Rights Through Sport

Mapping “Sport For

Development And Peace”
 Rights Through Sport
Mapping “Sport For
Development And Peace”
April 2018

Cite as: Institute for Human Rights and Business, “Rights Through Sport: Mapping “Sport For
Development And Peace”” (April 2018) Available at: https://www.ihrb.org/focus-areas/mega-
sporting-events/report-mapping-sport-for-development-and-peace.

Acknowledgements: This report has been prepared by the Institute for Human Rights and
Business (IHRB) with research and drafting led by IHRB’s Guido Battaglia. The findings and
recommendations are those of IHRB and do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the
interviewees and participants.

Copyright: © Institute for Human Rights and Business (IHRB), April 2018. Published by IHRB.
All rights reserved. IHRB permits free reproduction of extracts from this publication provided that
due acknowledgment is given.
Contents
Executive Summary 4
Background and Definitions 7
Mapping Key Actors 9
Mapping SDP and
The United Nations 12
From Priority to Uncertainty 12
Reconsolidation Around the UN Global Goals
on Sustainable Development 14
SDP and Human Rights 15
Rights-Based Approaches 15
Human Rights Due Diligence 17
Recommendations20
Responsibility20
Alignment20
Promotion20
Collective Action 20
Appendix 1: Mapping the Existing Players 21
Appendix 2: List of Interviewees 27
Appendix 3: Roundtables 28
Appendix 4: Bibliography 31
1 Executive Summary
Over the past thirty years, an emerging “Sport for Development and Peace” (SDP)
agenda has grown significantly, involving a range of actors including sports bodies,
international organisations, companies and NGOs. Today, the amount spent on
programmes supporting development and peace activities in the context of sport is
estimated to be more than $150 million a year.1 It is a high-profile endeavour with
some sports organisations having their own foundations, others funding grassroots
organisations directly, and still others in partnerships with UN agencies and NGOs.

Yet there is little coherence between the different approaches being implemented by
the diverse actors involved. Activities range from straightforward philanthropic support
to others claiming more concrete outcomes in terms of either developmental impact
and/or good governance. Increasingly these claims are made within the context of
progress towards specific objectives linked to the UN Sustainable Development Goals
(SDGs). A number of leading organisations active in the SDP sector have developed
programmes based on human rights principles.

Between 2001 and 2017, a United Nations (UN) mandate holder was tasked with
coordinating activities relating to Sport, Development and Peace and a specific UN
Office supported this work. Both the Office and the Mandate ended in 2017 as an
apparent cost-saving measure. This was seen by many experts as a reflection of the
mixed results obtained in achieving coherence and impact across the UN system and
with other actors involved, due also to the limited resources available.2

At the same time, a fledgling “sport and human rights” community is growing.3 This
creates an opportunity for firmer integration of international human rights principles
and standards across the world of sport, including by advocating a central role for
human rights and by establishing links as appropriate with those involved in the
broader sport, development, and peace agenda. This report proposes four areas where
this goal could be pursued, through:

• Responsibility. SDP initiatives cannot just be about outcomes. They must also
be about accountability and must manage the full range of their impacts through
human rights due diligence. More can be done both to highlight how existing SDP
endeavours have actual and potential adverse human rights impacts, in particular for
those groups most affected by sport such as children, communities, workers, athletes
and fans, and to propose the best forms of mitigation, prevention and remedy.

1 See Appendix 1: Mapping the existing players

2 For articles and commentaries on the recent closure of UNOSDP see https://www.sportanddev.org/en/
news-and-views/call-articles/closure-unosdp
3 The Sports Rights Alliance (SRA) has been successful in aligning NGOs and Trade Unions across many
of the affected groups most impacted by sport, in particular with respect to Mega-Sporting Events. The
Mega-Sporting Events Platform on Human Rights brings together 26 different stakeholders (sports bodies,
governments, hosts, sponsors, broadcasters, IGOs, NGOs and Trade Unions) and committed to establishing
a Centre for Sport and Human Rights in 2018. See http://www.sportandhumanrights.org/wordpress/index.
php/2015/07/06/sport-and-rights-alliance/ and https://megasportingevents.org

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 • Alignment. Greater efforts are needed to demonstrate how a rights-based
approach to SDP programmes and activities can support positive outcomes aligned
with the UN Global Goals on Sustainable Development (SDGs), in particular for
those groups most affected by sport.

• Promotion. New and existing networks can work together to engage a much wider
spectrum of sports organisations and others involved in SDP programmes about
the need for greater human rights integration.

• Collective Action. Multi-stakeholder coalitions like the Mega-Sporting Events

Platform for Human Rights that will become a permanent, independent Centre for
Sport and Human Rights4 can play a key role in the coordination of human rights
efforts as part of the SDP agenda.

4 See joint statement setting out collective commitment to launch the Centre here: https://www.ihrb.org/
uploads/news-uploads/Centre_for_Sport_and_Human_Rights_-_Joint_Statement_-_English.pdf. See
meeting report from the second annual sporting chance forum here: https://www.ihrb.org/focus-areas/
mega-sporting-events/2017-sporting-chance-forum-meeting-report

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 Background and 2
Definitions
The UN system has defined sport in the context of development and peace as “all forms
of physical activity that contribute to physical fitness, mental well-being and social
interaction, such as play, recreation, organised or competitive sport, and indigenous
sports and games”.5 Sport for Development and Peace (SDP) refers to the intentional use
of sport, physical activity and play to attain specific development and peace objectives.6

One of the first formal Sport for Development organisations – the Mathare Youth Sports
Association - was founded in 1987, although sport-based approaches have been used
for much longer within broader development programming. The origin and proliferation
of official SDP Programmes date back to the 1990s, in the aftermath of the Cold War.
Increased athlete activism, a neo-liberal emphasis on entrepreneurship and mass
mobilisations like the “Make Poverty History” campaign were all important factors that
enabled growing activity in this area.7

In the following years, a series of international declarations, policies, publications and

the influence of the Internet reaffirmed the importance of sport and physical activity.
These efforts have consolidated support for SDP as a shared agenda for promoting
development and peace objectives through sport.

Thousands of SDP programmes currently exist around the world, although it is a very
difficult task to calculate the exact number,8 as they vary in terms of size, length and
objectives they plan to attain. SDP programmes are mainly implemented in the Global
South although the number of programmes that are developed in the Global North is
not negligible. The examples in the box below are illustrative of the different objectives
and nature of the activities falling under the SDP banner:9

5 See UN Inter-Agency Task Force on Sport for Development and Peace, Leadership gap at the interna-
tional level on policy guidelines, research expertise and connections with other organisations to fortify
the movement, 2003.
6 See Sport for Development and Peace International Working Group (SDPIWG), Harnessing the Power
of Sport for Development and Peace, 2010
7 See Kidd, A new social movement: Sport for development and peace, 2008.
8 For a non-exhaustive list of SDP programmes see sportanddev.org and beyondsport.org, on-line plat-
forms. A recent study identified 955 organisations involved in the operation of grassroots SDP prac-
tices. Africa was reported as being the top region where programmes are based and delivered. 787
organisations were found to identify the type of sport or activity used to deliver their programming in
their mission statement or organisational description. Of these, almost half of the SDP organisations
identified the use of multiple sports to deliver their grassroots programming, which includes the use of
various play and physical activities. 30% used football as their sport of choice for SDP programming.
followed by basketball (3.2), rugby (2.4%) and Martial Arts (2.0%,). See Svensson, Woods, A systematic
overview of sport for development and peace organisations, Journal of Sport for Development, 2017.
9 See Giulianotti, The Sport for Development and Peace Sector: An Analysis of its Emergence, Key Insti-
tutions, and Social Possibilities, 2008.

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 Box 1 - Examples of SDP programmes

Football matches featuring international top players organised by international

organisations, sport associations and governments to collect funding to finance projects
against poverty.

-- Example: UEFA and UNITED NATIONS Match for Solidarity to raise funds for
humanitarian and development projects.

Programmes in disadvantaged areas to promote development and peace

objectives through sport, such as:
-- Supporting the education, training and employment of young people
Example: The Youth Education through Sport Programme (YES) facilitates life
skills training for young people, including promoting the spirit of voluntarism
and self-initiative for community benefit.

-- Promoting health and fighting disease (e.g. HIV)

Example: UNICEF-led project in partnership with other actors to raise awareness
about HIV and AIDS and violence and to promote birth registration for all
children in Ivory Coast.

-- Reducing juvenile crime and violence

Example: Fight for Peace programmes combining boxing and martial arts with
education and personal development to realise the potential of young people in
communities affected by crime, violence and social exclusion.

-- Empowering social groups (women, ethnic minorities, people with disabilities)

Example: Moving the Goalposts programme focusing on developing economic
empowerment for girls.

-- Build peaceful relations in divided/post-conflict societies

Example: PeacePlayers International Programmes uniting Arab and Jewish youth
in basketball programmes in the Jerusalem Area.

-- Providing psycho-social support for refugees

Example: Terre des Hommes activities and tournaments in child-friendly spaces
strengthening ties between refugees and the local population in Egypt.

Campaigns led by NGOs to fight racism, sexual discrimination, homophobia

and to promote good governance, transparency and media freedom in sport.

-- Example: Play the Game is an international initiative aiming to strengthen the

ethical foundation of sport and promote democracy, transparency and freedom
of expression in sport.

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 Mapping Key Actors 3

In the SDP arena, a range of actors operate at different levels (policy, funding and
operations).

The box below groups key activities and lists examples of the most commonly cited
actors implementing SDP programmes according to interviews and desk research.
Because of the cross-cutting nature of these activities, overlaps are inevitable.
Additional information can be found in Appendix 1 to this report.

Box 2 - Key Actors and Their Activities

Activity Actor Examples

POLICY
Integrate SDP Governments and Germany, United Kingdom, the
into national and Development Agencies Netherlands, Norway, United
international States, Canada, Australia
development International UNESCO, ILO, UNICEF, the
strategies Organisations Commonwealth Secretariat,
European Union
Provide overall International UNOSDP (discontinued in
direction Organisations 2017), UNICEF, UNESCO, ILO,
UNDESA
Skills and capacity International Commonwealth Secretariat,
building for local Organisations UNESCO, UNICEF
implementers, Governments and Germany, United Kingdom, the
partner Development Agencies Netherlands, Norway, United
organisations, States, Canada, Australia
governments etc.
International and Streetfootballworld, Right to
Development NGOs Play, Magic Bus, Swiss Academy
for Development
Communication and International UNOSDP (discontinued in
advocacy Organisations 2017), UNICEF, UNDESA,
UNESCO
Sport Governing UEFA, FIFA, IOC
Bodies, National and
International Sport
Federations
International and Comic Relief, Terre des
Development NGOs Hommes, Streetfootballworld,
Right to Play, sportanddev.org

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 Activity Actor Examples
FUNDING
Fund SDP activities Multinational Nike, Adidas, Richemont
or contribute funds to Corporations
NGOs Private Donors and Laureus Sport for Good, Peace
Foundations and Sport
Teams and Sport Stars Barcelona FC, Manchester
United, Inter Campus, Stars
members of Team UNICEF
Governments Germany, United Kingdom, the
Netherlands
International UNESCO, UNICEF, the
Organisations Commonwealth Secretariat
Sport Governing UEFA, FIFA, IOC, IBF, World
Bodies, National and Taekwondo, Dutch Football
International Sport Association
Federations

OPERATIONS
Facilitate and/ International and Terre des Hommes,
or implement Development NGOs Streetfootballworld, Right to
SDP projects and Play
campaigns
Community-based Mathare Youth Sport Association
Organisations
Campaign Groups and FARE Network, Athlete Ally
Social Movements

SDP programmes are often delivered through partnerships and collaboration between
different actors. For example, in the context of the FIFA Football for Hope Programme,
the NGO Streetfootballworld has worked since 2007 as service provider for FIFA
on specific tasks in connection with the implementation of the Football for Hope
programme.10

Interviews for this report with major stakeholders identified a series of challenges
faced by those involved in the SDP agenda.11 On funding, it is hard to disaggregate
SDP contributions from other areas of sport. For example, investments that focus
on non-sporting outcomes such as supporting the right to play, increasing education
standards, empowering women or reducing gang violence differ from investments
that focus on providing resources, equipment and coaching in order only to increase
performances and results at the elite level. The latter are not inclusive and should not
be considered SDP initiatives.

10 See http://www.fifa.com/sustainability/football-for-hope.html and http://www.streetfootballworld.org/

project/football-hope-programme-support
11 See Appendix 2 for the interviews conducted.

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 The limited and unpredictable funding awarded to implementing NGOs constitutes
a significant hurdle to scaling up and making SDP programmes sustainable, an issue
typical of mainstream development cooperation.

SDP programmes often follow international development dynamics characterised

by financial resources moving from Global North donors to Global South
implementers. Some interviewees stressed that SDP is not immune to the risk of
asymmetric donor-recipient relationships between the North and the South that such
dynamics entail. In particular, some participants highlighted the risk of Southern
grassroots actors being perceived as less relevant and legitimate in the partnership
process, while Northern donors appear to be in a position of efficiency and superiority,
with consequent impact on the design, implementation, and effects of SDP programmes.
Understanding SDP from the perspective of actors in the Global South and a more
culturally and politically sensitive approach were flagged as a key element to address
this risk.

At the operational level, the difficulty of access to information on the application of

standards into the stages of SDP programming has been highlighted as a key challenge.
This often involves imprecise criteria to assess the social impact of programmes and
a lack of attention towards affected groups as well as limited understanding
and implementation of rights based approaches to development activities.
At the local level, those involved in SDP activities are often not aware of human
rights language and standards. Research and interviews also made clear that some
funders and implementers selectively undertake SDP initiatives on the basis
of the issues they want to address, picking and choosing to deal only with those
issues with which they feel comfortable. Such an approach, fails to make inclusive and
equitable development a reality for all.12

As far as communication and policy is concerned, some SDP practitioners may use over-
promising language and over-simplify the development challenges that sport
claims to address. Sport possesses unique positive attributes but it is not immune to
scandals, corruption and abuses, in particular against children and young athletes.13
Its positive impact cannot be taken for granted. It was noted that SDP practitioners
and funders should not claim sport’s innate goodness to legitimate their activities but
should develop – among other measures - a solid Monitoring and Evaluation system
for capturing the impact of the project’s different interventions.

Finally, many interview participants lamented a leadership gap at the international

level on policy guidelines, research expertise and connections with other organisations
to fortify the SDP agenda. The section below describes the development of UN mandates
on SDP over the years and the potential contribution SDP programmes can play in the
delivery of the Sustainable Development Goals.

12 The UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) noted that mere charity is not
enough from a human rights perspective. United Nations agencies have agreed a number of essential
attributes that define a human rights approach to development. See frequently asked questions on a
human rights based approach to development cooperation, 2006, at: http://www.ohchr.org/Docu-
ments/Publications/FAQen.pdf
13 See for example the recent articles below on children abuses in sport: http://www.playthegame.org/
news/news-articles/2017/0401_he-had-total-power-total-control-over-me/gymnast; https://www.
theguardian.com/sport/2018/jan/27/larry-nassar-trial-gymnastics-sexual-abuse

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4 Mapping SDP and
The United Nations

From Priority to Uncertainty

In 2001, then UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan nominated former President of the
Swiss Confederation Adolf Ogi as his Special Adviser on Sport for Development and
Peace. The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), which were established the year
before, emphasized the role of developed countries in aiding developing countries to
achieve a “global partnership for development”14 and the SDP movement led by Ogi in
the United Nations context gained some momentum in its effort to mainstream sport
in development programmes to fulfil the MDGs.

2005 saw the establishment of the United Nations Office for Sport, Development
and Peace (UNOSDP), whose objective (was) to “raise awareness about the use of
physical activity, sport and play as powerful development tools in the advancement
of development and peace objectives”.15 Two international conferences took place
in 2003 and in 2005 in Magglingen (Switzerland) and gathered NGOs, grassroots
sport leaders, officials from the UN and sports federations and high level politicians
to increase awareness and discuss how to improve the effective impact of SDP
programmes. A third conference, planned for the end of 2008, was cancelled16 and
the movement started to lose momentum.

In April 2008, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon appointed Wilfried Lemke, of Germany,

as his Special Adviser on Sport for Development and Peace. During the Lemke era,
the UNOSDP focused on the promotion of the use of sport as a tool in international
development through reports and conferences. Many researchers and experts17 argue
that not enough was done by the UNOSDP to critically analyse the effective impact of
SDP programmes and to recognise or encourage action to address issues associated with
sport that may actually impede development and peace.

In April 2017, the newly appointed UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres discretely

announced a “direct partnership” with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and
the closure of the UN Office on Sport for Development and Peace (UNOSDP), an apparent
cost-saving measure. According to his spokesman, most of UNOSDP’s portfolio will be

14 See MDG 8
15 See https://www.un.org/sport/
16 See http://www.playthegame.org/news/news-articles/2008/sport-and-development-conference-
forced-to-cancel-after-loss-of-funding/
17 See Footnote 2

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 handled by the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA).18

The box below provides an overview of the key international declarations, policies
and publications on the use of sport and physical activity as a tool to contribute to
development and peace goals.19

Box 3 - Sport, Development, and Peace and

The United Nations

1978 Adoption of the UNESCO international Charter of Physical Education, Physical

Activity and Sport, (see 2015 for revised version).

1990 Adoption of the Convention on the Rights of Child

2001 Appointment of the first UN Special Advisor on Sport for Development and Peace

2002 United Nations Inter-Agency Task Force on Sport for Development and Peace Convened

2003 UN General Assembly Resolution 58/5 ‘Sport as a means to promote health,

education, development and peace’

2003 Publication of Sport for Development and Peace: Towards Achieving the
Millennium Development Goals (United Nations)

2005 International Year of Sport and Physical Education proclaimed by the General
Assembly of the United Nations

2005 Establishment of the UN Office for Sport for Development and Peace and Sport
for Development and Peace International Working Group

2006 Adoption of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

2013 United Nations General Assembly resolution 67/296 proclaiming 6 April as the
‘International Day of Sport for Development and Peace’

2015 Adoption of the revised UNESCO International Charter of Physical Education,

Physical Activity and Sport

2015 Adoption of United Nations General Assembly Resolution 70/1 Transforming

our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development

2017 Announcement of closure of the UN Office for Sport Development and Peace

18 See https://www.un.org/press/en/2017/db170504.doc.htm
19 Adapted from Commonwealth Secretariat, Enhancing the Contribution of Sport to the Sustainable De-
velopment Goals.

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 Reconsolidation Around the UN Global
Goals on Sustainable Development
For two decades, a considerable number of UN resolutions and related efforts
have reaffirmed the importance of sport as a means to promote education, health,
development and peace, most recently in the Declaration of the 2030 Agenda for
Sustainable Development.20 There are clearly many ways SDP can contribute to
the 2030 Agenda. The Commonwealth Secretariat has conducted one of the most
comprehensive pieces of research to help SDP stakeholders (including governments,
sports organisations, civil society actors and development agencies) maximise the
contribution that sport-based approaches can make to sustainable development.21 It
identifies six SDGs where sport can best help drive positive change: health (SDG3),
education (SDG4), gender equality (SDG5), economic growth (SDG8), sustainable
communities (SDG11), and peace (SDG16), with a recognition that partnerships
(SDG17) are also crucial to achieving successful outcomes.

The UNESCO Kazan Action Plan22 was adopted in 2017 by UNESCO’s Sixth International
Conference of Ministers and Senior Officials Responsible for Physical Education and
Sport, MINEPS VI. The plan marks the inter-ministerial commitment “to link sport
policy development to the 2030 Agenda of the United Nations, as well as support to an
overarching sport policy follow-up framework and five priority areas for international
and national multi-stakeholder cooperation.” Maximizing the contributions of sport
to sustainable development and peace is one of the key policy themes of the plan.23

The 2030 Agenda presents an opportunity to improve the coherence and effectiveness
of SDP action, to establish new partnerships and to strengthen the transfer of
knowledge and information between the different actors at the policy, funding and
operational levels.

20 See UN Resolution A/70/L.1Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development:
“Sport is also an important enabler of sustainable development. We recognise the growing contribution
of sport to the realization of development and peace in its promotion of tolerance and respect and the
contributions it makes to the empowerment of women and of young people, individuals and communi-
ties as well as to health, education and social inclusion objectives.” http://www.un.org/en/ga/search/
view_doc.asp?symbol=A/RES/70/1
21 See Commonwealth Secretariat, Sport for Development and Peace and the 2030 Agenda for Sus-
tainable Development, 2015 at http://thecommonwealth.org/sites/default/files/inline/CW_SD-
P_2030%2BAgenda.pdf
22 See http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0025/002527/252725e.pdf
23 See https://en.unesco.org/mineps6/kazan-action-plan

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 SDP and Human Rights 5

Rights-Based Approaches
Participation in sport and physical activity is itself also a human right:

• Article 1 of the Revised International Charter of Physical Education, Physical

Activity an Sport adopted by UNESCO’s General Assembly (2015) states that: “The
practice of physical education, physical activity and sport is a fundamental right
for all”.
• Article 30 of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (2006)
affirms the right of persons with disabilities to: “Participation in cultural life,
recreation, leisure and sport”.
• Article 31 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989) states that:
“Children have the right to relax and play, and to join in a wide range of cultural,
artistic and other recreational activities”.

Building on the above-mentioned conventions and internationally agreed human

rights standards,24 a number of organisations active in the SDP sector have developed
programmes based on human rights principles. The boxes below identify a series of
examples linked to specific thematic issues.

Box 4 - Sport Based Psychosocial Assistance for

Refugees – Terre des Hommes
Through a rights-based approach, Terre des hommes (TdH) aims to guarantee respect
for and implementation of the rights of children to bring about positive and sustainable
change, both at institutional and community level.

Since 2004 TdH has focussed on sport-based psychosocial assistance. Doing sport
with others makes children more resilient and teaches them, their families and their
communities teamwork, fair play and leadership qualities. In Egypt, which has accepted
over 190,000 refugees, almost half of whom are children, TdH delivers daily sports
activities and tournaments in child-friendly spaces to strengthen ties between refugees
and the local population, ensuring non-discrimination, participation, empowerment
of children and accountability of duty-bearers.25

24 Human rights are internationally agreed standards aimed at securing dignity and equality for all people.
These rights apply to every human being without discrimination. At the international level, they include
the rights contained in the “International Bill of Human Rights”, which is comprised of the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Interna-
tional Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. These instruments, beginning with the Univer-
sal Declaration adopted by the United Nations in 1948 in the aftermath of the second World War, set
out a range of rights and freedoms including the rights to life, to freedom of expression, to privacy, to
education, and to favourable conditions of work.
25 See https://www.tdh.ch/en/news/role-model-award-sports-children-football and http://www.terre-
deshommes.org/causes/human-rights-development/
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 Box 5 - Rights of Children and Women – UNICEF
Human Rights-Based Approach to Programming
UNICEF’s Sport for Development (S4D) work is rooted in its commitment to ensure
every child’s right to play and recreation. UNICEF uses S4D to help achieve goals
in five thematic focus areas: young child survival and development; basic education
and gender equality; HIV and AIDS prevention, treatment, care and support; child
protection from violence, exploitation and abuse; and policy advocacy and partnerships
for children’s rights.

A human rights-based approach to programming means for UNICEF that the ultimate
aim of all UNICEF-supported activities is the realisation of the rights of children and
women, consistent with the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Convention
on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW).

Human rights and child rights principles guide the organisation’s work in all sectors26
– including SDPs - and at each stage of the process. These principles include:

• universality,
• non-discrimination,
• the best interests of the child,
• the right to survival and development,
• the indivisibility and interdependence of human rights,
• accountability and respect for the voice of the child.

Box 6 - Rights of Young People in

Communities Affected by Crime and Violence –
Fight For Peace27
Fight for Peace uses boxing and martial arts combined with education and personal
development to realise the potential of young people. It supports young people in
communities affected by crime and violence by creating new opportunities for them
and supporting them to make the most of existing opportunities.
The Fight for Peace methodology is aimed at young people between the ages of 7 and
25 who have to live with situations of violence and low social and financial resources
on a daily basis. The approach is driven by five values:

-- EMBRACING “We believe in a society without exclusion. Everyone is welcome.”

-- CHAMPION “We work with pragmatism and preparedness to be the best in all
we do.”
-- SOLIDARITY “We work in unity across our staff, young people and the community.”
-- INSPIRING “We aim to inspire our young people and be inspired by them.”
-- FEARLESS “We work where there is need and are proud to stand up for peace.”

26 See https://www.unicef.org/policyanalysis/rights/ and https://www.unicef.org/sports/23619_23621.

html
27 See http://fightforpeace.net/metodologia/

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 Well-crafted SDP programmes currently develop methodologies that look at the overall
impact of programmes on the well-being of the communities where they operate.
A smaller number of SDP programmes explicitly look at human rights outcomes, or
claim to embody a right-based approach. However, there is very limited recognition of
the programmes’ own human rights responsibilities or to the concept of human rights
due diligence in relation to the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights
(UNGPs, 2011).28

As noted in the previous section of this report, SDP programmes are often planned
and delivered through partnerships between different actors (NGOs, private sector,
governments, Sport Governing Bodies etc.). These partnerships add value in terms
of access to financial resources, development of skills and mutual exchange of
knowledge. At the same time, however, the different stakeholder groups often hesitate
to build relationships of trust between each other and struggle to define their roles
and understand what each player can bring to the process for reasons that include lack
of common methodologies and weak Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) criteria.

The UNGPs outline a series of key “human rights due diligence” steps expected of
companies in their operations, with the objective to help actors understand human
rights risks, how these risks may change over time and how to respond to address
them. While the UNGPs were developed primarily to address corporate human rights
due diligence, adherence to these steps by all the parties involved in the delivery of
SDP Programmes would help build mutual trust among the different actors involved
and avoid negative impacts for affected groups.29

Human Rights Due Diligence

BOX 7 - Human Rights Due Diligence

Human rights due diligence is the set of on- going processes through which a company
or organisation “knows and shows” that it is respecting human rights in practice. This
involves:
• Assessing actual and potential human rights impacts;
• Integrating the findings and acting to prevent or mitigate the impacts;
• Tracking how effectively impacts are addressed;
• Communicating how impacts are addressed.

28 The UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs) are a set of guidelines for States
and companies to prevent, address and remedy human rights abuses committed in business operations.
They are based on the three pillars of the UN “Protect, Respect and Remedy” Framework:
• The state duty to protect against human rights abuses by third parties, including businesses,
through effective policies, legislation, regulations and adjudication;
• The corporate responsibility to respect human rights, meaning that companies should avoid
infringing on the rights of others and address negative impacts with which they are involved; and
• The need for greater access to effective remedy for victims of business related human rights
abuses, through both judicial and non-judicial means.
The UNGPs were proposed by UN Special Representative on business & human rights John Ruggie,
and endorsed by the UN Human Rights Council in 2011. Available at: http://www.ohchr.org/
Documents/Publications/GuidingPrinciplesBusinessHR_EN.pdf
29 On the accountability of NGOs to international human rights standards, see http://www.ethicalcorp.
com/charities-should-be-held-same-human-rights-standards-business

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 Leaders in the sports sector increasingly recognise the need to respect people’s human
rights as part of doing business in today’s inter-connected world. Four sports governing
bodies (IOC, UEFA, FIFA and the Commonwealth Games) have taken strides towards
implementing human rights commitments. Building on this momentum, SDP initiatives
should follow this example and include a human rights due diligence approach based
on the UNGPs in the lifecycle of these initiatives. This means that those wishing to
develop programmes or specific parts of their programme in sport and development
should include human rights due diligence considerations in all the particular stages of
the ‘project management cycle’ – which includes the process of planning, implementing
and evaluating SDP programmes.

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Institute for Human Rights and Business | www.ihrb.org 19
6 Recommendations

Responsibility
The SDP agenda has largely operated independently of wider concerns about the
governance and accountability of sport. The emerging consensus around the human
rights responsibilities of non-state actors, as set out in the UN Guiding Principles on
Business and Human Rights (2011), is the most suitable framework for understanding
both the preventative and remedial measures of SDP initiatives.

SDP initiatives must integrate human rights due diligence mechanisms into its processes
to identify actual and potential adverse human rights impacts, and to propose the best
forms of mitigation, prevention and remedy.

Alignment
A significant number of existing SDP initiatives recognise human rights in terms of their
outcomes or with respect to the importance of a rights-based approach to implementation.
However, greater alignment with SDP programmes is needed to ensure the inclusion
of the fundamental principles of non-discrimination, participation, rule of
law, consent, accountability and good governance. The 17 UN Global Goals on
Sustainable Development (SDGs) offer a unique opportunity for such alignment and the
human rights movement should take this opportunity to work proactively with the broad
SDP community in this direction.

Promotion
The human rights movement is well placed to make significant advances with the SDP
world but the promotional challenge is huge given the very low awareness of human rights
responsibilities within Sport. However, the human rights policy commitments of IOC,
FIFA, UEFA and Commonwealth will generate wider interest as well as the promotional
efforts of some governments. There is an opportunity to foster closer links between those
involved in the SDP agenda and actors working to promote the connections between
sport and human rights. Indeed, a number of the actors involved are involved in both
agendas and have important leadership roles in to play in fostering greater dialogue and
collaboration aimed at more fully integrating international human rights principles and
standards within the broader sport, development and peace agenda.

Collective Action
Making progress in embedding a human rights due diligence into SDP operations
requires ongoing commitment, resources and engagement, including with external
stakeholders. The sports and human rights effort in relation to SDP needs more effective
co-ordination. The new Centre for Sport and Human Rights - to be established in 2018
- should play a central role in the upcoming years to facilitate and support collective
action in embedding human rights principles in SDP Programmes.

20 www.ihrb.org | Institute for Human Rights and Business

 Appendix 1: Mapping the 1
Existing Players
This mapping is based on information obtained through interviews and desk research. It is
not intended to be a comprehensive list of all relevant actors in this area.

a. International Organisations, National

Governments and Development Agencies,
Sport Governing Bodies, National and
International Sport Federations
Stakeholder Organisation Description
Group
International UN Office for Sport, Entry point to the United Nations system with
Organisation Development and regard to the use of sport as a tool in the pursuit
Peace (discontinued of development cooperation, humanitarian aid
in May 2017) and peacebuilding efforts.
International The Commonwealth Advocates for sport to be used as a vehicle
Organisation Secretariat for peace and development. Assists member
countries to develop policies and frameworks
that link sport to outcomes in areas such as
health, education, gender equality and social
cohesion.
International The United Nations Assistance and guidance services are provided
Organisation Educational, for governments, NGOs, and experts to debate
Scientific the evolving challenges of physical education
and Cultural and sport. The organisation also assists and
Organization advises Member States wishing to elaborate
UNESCO or strengthen their training system in physical
education.
International European Union Erasmus+ offers the opportunity to develop,
Organisation (EU) transfer and implement innovative practices in
different areas relating to sport and physical
activity between various organisations and
actors in and outside sport.

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 Stakeholder Organisation Description
Group
International UNICEF (United UNICEF’s work with sport is grounded in its
Organisation Nations Children’s mission to ensure that every child has the
Fund) right to play and sport in a safe and healthy
environment – a right founded in Article 31 of
the Convention on the Rights of the Child and
other international treaties. SDP Programmes in
India, Palestine, Turkey, Zambia, Mozambique,
Bangladesh, Braziil among others.
Government Australia The Pacific Sports Partnerships programme
(PSP) is a range of sports initiatives funded by
the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs
and Trade. These programmes are designed
to support both Australian national sporting
organisations and their Pacific counterparts
to deliver development priorities alongside
increased governance and capacity building in
developing Pacific Island countries.
Government Canada The Canadian Government supports various SDP
Programmes
Government Germany GIZ is implementing various initiatives using
sport for development on behalf of the German
Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and
Development (BMZ). Priority areas comprise
substantive and strategic policy advisory
services, the development of Germany’s
contribution to using sport for development
with long-term national and international
positioning, research support, and monitoring
and evaluation for analysing lessons learned
and measuring impact.
Government Norway The Norwegian Aid Agency (NORAD) supports
various SDP Programmes
Government United Kingdom The British Council and Premier League,
together with UK Government and Kenyan
partners, have announced an innovative pilot
project which uses football to tackle issues of
violence against women and girls in Mount
Elgon, Western Kenya.
Government United States USAID works with development partners around
the world to advance development objectives
through sport.
Sport FIFA FIFA launched the Football for Hope
Governing initiative in 2005 to help improve the lives
Bodies and prospects of young people around the
world. It offers funding, equipment, and training
to organisations running such projects, and
organises events for experts and young leaders.

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 Stakeholder Organisation Description
Group
Sport IOC The IOC cooperates with partners, including
Governing numerous United Nations agencies, as
Bodies well as international governmental and
nongovernmental institutions, on projects which
use sport as a tool for development and advance
the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Programmes include Sport for Hope Centres,
support to youth refugees and gender equality
programmes.
Sport UEFA The core directives of the UEFA social
Governing responsibility portfolio are based on a selection
Bodies of four to five-year strategic partnerships
which strive to make the UEFA business process
more socially responsible and sustainable thus
contributing to society in the fields of anti-
discrimination and diversity, social integration
and reconciliation, active and healthy lifestyle,
implementing football for all abilities as well as
promoting sustainable event management and
human rights

b. Non-Governmental and
Not-for-Profit Organisations
Stakeholder Organisation Description
Group
International and Right to Play Global children’s charity working in about
Development 20 countries globally aiming to help children
NGO develop essential life skills through sport and
to drive social change in their communities
International and Women Win Women Win theory of change is built on the
Development belief that adolescent girls, their families,
NGO communities and societies at large benefit
from, and are empowered by, sport and well-
designed sport programmes.
International and Street- Supports an international network of grassroots
Development footballworld organisations using football to promote
NGO education, employability, social integration,
peace building, gender equality, health and
social change. Since 2002, it has hosted close
to 30 festivals and forums all over the world,
raising awareness of our cause and bringing
together the key players from the field.

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 Stakeholder Organisation Description
Group
International and Grassroots Soccer Grassroots Soccer is an adolescent health
Development organisation that leverages the power of soccer
NGO to educate, inspire, and mobilize at-risk youth
in developing countries to overcome their
greatest health challenges, live healthier, more
productive lives, and be agents for change in
their communities.
International and Magic Bus Magic Bus supports more than 370,000
Development children in India – targeting girls at risk of
NGO early marriage, violence, and school exclusion,
and youth marginalised due to poverty and
caste discrimination. Combining mentoring
with an activity based curriculum that includes
football, cricket and kabbadi, Magic Bus
supports the average participant for more than
10 years.
International and Fight for Peace Fight for Peace combines boxing and martial
Development arts with education and personal development
NGO to realise the potential of young people in
communities affected by crime, violence and
social exclusion.
International and Swiss Academy for SDP Programmes Management of the
Development Development International Platform on Sport and
NGO Development - sportanddev.org: it is the
most important information centre and
communications hub for actors and individuals
with an interest in the field of Sport and
Development.
International and Comic Relief One of the largest independent funders of
Development sport for change in the world. Their funding
NGO model relies mostly on fundraising activities.
Funds over 200 grants totalling more than £27
million. Programmes they’ve supported include
helping youth stay in school, reducing violence
and promoting equality. Very large amount of
money which goes into the sport sector.
International and Laureus Sport for Foundation that supports 100 sports-based
Development Good Foundation community programmes in 35 countries
NGO focusing on issues such as health, education,
gender equality, employability, inclusive
society and peace. Has a large network of
patrons, partners and ambassadors including
big name corporates, athletes and others

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 Stakeholder Organisation Description
Group
International and PeacePlayers Brings together children from opposite sides of
Development International religious, ethnic and cultural divides to develop
NGO friendship and mutual respect. Brings different
communities together for regular integrated
practices and games,
International and Beyond Sport Over the past 10 years, the Beyond Sport
Development Foundation Foundation has supported over 180
NGO organisations worldwide, providing over
$700,000 in cashing funding, and distributing
over $6 million in long-term strategic support.
International and The Homeless The Homeless World Cup is a social movement
Development World Cup which uses football to inspire homeless people
NGO to change their own lives.
International and Peace and Sport Monaco-based organisation that works with
Development local project leaders (governments, NGOs,
NGO National Olympic Committees and sports
federations) in areas affected by extreme
poverty.
Community Mathare Youth A community development organisation that
based Sport Foundation uses sports to engender broad socio-economic
Association (MYSA) development, while also effecting positive
social change
Community SCORE SCORE started in 1991 in Khayelitsha, South
based Africa. SCORE’s vision is to change lives and
Association build stronger communities through sport.
SCORE uses sport to provide children and
youth with skills and opportunities that they
need to succeed in life and contribute to their
communities.

c.Private Sector Institutions and Private Donors

Bill and Melinda Gates Coca Cola Microsoft
Foundation
Clinton Foundation Daimler Mitsubishi
Ford Foundation Deloitte Nike Foundation
Jacobs Foundation Deutsche Bank Reebok
Novo Foundation Ikea Foundation Richemont
adidas Johnson SC Samsung
Al-Dabbagh Foundation Land Rover Standard Chartered Bank
BT sport McDonalds The LEGO Foundation

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 d. Campaign Groups and Social
Movements
Stakeholder Organisation Description
Group
International Athlete Ally Athlete Ally is a nonprofit organisation
and that provides public awareness campaigns,
Development educational programming and tools
NGO and resources to foster inclusive sports
communities.
International FARE Network The Fare network tackles discrimination in
and football and uses the game as a tool for social
Development inclusion.
NGO
International Play the Game International conference and communication
and initiative aiming to strengthen the ethical
Development foundation of sport and promote democracy,
NGO transparency and freedom of expression in
sport
 

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 Appendix 2: List of 2
Interviewees

Name Organisation
Eli Wolff Brown University
Oliver Dudfield Commonwealth Secretariat
Martin Kainz Fairplay Initiative. Vienna International
Institute for Dialogue and Cooperation
Andreas Graf, Irina Schlossarek Fédération Internationale de Football
Association (FIFA)
James Baderman Fight for Peace
Erik Broekhof Former National Dutch Football Federation
Minky Worden Human Rights Watch
Giovanni Di Cola International Labour Organization (ILO)
Katia Mascagni International Olympic Committee (IOC)
Angela Murray Laureus Sport for Good Foundation
Vladimir Borkovic Streetfootballworld
Marc Probst Swiss Academy for Development
Rémy Friedmann Swiss Department of Foreign Affairs
Marc Joly, Fanny Belier Terre des Hommes
Sylvia Schenk Transparency International
Liz Twyford UNICEF
Philipp Muller Wirth United Nations Educational, Scientific and
Cultural Organisation (UNESCO)
Marianne Meier University of Bern
Brendan Schwab World Players International

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3 Appendix 3: Roundtables

12 June 2017 Roundtable, Geneva

Name Organisation
Mary Robinson Chair
Sandra Lendenmann Swiss Department of Foreign Affairs
Rémy Friedmann
Stephanie Schmid United States Department of State
Lene Wendland UN Office of the High Comission of Human
Rights (OHCHR)
Giovanni Di Cola International Labour Organization (ILO)
Houtan Homayounpour
Tim Noonan International Trade Union Confederation
(ITUC)
Linda Kromjong International Organisation of Employers (IOE)
Andres Franco UNICEF
Liz Twyford
Lucy Amis UNICEF UK
Ruth Pojman Organization for Security and Co-operation in
Europe (OSCE)
Kathryn Dovey Organisation for Economic Co-operation and
Development (OECD)
David Grevemberg Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF)
Katia Mascagni International Olympic Committee (IOC)
Fani Misailidi Fédération Internationale de Football
Federico Addiechi Association (FIFA)
Brendan Schwab World Players Association
Minky Worden Human Rights Watch
Ambet Yuson Building and Wood Workers International
Marc Joly Terre des Hommes
Sylvia Schenk Transparency International
Vincent Vleugel Amnesty International
Lisa Salza
Matthias Thorns The Coca-Cola Company
John Morrison; Scott Jerbi; William Rook Institute for Human Rights and Business
Haley St. Dennis; Guido Battaglia; Alison (IHRB)
Biscoe; Ron Popper; Ed Potter

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 New York, 21 September 2017
Name Organisation
Hudson Taylor Athlete Ally
Gareth Sweeney Crisis Action
James Cottrell Deloitte
Michele Alexander; Minky Worden Human Rights Watch
John Morrison Institute for Human Rights and Business
Guido Battaglia (IHRB)
Erik Broekhof Independent
Houtan Homayounpour International Labour Organization (ILO)
Kate Rosin Open Society Foundations
Mary Harvey Ripple Effect Consulting
Brent Wilton The Coca Cola Company
Christopher Kip UNICEF
Ryan Kaminsky United Nations Foundation
Rita Riccobelli UNITED 26 Bid
Douglas Sabo Visa INC.
Greg Tzeutschler Regaigon Wellspring Foundation

Geneva, 4 October 2017

Name Organisation
James Lynch Amnesty International
Oliver Dudfield Commonwealth Secretariat
Nevena Vukasinovic European Non-Governmental Sports
Organisation (ENGSO)
John Morrison Institute for Human Rights and Business
Guido Battaglia (IHRB)
Giovanni Di Cola International Labour Organization (ILO)
Lerina Bright Mission 89
Marc Probst Swiss Academy for Development
Rémy Friedmann Swiss Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Marc Joly Terre des Hommes International Federation
Matthias Thorns The Coca Cola Company
Anastasia Anthopoulos; Brigette De Lay The Oak Foundation
Liz Twyford UNICEF
Patrick Gasser Union of European Football Associations
(UEFA)
Stefan Hall World Economic Forum
Brendan Schwab World Players Association
Michael Roberts World Trade Organization (WTO)

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 Geneva, 30 November 2017
A session on Sport, Development and Peace was held during the 2017 Sporting Chance
Forum in Geneva.30

The panel discussion included Oliver Dudfield (Head of Sport for Development and
Peace, Commonwealth Secretariat), Eli Wolff (Director, Sport and Society Initiative, Brown
University), Delphine Schmutz, (Manager, Taekwondo Humanitarian Foundation) and
Guido Battaglia (Oureach Manager, Institute for Human Rights and Business).

30 See https://www.ihrb.org/uploads/meeting-reports/Sporting_Chance_Forum_Meeting_Report_2017.
pdf p.21-22

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 Appendix 4: Bibliography 4
Almeras, Le sport au service du développement et de la paix: réflexions sur centralité des
Nations Unies, 2018
Beutler, Sport serving development and peace: Achieving the goals of the United Nations
through sport, Sport in Society, 2008
Commonwealth Guide to Advancing Development through Sport, 2015
Commonwealth Secretariat, Enhancing the Contribution of Sport to the Sustainable
Development Goals, 2015
Commonwealth Secretariat, Sport for Development and Peace and the 2030 Agenda for
Sustainable Development, 2015
Convention on the Rights of the Child
Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women
Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
Darnell, Playing with Race: Right to Play and the Production of Whiteness in ‘Development
through Sport’, Sport in Society 2007
Di Cola, BEYOND THE SCOREBOARD Youth employment opportunities and skills
development in the sports sector, 2006
Forde, Kota, Football as a terrain of hope and struggle: beginning a dialogue on social
change, hope and building a better world through sport, 2016
Kidd, A New Social Movement, Sport for Development and Peace, 2008
Kidd, Donnelly, Human Rights in Sport, 2000
German Federal Ministry for Cooperation and Development, More Space for Sport –
1000 Chances for Africa, 2016
Giulianotti, The Sport for Development and Peace Sector: An Analysis of its Emergence,
Key Institutions, and Social Possibilities, 2012
Human Rights Council, Final report of the Human Rights Council Advisory Committee on
the possibilities of using sport and the Olympic ideal to promote human rights for all
and to strengthen universal respect for them, 2015
International Safeguarding Children in Sport Working Group, International Safeguards
for Children in Sport, 2016
Right to Play, Annual Report, 2015
Ruggie, For the Game for the World, FIFA and Human Rights, 2014
Streetfootballworld, Monitoring and Evaluation in Sport for Development, 2012
Svensson, Woods, A systematic overview of sport for development and peace organisations,
Journal of Sport for Development, 2017
UN INTER-AGENCY TASK FORCE ON SPORT FOR DEVELOPMENT AND PEACE, Sport as a
Tool for Development and Peace: Towards Achieving the United Nations Millennium
Development Goals, 2003
UNESCO, International Charter of Physical Education and Sport, 2015
UNICEF, Sport, Recreation and Play, 2004
Wachter, North-South partnerships and power relations in Sport for Development. The
case of Mathare Youth Sports Association, 2014

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Sport for Development and Peace (SDP) refers to the use of sport, physical activity, and
play to attain specific development, and peace objectives. It is a high-profile endeavour,
involving multiple stakeholder groups adopting different approaches and operating at
different levels in terms of their policies, funding, and operations.

Well-crafted SDP programmes currently develop methodologies that look at the overall
impact of programmes on the well-being of the communities where they operate. A
smaller number of SDP programmes explicitly look at human rights outcomes, or claim
to embody a right-based approach. However, there is very limited recognition of the
programmes’ own human rights responsibilities or implementation of human rights
due diligence as outlined in the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.

Rights Through Sport: Mapping “Sport for Development and Peace” provides an
overview of the actors involved in SDP and outlines how their work incorporates human
rights principles. The report includes a series of recommendations for SDP actors to harness
the power of sport for good, to maximise its positive effects and to minimise the negative.