Sport and Rights

In the comings weeks, we are launching "Responsible Sport", our new strategy for 2026-2030. It is a roadmap to a world of sport where everyone feels safe, included, and respected. In this new episode, as we introduce the strategy, we take a moment to reflect on the evolution of the Centre for Sport and Human Rights, the demands of the moment, and what it will take to close the gap between sport's...

In the coming weeks, the Centre for Sport and Human Rights will publish Responsible Sport, our strategy for 2026–2030. The roots of this refreshed strategy go back a decade — to three days in November 2015, in Glion, Switzerland, when the question of whether sport could better address its human rights impacts was put to a room of diverse stakeholders representing a range of institutions and govern...

This episode of the sport and rights podcast brings together experts, academics and practitioners to discuss the implications of a new report of the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) to the Human Rights Council (HRC). The Report advances the discussion around the rights of persons with disabilities to participation in sport under article 30 of the Convention on the Rights...

With 2020 set to be one of the hottest years on record, climate change is bringing harsher heatwaves, heavier rain and fire risks among other threats. Playing and watching sport in 2021 will be increasing challenging. Long-term climate change will potentially increase migration, driving increased human rights abuses, racism and discrimination. In sport, the effects will not be evenly spread. Damag...

In this episode we look into how women in sport have been leading change in these challenging times, what progresses we have made as society towards gender equality in sports, structural barriers that remain, and effective measures to level the playing field for women and girls in sport. Featuring: Mary Harvey, CEO, Centre for Sport and Human Rights Sandra Kirby, Olympian and Founding Member of Sa...

In this, sixth and final episode, we look toward the future and are reminded of the value and beauty that sport and play provide not only to millions of children around the world, but also to the ideals of cooperation, community, competition and peace. Featuring: Mary Harvey, Centre for Sport and Human Rights Kirsty Burrows, Sports Rights Solutions Dr Najat Malla M'jid, United Nations Elda Moreno,...

On this episode our guests discuss the important roles that sport plays in the lives of children with disabilities and observations on the specific impacts that the restriction in access to sport is having, Featuring: Mary Harvey, Centre for Sport and Human Rights Kirsty Burrows, Sports Rights Solutions Dr. Cheri Blauwet, Harvard Medical School Charles Nyambe, Special Olympics Africa

eSport has seen exponential growth over the past few years and the pandemic has only increased its rise in popularity. In this episode, we discuss gaming's enormous reach and explore both the challenges, such as online safety and increased screen time, as well as its power for social change, education and the opportunity for connection during a time of isolation. Featuring: Mary Harvey – Centre fo...

In this third episode of the special podcast series on Children, Sport and COVID-19, we will discuss the critical importance of the voice of the child, the need for role models and other persons of support for young athletes, and the necessity for safe and smart training plans as young people gradually return to sport. Featuring: Mary Harvey – Centre for Sport and Human Rights Kirsty Burrows – Spo...

This episode continues the conversation started in episode 1 concerning the impacts associated with the absence of sport and that impact on children. Today we look specifically at the impacts felt by children in humanitarian situations, as well as the difficulties faced by sport for development programs.

This episode looks at how the absence of sport is impacting both the physical and mental well-being of children all around the world. From feelings of isolation, loss of team dynamic, or just the lack of physical activity, children are grappling to figure out this new normal. Featuring: Mary Harvey – Centre for Sport and Human Rights Kirsty Burrows – Sports Rights Solutions Dr. David McDuff - Mary...

In April 2020 the Centre for Sport and Human Rights led a call for experts and practitioners in child rights, protection, and safeguarding in sport to come together to consider the Sports-Related Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Children. A paper of the same name was subsequently published in June 2020. This 6-part Centre for Sport and Human Rights Podcast Series is a continuation of this initi...

Qatar's human rights record has been in the spotlight since they won the right to host the FIFA Mens World Cup back in 2010. Recently there have been some major developments in labour laws in the country but there are still a lot of challenges, including ensuring that standards developed for the World Cup take root across the country. In this podcast Centre CEO Mary Harvey sits down with two peopl...

This year has seen two major impacts on the world of sport. The Covid-19 pandemic has disrupted sport all over the world, and with it, threats to athlete, fan and worker health and safety. We also saw an increase in athlete activism, ignited by the deaths of George Floyd, Brionna Taylor and Ahmaud Aubry. At the Centre, we’ve looked at how both of these events have impacted the world of sport and h...

In the first of our regular series of podcasts, Centre CEO Mary Harvey spoke to Minky Worden, the Director of Global Initiatives at Human Rights Watch. Minky has taught as an Adjunct Associate Professor at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA) since 2013. Before joining Human Rights Watch in 1998, Worden lived and worked in Hong Kong as an adviser to Democratic Pa...

Welcome to the Sport and Rights podcast, brought to you by the Centre for Sport and Human Rights.