In Madrid, Spain, the Council of Europe/European Union project “Combating hate speech in sport” is presenting effective tools and progress made in the participating countries (Spain, France, Germany, Greece, Italy and Montenegro) to address hate speech in sport.
The event is bringing together key policymakers, Sport IS Respect Ambassadors, experts and academia to discuss responses to incidents of racism, intolerance and hate as well as other issues related human rights infringements. An expression of commitment has been launched, inviting members of the global sport community to restore and enhance the values that make sport a powerful tool for human rights in line with the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and their respective deployment at European and national level, such as the Council of Europe Recommendation CM/Rec(2016)3 on human rights and business.
The Spanish President of the Supreme Council for Sports, José Manuel Rodríguez Uribes, emphasised the significance of the conference:
“This Conference will facilitate the path towards the practice and enjoyment of sport aligned with human rights. Only together we can harness the power of sport to change society, creating a more equitable and supportive environment in and through sport for all. Thus, the conference is set not only to reflect on the accomplishments to date but also to shape future endeavors, strengthening the resolve of all stakeholders to utilize sport as a conduit for respect and human dignity.”