO
The Army of Survivors
XY Spectrum
Working For Our Wellbeing
Tooro action for vulnerability and human rights uganda
Diversidad Democrática
Fundacion Arcoiris por el respeto a la diversidad sexual
Orgullo Ecatepec
San Aelredo AC
Nassawiyat Morocco-نسويات المغرب
Consortium for Intersectional Justice
Colectivo Diversa CODIVER
Comunidad Cultural de Tijuana LGBTI A.C.
Sinaloa Incluyente A.C.
Transfeminist Initiative TransAkcija
Bicicleta de la diversidad
MUKI
Hondureños contra el SIDA
Diva Cassandra International
SHARKES LGBTIQ+
Sexual Violence Prevention Association (SVPA)
GLAAD
FORGE, Inc.
Organization- Ladlad Caraga Inc.
Open Heart Community based organization for Health Empowerment and Sustainable Development
Sharkes
ODRI – Office against Discrimination, Racism and Intolerance
Unid@s por la Diversidad en el Valle de Tecomán a.c
Inclusive Rainbow Voices LGBTIQA+ People with Disability
Rainbow Nation Brussels
ASEAN SOGIE CAUCUS
Incluziune pe Bune
One Future Collective
Transfamily Incorporated
The Fruit Basket
Outrage Magazine
Bahaghari Center for SOGIE Research, Education and Advocacy, Inc.
Centro de Apoyo a las Identidades Trans. Rocio Suárez
Sharkes deporte LGBTQ
University of Leeds
International Planned Parenthood Federation
Philippine Anti-Discrimination Alliance of Youth Leaders (PANTAY) Inc.
Pride In Touch
Intersex Philippines
Fondazione Genere Identità Cultura
Osservatorio Nazionale Identità di Genere- ONIG
RFSL
Community Welfare and Development Fund
Vision GRAM-International
Associazione Frida Kahlo Palermo a.p.s.ed e.t.s
Rete Trans* Nazionale di Arcigay
Arcigay – Associazione LGBTQIA+ Italiana
Arcigay Salento
Gender DynamiX
Comunidad para la Diversidad, los Derechos y la Ciudadanía de Aguascalientes (México), CODDEC
ÜniKuir
Minority Azerbaijan
Manchester Laces
7tepe7renk
Arcigay Catania
Arcigay Cremona La Rocca
Gaynet – Formazione e Comunicazione sui temi LGBTQIA+
Mbambe Foundation Charity
Minority Veterans of America
Lanka Fundamental Rights Organization
Federation of Sexual and Gender Minorities Nepal
MANODIVERSA
Accountability International
Women’s Windows
Asociación AHORA DÓNDE-Le Refuge
Broken Rainbow-japan
The LGBT life e.V.
Equality access to health and rights initiative (EAHRI)
Solace Initiative
NOOR
Sudur Paschim Samaj, Nepal
Anonymous Organization
Association Big Mama
Pinkriot Arcigay Pisa
JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF)
Trans Affirmative Action Guild
Oogachaga (Singapore)
Trans-Fitness
Fundacion para Estudio e investigacion de la MUjer
Anonymous Organization
Equality Amplified Ltd
Petricor Aventuras
Derechos Humanos y Diversidad Asociacion Civil
Oceania Pride
Babaylanes Inc.
International Women’s Development Agency (IWDA)
LGBT CENTRE MONGOLIA
Shongshoptok
Women Deliver
Anonymous Organization
TransLucent.Org.UK
ARELAS, FAMILIAS MENORES E MOCIDADE TRANS DE GALICIA
LGBTI+ Gozo
PROUT AT WORK-Foundation
Acceptess-T
TACEF
Right Side HRD NGO
SWO
Transgender Network Switzerland
Regional Advocacy for Women’s Sustainable Advancement Alliance for African and Arab States
TransParente, Consultoria e Educação
Sipineq+
Foundation Resource Center Bilitis
Sahasi Kadam Nepal
Lake Region Womxn Health and Equal Rights
Fem Alliance Uganda
movingsport
Seitenwechsel, Sportclub for WomenLesbianTransInter and Girls e.V.
TRANS FUTURE DRC/ASBL.
ENGSO EWS Committee
Summit We Care For The Needy Foundation Kisumu
WDP
Interfaith Diversity Network of West Africa
Trans Wellness Project
Iniciativa Inakost (Slovakia)
AIHMS-GLOBAL
VIKASH-SAMUKHYA
European Sex Workers’ Rights Alliance (ESWA)
VIMÖ / OII Austria
The Regional Coalition for Women Human Rights Defenders in South West Asia and North Africa (WHRDMENA)
Sexual and Reproduction Justice Coalition
Laboratorio de la Diversidad A.C.
Intersex South Africa
Namibia Diverse Women’s Association (NDWA)
Omphalos LGBTI
Orgoglio Bisessuale
Alianza Lambda of Venezuela NGO
Estonian Trans Alliance
IPPF Américas y El Caribe
SFBSP-BURUNDI
TDJ-BURUNDI
COFEM
Club Esportiu LGTBI+ Samarucs València
Gila Project for Trans Empowerment
Fucsi Oopsie
Human Rights Defenders Network-Sierra Leone
Equality Rights Africa Organization(ERAO)
ODRI Office against Discrimination, Racism and Intolerance
ReportOUT
Roompicapo ASD APS
Center for Reproductive Rights
AGAPANTO APS ANZISNI LGBTQ
IGLYO — The International LGBTQI Youth & Student Organisation
Hemisphere
PFLAG National
Pride Toronto
Circolo di cultura omosessuale Mario Mieli
T Genus
CEST centro salute trans e gender variant
TransActual
African Rainbow Family
Asociación por las Infancias Transgénero A.C.
LSVD⁺ – Federation Queer Diversity
Hirschfeld Eddy Foundation
Iranti
intersexioni (Italy)
Malta LGBTIQ Rights Movement (MGRM)
End Rape On Campus
Inter*Trans*Beratung queer leben der Schwulenberatung Berlin
ÜniKuir
Center for LGBTIQA People’s Rights
Sexual Rights Initiative
Reduc
Advocates for Trans Equality
Seta
SASOD Guyana
The Christian Rainbow Movement – Riksförbundet EKHO
Fundación Derechos Humanos, Equidad y Género (FUNDHEG)
The Kite Trust
CA LGBTQ Health and Human Services Network
Agendo nazionale
Associazione NUDI
Rainbow Nation Brussels
Transgender Law Center
Intersex Esiste APS
Expansive Dignity, LLC
BiNe – Bisexuelles Netzwerk e.V.
Advocates for Youth
GenderLens
Possibile LGBTI+
MenEngage Global Alliance
interACT: Advocates for Intersex Youth
UFCW OUTreach
Transgender Victoria
LGBT+ Liberal Democrats
Transcontingenta
Te Ngākau Kahukura
Qtopia
Oasis Legal Services
Ipas US
EquiMind Namibia
MNZM
Pacific Sexual and Gender Diversity Network
Rainbow Pride Foundation
Golden Women Initiative
Sehnaz Kiymaz Bahceci
Brescia Checkpoint
Tomorrow Women in Sports Foundation
Tranzuri Kenya
Tonga Leitis Association
çavaria
International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC)
Transgender Equality Network Ireland
Queeres Netzwerk Niedersachsen e.V.
Principle 17 – for tailored trans* healthcare
Transgender Equality Network Ireland (TENI)
İnter Dayanışma
Fundacja Interakcja
Caminar Intersex
Trans Iceland
Intersex Ireland
International Service for Human Rights (ISHR)
Collectif Intersexe Activiste – OII France
Just Detention International
Tranzycja
Survivor Aid

Individuals

Meriç G. Doğan
Igor MEDVID, HPLGBT Coordinator
Mamatkazy Rasul
Kanykei kyzy
Alex Shah
Jules Mugaruka, Advocacy Director of La Colombe Pride asbl
Adjakale Eulode
Paula Goodwin
Tamara Adrian
Elias Fjellander, president RFSL Ungdom – Queer Youth Sweden
John M. Barac
Olubiyi Sanders
Dr B Hamilton
Shantae Porteous
Esteban Paulón
Dr. Guylaine Demers
Dr Abby Barras
Joséphina Jouda Bouden
Anonymous Individual
Patrick van der Pas
Jeremy Anfeerne Roa Rosa
Ivan Adam Šestan
Zuleika Rivera
Piara Powar
Brett, United Steelworkers union
Alex Orué
Karolin Heckemeyer
Miguel Vieito Villar
Jen Rees-Watts
Maria Lina Tornesello
Bianca Iula
Peter Mekers (Member of the FNV Trade Union Parliament & City Council member for D66 in The Hague, The Netherlands)
Mino Likwasi
Kristian Ranđelović
Nkwain Hamlet
Erynn Robert – Prisme
Guillaume Charbonneau
Michela
Eliza Broadbent
Charlie Lindley
Susana T Fried
Maria Luisa Alatorre Castañeda
Vanessa Gutierrez Laborin
Alberto Luna Navarro
Ayouba El Hamri
Kassandra Guazo
Fulvio Frati
Will – Nexus Solidarity Initiative
Jesús Calixto Carrizoza Félix
César Augusto Monteros Espinosa de los Monteros Sánchez
Sofía J. Poiré
Sam García Estrada
Alfredo González
Gerardo Malagón
Fiona McOwan
Anonymous Individual
Jack Byrne, Aotearoa
Dam Ocampo
Helen Dalley Fisher
Stephen Leahy
Matam Manogna
Julie Cook
Udugampalage Geetha Lakmini
Giovanna Tacconi
Anonymous Individual
Lou Englefield
Kashindi Shabani Gady
Luca bruno
Zammy
Lucia Bonaffino
Antonio
Samuele Russo
Aaditya Rai
Victor Amisi Sulubika
Christian Leonardo Cristalli
Anonymous Individual
Anonymous Individual
Andrea Foschini
Wilfrido Isamí Salazar Rule
Marcantonio Salvatore
Anonymous Individual
Anonymous Individual
rac montoro
J Solle, FRNY LGBT Pride Run Director
Alara Nazlı Yılmaz
Kris Dharmasaroja
Daniela Petracca
Massimo Croce
Daniele Bonaiuti
Tizzi Lorenza
Camila Nav
Peter Perkowski
Davide Lena
Sheriff Mothopeng
Daniela Tomasino, Palermo Pride
Adisa Musah
Gulzada Serzhan, Kazakhstan Feminist Initiative “Feminita”
Joana Isabel Gomes
Gianmarco
Anonymous Individual
Kyky Baum
Gemma Brulles
Anonymous Individual
Anonymous Individual
Ratu Eroni Ledua Dina (Lady Rhonda Eulalie Lark Dracaena)
Alessandra Longobardi
erynn rowan laurie
Amy Bryant, Gay Games Denver 2030 Bid Committee
Anonymous Individual
Özgür Gür
Yaquota Idrissy
Carsten Bock LGBTI Chair of United Service Trade Union Germany
Anonymous Individual
Adrian Turrado
Prof. Emeritus Stephen Whittle, OBE, FAcSS
Katie Welch
Ricki Coughlan
Anonymous Individual
Hiromi Kusano
ENKHMAA ENKHBOLD
Anonymous Individual
Ale
Rachel Perry-Doyle
Milo Serraglia
Mauro Cabral Grinspan
Kuhoo Tiwari, One Future Collective
Anonymous Individual
Giovanna Rincon
Alexander Cavo Seminara
Karol Kaljuste
Daniela Marin Platero
R V Walters
Stella Nyanzi
Robin Zlatarov
Rose Magar
Tino Chikuni
Lindokuhle Sibiya
Guillem Montoro Lopez
Ciara O’Connor
Samantha
Alice Nuttall
Chris – Transketeers
Luke Dowding, CEO – OneBodyOneFaith
Caitlin Sinclair
Anonymous Individual
Blue
Bibe Kalalu
IBRAHIMU NGELENGELE S/ TRANS FUTURE DRC/ASBL.
M Weicherding
Alegra Wolter
Murineni
Sikhander Coopoo (Gender and Sexuality Alliance)
Lwandle Maphumulo
Anonymous Individual
Lotte kgasago
CJ
Sally Ann Murray
Basetsana
Dr Claire Jenkins
Robin Brady
Bert Elya-Noah Rozowski
Ned Brauer
Phiri Chipili
Thato Lauren van Rensburg
Jami Zulu
Karabo
Medusa Iro
Diego Angelo Cricelli
Thalia Taioli
Vuyo Mbutho
Erica Formosino
Sema Semih
Chris dBP
Saga Mackenzie
Anonymous Individual
Ruben Francisco Romero Lozano
Many Jovial – @THE FRUIT BASKET
Jackson Ryan
Isabella Jaspering
Sheriff
Nadya
Mohammad Moosa Azmi
arthi
Stefano Bucaioni
Vincent Vallon
Jonathan Ospina-Betancurt
Dr. Ernst Silbermayr
Nayara Felix
Anonymous Individual
Ntirapeba Esperance
Jeankeshi
Sara Barbo
Dusenga
Marta Paris
Giollo
Julia Monro (trans* Activist from Germany)
Eddie Styne from Transhuman, Kenya
Nausicaa
Elisabetta Marzi
Fezile
Rob
Astrid Francesconi
Gorata Nzimande
Marisa Paredes
Aleph Bononi
Cassandra Churchwell
Drew Dalton
Stephanie Longden
Anonymous individual
Noella Jolie Nyinawase Maguriro
Purity Atieno
Luca Ciaccarini Mavilla
Constance Marée
Anonymous individual
Jane Greenstock
Silvia Casuscelli
Avali Khare
Bette Levy
Martin Barrett
Balemba
Mac Ilakut
Emanuele Bizzarri
Fleurian Ray Filkins
Costa Sibanda
Meital
Clayton Mercieca
Aderonke Apata
Federico Pontillo
Paola Biondi
Dylan Uys
Izack Alberto Zacarias Najar
Sylvester Kazibwe
Cecilia Tironzelli
Anonymous individual
Alberto C
Mario Moreira
Ailsa and Kate Hermann-Wu
Yadira Gomez
Ruth Baldacchino
Anonymous individual
Geten
Monica Zocconali
Brian Gorlick
Bart Bloem Herraiz
Bernice Roust
August Golden
Donatella Siringo
Antonello Sannino
Danilo di Leo
Patsy P Alley
Mariana Winocur
Danee Amorim
Anonymous individual
Rev. Michael Schuenemeyer
Gianmarco Capogna
Anonymous individual
Clio Cataldo
Cristina Leo
Michele Kessler
Viviane Vergueiro Simakawa
Paul Wnuk
Dr. AJ Eckert
Son Vivienne
Rāwā Karetai Wood-Bodley
Raphaela Berghammer-Bohmer
Matokeo
Michael Mardel
Ziggy Porsche
Isikeli Vulavou
Moira Clunie
Anonymous individual
Anonymous individual
JM J
Sehnaz Kiymaz Bahceci
Brescia Checkpoint
Jay Mukasa
Connex Khomba
Sandile Ndelu
Nassuna stellah
Ruth Barrett
Clara Montesdeoca
Dr David Eldridge
Councillor Tony Briffa JP
匿名
Abraham Wani Alfred

References

¹https://documents.un.org/doc/undoc/gen/n24/235/12/pdf/n2423512.pdf, par. 74. “Although the Convention only refers to sex-based discrimination, interpreting article 1 together with articles 2 (f) and 5 (a) indicates that the Convention covers gender-based discrimination against women. … The application of the Convention to gender-based discrimination is made clear by the definition of discrimination contained in article 1.” Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women, General Recommendation No. 28 (2010). Moreover, in 2017, the CEDAW Committee issued its General recommendation No. 35 on gender-based violence against women, updating General Recommendation No. 19, explaining that “the concept of ‘violence against women’, as defined in general recommendation No. 19 and other international instruments and documents, has places an emphasis on the fact that such violence is gender based. Accordingly, in the present recommendation, the term ‘gender-based violence against women’ is used as a more precise term that makes explicit the gendered causes and impacts of the violence.” CEDAW/C/GC/35 (2017), para. 9.

²“The expert reiterated the right of any person to their gender identity and to be respected in their dignity, as enshrined in articles 6 and 7 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Denying adult women their right to gender self-identification, including by insisting on calling them “male”, is unacceptable and may be regarded as hate speech.”

³OII-Europe statement condemning hate speech against two athletes competing in the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris: https://www.oiieurope.org/condemns-hate-speech-against-two-athletes-olympics/

⁴Some examples are: Ednanci Silva, an intersex former judo athlete, World Champion medalist, and two-time Pan American champion. In 1995, she was banned from competing after competitors signed a letter requesting her exclusion. To compete in the 1996 Olympic Games, she was forced to remove her testicle and uterus. Tiffany Abreu, the first trans woman to play in Brazil’s National League, started her gender transition in 2012. Despite following International Volleyball Federation rules, Tiffany has received backlash from the press and other volleyball players; and has been falsely accused of having an unfair advantage. Erika Coimbra, a cisgender former volleyball player, was excluded from competing at the Sydney Olympic Games in 2000 upon discovering that she was born with Morris syndrome, a rare genetic disorder characterized by androgen resistance.

⁶In the specific context of sports, the UN Special Rapporteur in the field of cultural rights has drawn attention to the perceptions about the sporting abilities of racialized and Indigenous women that are influenced by racial and gender stereotypes about women’s bodies and notions of femininity.

⁷https://www.unwomen.org/sites/default/files/2023-07/3343_unwomen_unesco_vawg_handbook_6a_singlepage.pdf, p. 46.

⁸https://www.ohchr.org/sites/default/files/documents/issues/sexualorientation/iesogi/2023-10-31-stm-sogi-policy-en.pdf.

⁹ For more information, see: Athlete Ally Responds to USAPL’s Harmful “Third Category.”