Championing Human Rights in the Governance of Sports Bodies

Sports bodies are critical actors in delivering mega-sporting events, setting the expectations and standards to which events should be delivered. Through implementing human rights within their own governance and operations, sports bodies can take important steps towards protecting the values of sport and implementing respect for human rights.

A new human rights guide for sports bodies of all sizes was launched at the General Assembly of the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF), on the eve of the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia.

"Championing Human Rights in the Governance of Sports Bodies" introduces human rights to sports bodies, large and small, drawing on lessons from the International Olympic Committee, FIFA, UEFA, and the Commonwealth Games Federation and outlining four tangible steps that sports bodies can take to build human rights into the governance of their organisations. Focussed explicitly on governance, this Guide is intended for consideration at executive and board level of sports bodies.

The Guide has been developed by IHRB and the Mega-Sporting Events Platform for Human Rights through its Task Force on Sports Bodies chaired by David Grevemberg (Chief Executive, CGF) and David Rutherford (Chief Commissioner, New Zealand Human Rights Commission), with the support of DLA Piper and Unicef UK, and input from the IOC, FIFA, UEFA, and the CGF.

The Guide is also available in French.

Commenting at the launch, David Grevemberg called on all sports bodies of all sizes, inside and outside of the Commonwealth, to implement the Guide's practical steps:

We are all custodians of sporting movements and organisations that have inherent potential to create positive change in the world. To realise this potential, it is essential that respect for human rights be embedded within governance and operations. 
David Grevemberg, Chief Executive, Commonwealth Games Federation