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
- 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 - Episode 2: “Behind the Statistics”
Understanding the data on abuse in sports Watch the second episode of our three-part series exploring scientific data on violence in sports: “Behind the Statistics.” In this video, we dive into prevalence studies and associated factors that put some groups of athletes at higher risk. Led by Dr Aurelie Pankowiak, postdoctoral researcher at the Institute… Read more: Episode 2: “Behind the Statistics” - Olympic athletes should be paid and heard, says public poll
Next president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) must make the Games fair and share proceeds with athletes (Nyon, Switzerland, 23 January 2025) UNI World Players, a sector of UNI Global Union, has carried out the first-ever public poll to assess awareness and attitudes regarding athletes’ rights and representation at the Olympic Games. The poll of… Read more: Olympic athletes should be paid and heard, says public poll