A/HRC/27/58
G.
Business, public-private partnerships on human rights and sport
40.
Labour, employment, health and safety in sport activities management require that
employment standards as expressed in the International Labour Organization’s (ILO)
Fundamental Conventions are met by suppliers (including any sponsors who provide goods
or services), along with, where appropriate, other local initiatives. ILO Conventions set out
a “social floor” in the world of employment, and provide for the elimination of all forms of
compulsory or forced labour and the effective abolition of child labour. Accountability and
transparency, and complaint mechanisms guarantee the inadmissibility of human rights
abuses of licensees, including child labour, excessive working hours, and abuses of health
and safety laws in the supply chains.39 Some researchers call for social responsibility to
become a pillar of the Olympic Movement and argue that if future Olympic Games and the
Olympic movement in general wish to claim an authentic legacy, this must be demonstrated
by accessible housing, tenants’ rights, freedom of assembly, a free media, unrestricted
public use of public spaces, and the protection of children and young people from Olympic
propaganda.40
41.
The UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human rights can contribute to the
promotion of human rights during the management of sport events, but they cannot avoid
negative human rights impacts. However, if implemented from the outset of the life-cycle
of mega sporting events, the UN Guiding Principles can reaffirm state duties to protect
individuals from rights abuses involving non-state actors. In addition, they can offer a
process to mitigate and effectively manage business-related human rights risks.41 In this
respect strong not-for-profit partnerships and sponsorships could be required to accumulate
additional revenues to support sport activities in schools and universities.
H.
Incorporating sport to conflict-prevention activities and peace building
42.
The potential of sports is often described as a tool to overcome humanitarian crises
and conflict and post-conflict situations, and to help achieve the Millennium Development
Goals and create a better world.42 The greatest challenge for a country in disturbances or
internal conflict is a dialogue or signature of a peace agreement with actors in the armed
conflict. Because sports promote rapprochement and helps reduce the levels of violence,
recreational programs and sports games have become a tacit truce in some regions where
there is armed conflict. Several programs have been launched too assist victims of the
conflict and the children, and young people involved. Coexistence and Peace Programs
complete this work by means of recreational training and sports training in order to
strengthen relations of coexistence among children and youth, and also to prevent and
mitigate the effects of violence.43
43.
Sport can promote peace through the competition of athletes of enemy countries.44
The fact that citizens of countries at war or conflict can meet others in an environment of
peace and tranquillity is very positive and helps break taboos which have been the source of
39
40
41
42
43
44
10
Striving for Excellence: Mega-Sporting Events and Human Rights. Institute for Human Rights and
Business. October 2013, London.
Helen Jefferson Lenskyj, Olympic Industry Resistance: Challenging Olympic Power and Propaganda.
SUNY Series on Sport, Culture and Social Relations. Albany: State University of New-York. 2008,
p. 149–152.
Response of ECPAT and Terre Des Hommes.
Response of Spain.
Response of Colombia.
Response of Mauritania.
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