Austrian Government Joins The Advisory Council Of The Centre For Sport And Human Rights

27 Sep 2022

Author - Centre for Sport and Human Rights

The Centre for Sport and Human Rights (CSHR) welcomes the Austrian Government represented by the Federal Ministry for Arts, Culture, the Civil Service and Sport as the newest member of its multi-stakeholder Advisory Council.

Through its Advisory Council, CSHR brings together an unprecedented alliance of intergovernmental organisations, governments, sports bodies, athletes, hosts, sponsors, broadcasters, civil society representatives, trade unions, employers and their associations, and national human rights institutions all dedicated to a world of sport that fully respects human rights. Advisory Council members work to advance individual and collective action throughout the sport ecosystem in line with the Sporting Chance Principles.

The Federal Ministry for Arts, Culture, the Civil Service and Sport has a particular interest in promoting and embedding human rights due diligence in sport. With the development of the Handbook: International Sporting Events and Human Rights on the protection and respect of human rights at international sporting events in Austria, the country has been the first mover in translating the Centre’s work on the Mega Sporting Events Lifecycle at the national policy level.

The Ministry’s objective is to share and collect best practices through the Centre, promote its work at the international level and seek inputs to implement the Handbook and use sport as a tool to address human rights issues.

Austria’s participation in the Advisory Council alongside seven other current government members highlights the growing importance to these actors of fostering responsible sport at all levels.

Mary Harvey, CEO, CSHR said: “We’re very happy to welcome the Austrian Government to the Advisory Council, which brings together so many actors from all parts of the sport ecosystem. Their handbook shows their commitment to promoting and embedding human rights and they will be valuable partners in the sharing of best practice. The number of Governments involved in the Centre is growing, they play a central role in sports policy and also in overseeing that other actors live up to their human rights responsibilities.”

Werner Kogler, Minister for Sport and Vice Chancellor of the Austrian Government said:

 “The protection of and respect for human rights in sport has a high priority in my agenda as the Minister for Sport in Austria. Politicians are usually confronted with legitimate and critical questions about major sport events. Yet - and according to the autonomy of sports - big sports associations make their own decisions. Nevertheless, politics has the obligation to remind and to encourage these organizations to take greater account of human rights in their decisions.

After the establishment of a regular working group on sports and human rights and the publication of the "Sport and Human Rights" handbook, joining the Centre is another milestone in our efforts to strengthen human rights in sport. I look forward to joining the Council, sharing views and working together in the future.”

About the Federal Ministry for Arts, Culture, Civil Service and Sport

Within the Austrian Government, responsibility for sports lies with the Federal Ministry for Arts, Culture, Civil Service and Sport. The Sports Division of the Ministry deals with the promotion of the social and health-related functions of sport, and is responsible for sports clubs and associations. The division Arts and Culture was taken over by the Federal Ministry for Arts, Culture, Civil Service and Sport on 29 January 2020. The task of Austrian policy in the field of the arts and culture is to create suitable conditions for a lively cultural scene. The Civil Service Division of the ministry has the task of ensuring a modern management of the administration. 

About the Centre for Sport and Human Rights

Launched in June 2018, the Centre works towards a world of sport that fully respects human rights by sharing knowledge, building capacity, and strengthening the accountability of all actors through collective action. The Centre is chaired by Mary Robinson, former President of Ireland and former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.

 

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