Ali Center 4th annual Athletes and Social Change Forum:

“Creating a Declaration for Human Rights in Sports”

“A framework for athletes’ rights and human rights in sports”

Ann Peel April 8, 2016

What is my vision?

Sport that honours the human rights of all participants* in its practices and operating principles world-wide. *athletes, coaches, officials, volunteers, workers – in short, all involved in the pursuit and support of sport

Why?

After all, sport is about rules, the rules apply to all, what could be the problem?

In fact, the rules of sport are not applied consistently or fairly. On the field of play and off. We must care, because success is a function of who gets to play, and how the play is regulated.

The lack of respect for human rights in sport is well-catalogued, systemic, and a serious problem.

How?We must create a power shift.

Sport is hierarchical with power concentrated at the top – this must shift to decision-making that is more inclusive, diverse in perspective and equitable.

Theories of Change

What is our theory of change?

1. Awareness and education (a Declaration of Rights in Sport)

2. Models of a new vision (test cases?)3. Examples of those models in action4. People internalize the new behaviours

A framework for athletes’ rightsA few suggested questions:1. Do we need to think beyond athletes to all

participants?2. Are these rights the rights of people as participants

in sport or as human beings? Is there a difference?3. Do we want a Declaration of Rights in Sport to go

further than the Declaration of Human Rights ie to include economic rights as well as legal rights?

4. Should it include positive obligations to assist people who have not received fair treatment?

5. Can sport push change or must it react?

What is our implementation strategy?

1. How will we bring attention to our Declaration?2. How will we make the case for human rights to

those with the power to protect and honour those rights?

3. Can we create a positive obligation?4. How will we act on violations of those rights?5. Where are our allies around the world? Are

they only in sport?

Success?

• What will a world in which sport honours human rights look like?

• How will we know we’re there?

• Could we/should we embark on a test case or two to demonstrate a positive view of our vision?*