Sport and Human Rights

Mega sporting events like the FIFA World Cup and the Olympics draw enormous global audiences and are celebrated as models of unity and human achievement. But many of these tournaments are also linked to serious human rights violations from migrant worker deaths and exclusion of women and girls to crackdowns on the media. Authoritarian governments and illiberal leaders are also increasingly weaponizing sport and “sportswashing” rights abuses by hosting high-profile events or acquiring globally renowned teams. Corruption and patronage mean that too often global sports’ governing bodies are silent about, or even complicit in, rights abuses.

Human Rights Watch works alongside athletes, workers, journalists, fans, and survivors of abuses to press governments, sports bodies, and corporate sponsors to respect human rights in and through sport. Learn more here!