What We Do
We harness the collective strength of our partners to catalyze sport’s unique potential for social impact. We represent and engage with athletes, fans, workers, journalists, grassroots organizations and communities most impacted by the human rights risks of sport – especially women, LGBTI+ people, survivors of abuse, and youth.
Raising the bar for sport, human rights and transparency
Engaging directly with the International Olympic Committee, FIFA and other sport bodies, we advocate for the rights and participation of impacted people at the highest levels of sport decision-making. Through campaigns and movement building, we leverage sport’s massive, passionate audience to drive global awareness, apply strategic pressure, and propel social change.
How we work
Research
We monitor and investigate human rights abuses and corruption, identify risks, and share information with partners and the public.
Mobilize
We organise solidarity and direct actions, participate in protests, engage with survivors’ groups, liaise with constituencies, and coordinate national groups.
Campaign
We engage the media and use our own channels to expose harm, build public pressure and leverage, and raise awareness.
Advocate
We foster engagement, represent and ensure participation of affected people and survivors, propose policy, and recommend legal or industrial action.
Bargain
We negotiate and enforce global agreements with sport governing bodies with respect to embedding human rights in sports.
Our theory of change
By harnessing, organizing, and amplifying the work of our partners, we will create systemic change at multiple levels in the world of sport.
Latest News
- FIFA: Recognize, Support Afghan Women’s Team in Exile
New Report Details Afghan Women Footballers’ Fight for Right to Play (Amsterdam, March 25, 2025) – The Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) should act to stop the ongoing discrimination against Afghan women footballers living in exile and facilitate their return to international competition, the Sport & Rights Alliance said in a report released today.… Read more: FIFA: Recognize, Support Afghan Women’s Team in Exile - Olympics: Presidential Candidates Need to Step Up on Rights
Lack of Priority for IOC Human Rights Policies Poses Risk to Athletes, Fans, Workers (Amsterdam, February 26, 2025) – Candidates for the presidency of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) failed to adequately address human rights and good governance in documents outlining their proposed programs, in advance of March elections, the Sport & Rights Alliance said… Read more: Olympics: Presidential Candidates Need to Step Up on Rights - United States: Trump administration denies people right to play and fails to protect women
Executive order goes against United Nations and human rights experts (Amsterdam, February 7, 2025) – The Sport & Rights Alliance vehemently rejects the executive order signed by US President Donald Trump which aims at excluding trans, gender-diverse, and intersex people from competing in sports at all levels. “The right to play sports should be available… Read more: United States: Trump administration denies people right to play and fails to protect women