State of Play - Emerging Practice in Sport and Human Rights

Author - Centre for Sport and Human Rights

This State of Play report showcases more than 300 examples of recent actions taken by a wide range of actors across the sport ecosystem. Using a methodology derived from international human rights standards and sport specific frameworks, the report highlights promising signs and emerging practice across sport and human rights. It reveals the breadth, and in many cases depth, of positive efforts by institutions in sport - including sports bodies, major sporting event organisers, governments, sponsors, broadcasters, trade unions, non-governmental organisations, journalists, national human rights institutions and others. It also highlights the actions of individuals, including athletes and journalists. 

State of Play is published as a draft for consultation in order to gather feedback. Through engaging with stakeholders across the ecosystem, we hope to identify gaps and include further illustrations of emerging practices from different sectors and parts of the world, and track developments over time.  

The examples featured in the report are organised across 35 clusters within nine action areas:

Join us in the consultation

This report pilots a methodology for mapping and categorising emerging developments in the sport and human rights field, and supplies the building blocks that could be used to benchmark, assess and measure human rights progress across the sports ecosystem.

Please use this form to send us examples of human rights-based practice, from anywhere in the world and any segment of the sport ecosystem, that look to protect, respect, remedy or promote human rights in and around sport. We also welcome comments as we look to refine and strengthen the approach and methodology used in the State of Play.