Human rights are an inalienable value that belongs to all people regardless of race, gender, language, religion, national or social origin, or any other aspect. Human rights include the right to life and liberty, the freedom from slavery and torture, the freedom of expression and conscience, the right to education and work, and many others.

Sport is a huge industry that involves and affects a large number of people, organizations, businesses and countries. Sport gives emotion to spectators and participants and promotes peace and shared goals. Sport is a space of values, education, socialization, manifestation and reflection on violence and inequality. Like the human rights system, sport is built on the principles of fairness, equality and non-discrimination. Through sport, people learn how to achieve results in fair play, without breaking the rules.

In today’s world, sport and human rights are more connected than ever. Because of its popularity, sport is a huge industry and a tool to break political and social divides.

We have prepared the first document for a wide audience, in which we have tried to explain in an illustrative and not very academic way how sport and human rights are connected.

• What are human rights and their place in sports and industry?
• What are the documents and standards in this area?
• To whom and why it is worth complying with human rights in sports?

Many cases and decisions on individual rights (the right to life, the prohibition of torture, freedom of expression, freedom of peaceful assembly and association, the right to privacy, protection from discrimination, the right to work, the right to health).

A standalone document on the situation with sports and human rights in Belarus can be found here (in Russian).