L-R: Dr Ashlee Morgan, Professor Sophia Nimphius and Shireen Ahmed.
Edith Cowan University (ECU) was recently represented at the 2023 UN Sporting Chance Forum.
Held by the Centre for Sport & Human Rights, the Forum coincided with the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and hosted over 500 participants at the Palais des Nations, the home of the United Nations Office in Geneva.
Over two days, the Forum brought together experts in the sport ecosystem to discuss the future of sport and human rights. Attendees at the event sought to prepare, engage and pledge towards responsible sport and a commitment to human rights in sport.
The opening session commenced with the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Mr Volker Türk, who emphasised the need for responsible sport, he said, "We need responsible sport – sport and Mega-Sporting Events that are inclusive, fair, and safe, where stakeholders are properly engaged, and where human rights risks are mapped and addressed in line with international standards."
ECU's Pro-Vice Chancellor (Sport), Professor Sophia Nimphius and Senior Lecturer in Sport Business and Marketing, Dr Ashlee Morgan engaged with key stakeholders in sport from across the world. Specifically, Shireen Ahmed, a multi-platform sports journalist and multi-award-winning sports activist exploring sport and human rights to make social change, with a focus on the intersection of racism and misogyny in sport.
Professor Nimphius and Dr Morgan also had the opportunity to meet middle-distance runner and winner of two Olympic gold medals, Caster Semenya who spoke at the Forum about dignity, human rights and meeting Nelson Mandela when she was an 18-year-old.
Responsible sport from the world stage to a community level
Professor Nimphius, who is also a Sport Integrity Australia Advisory Council Member said that the themes during the Sporting Chance Forum reiterated a needed commitment to address key issues in human rights in and through sport at all levels.
Dr Morgan said that hearing the insights and experiences of amazing leaders in sport from all corners of the world was truly inspiring.
"The diverse conversations tackled systemic discrimination and human rights violations across sport at all levels," Dr Morgan said.
"With a focus on social responsibility, the Forum highlighted that we need to move beyond institutional commitments to human rights and drive meaningful action to ensure sport is safe, inclusive, and accessible for all."
To find out more about the Sporting Chance Forum and to re-watch the Forum, visit the Centre for Sport & Human Rights website.
