Meeting Report 2019 Sporting Chance Forum

The Sporting Chance Forum 2019 (SCF 2019) was convened on 21-22 November at the United Nations (UN) Palais des Nations in Geneva during the week that commemorated the 30th anniversary of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). SCF 2019 continued the process begun in 2016 of building bridges between the worlds of sport and human rights, and supported the aims of the Centre for Sport and Human Rights (the Centre). The worlds of sport and human rights share common values and both operate with a strong level of independence. SCF 2019 showed these two communities working more closely together to achieve common objectives.

This Sporting Chance Forum brought together 350 participants and signalled a shift from previous years. Until now, the SCF has concentrated on galvanising sport and human rights stakeholders to join forces behind a common challenge, sharing new tools to address these challenges in sport, and giving a platform to victims of sport-related human rights abuse – including athletes, workers, fans, human rights defenders, and other affected communities. SCF 2019 deepened this work with a greater focus on practical action and the positive human rights outcomes now being pursued, including under the umbrella of the Centre and through the work of the diverse constituency of stakeholders on its Advisory Council, and also focused on creating a “common language” to further bridge the worlds of sport and human rights.

• Meeting Report 2019 Sporting Chance Forum