A/HRC/40/72 I. Introduction 1. The Human Rights Council, in its resolution 35/28, reaffirmed the Social Forum as a unique space for interactive dialogue between the United Nations human rights machinery and various stakeholders, including civil society and grass-roots organizations.1 2. The 2018 Social Forum was held in Geneva from 1 to 3 October. It focused on the possibilities of using sport and the Olympic ideal to promote human rights for all and to strengthen universal respect for them. The President of the Council appointed the Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the United Nations Office and other international organizations in Geneva, A.L. Abdul Azeez, as the Chair-Rapporteur of the Forum. 3. The programme of work was prepared under the guidance of the Chair-Rapporteur, with inputs from relevant stakeholders, including United Nations agencies, nongovernmental organizations and sports governing bodies. The present report contains a summary of the proceedings, conclusions and recommendations of the Forum. The list of participants is contained in the annex to the report. II. Opening of the Social Forum 4. In opening the 2018 session, the Chair-Rapporteur emphasized that the Social Forum was a unique space for dialogue between various stakeholders on diverse aspects of relations between human rights and society. This was especially important at a time when multilateralism was being challenged. He introduced the themes of the panels and stated that sports could bring people together, beyond competition, to promote solidarity and to achieve shared objectives, including the realization of human rights. The Chair-Rapporteur gave the example of how sports promoted human rights and understanding in Sri Lanka. He celebrated the broad diversity of participants and concluded by calling for a constructive, action-oriented discussion. 5. The President of the Human Rights Council, Vojislav Šuc, stated that the Social Forum provided opportunities for Member States, human rights mechanisms, international organizations, sports governing bodies, non-governmental organizations, universities, grass-roots organizations and athletes, especially from developing countries, to dialogue on relevant issues to promote human rights. Broad participation allowed for multiplying the impact and efficiency of the work of the Council and strengthened its linkages with those working on the ground. He recalled Council resolutions and a study by its Advisory Committee on sports and human rights. The theme for the current session permitted the Council to reach broader audiences. The President welcomed the inclusion of films and cultural events during the session. 6. The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, emphasized that sports shared common ground with human rights – which included fairness, non-discrimination and equal opportunity. Sport was multicultural and promoted empowerment, cooperation and integration for migrants, women and people from vulnerable groups. Sport could produce outcomes harmful to human rights, such as discrimination, abuse, forced evictions, poor labour conditions related to mega sporting events, and violence against journalists and peaceful protestors. She noted efforts to promote a non-discrimination legacy for the 2018 Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) World Cup, initiatives relating to the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, and cooperation with the International Olympic Committee and the International Paralympic Committee. The Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights were a baseline framework for measures and accountability. She called upon all to stand up for human rights in every sport and to help design strategies to make sport promote the best of humanity. 1 For further details on the Social Forum, see www.ohchr.org/EN/issues/poverty/sforum/pages/ sforumindex.aspx. 3