RES/13/27 A world of sports free from racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance

GE.10-13028

Human Rights Council Thirteenth session Agenda item 9 Racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related forms of intolerance, follow-up to and implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action

Resolution adopted by the Human Rights Council*

13/27 A world of sports free from racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance

The Human Rights Council,

Stressing the importance of combating racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance in all circumstances, including in sports,

Recalling the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action and the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action,

Acknowledging that, in paragraph 218 of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance urged States, in cooperation with intergovernmental organizations, the International Olympic Committee and international and regional sports federations to intensify the fight against racism in sport by, among other things, educating the youth of the world through sport practised without discrimination of any kind and in the Olympic spirit, which requires human understanding, tolerance, fair play and solidarity,

Acknowledging also that the Durban Review Conference, in paragraph 128 of its outcome document, urged all international sporting bodies to promote, through their national, regional and international federations, a world of sports free from racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance,

* The resolutions and decisions of the Human Rights Council will be contained in the report of the

Council on its thirteenth session (A/HRC/13/56), chap. I.

Recognizing the potential of sport as a universal language contributing to educating people on the values of diversity, tolerance and fairness and as a means to combat racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance,

Acknowledging the use of mass sport events to promote and support sport for development and peace initiatives and, in this regard, welcoming General Assembly resolution 63/135 of 11 December 2008, in which the Assembly recognized the value of sport as a means to promote education, development and peace and welcomed the establishment of the United Nations Office of Sport for Development and Peace,

Recognizing the potential of sport in contributing to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals, and noting that, as declared at the 2005 World Summit, sport has the potential to foster peace and development and to contribute to an atmosphere of tolerance and understanding,

Recognizing also the potential contribution of the Special Adviser to the Secretary- General on Sport for Development and Peace, the Office of Sport for Development and Peace, the Physical Education and Sport Unit of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and the Group of Friends of Sport for Development and Peace to combat racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance in sports,

Recognizing further the imperative need to engage women and girls in the practice of sport for development and peace and, in this regard, welcoming activities that aim to foster and encourage such initiatives at the global level,

Welcoming General Assembly resolution 64/4 of 19 October 2009 on the building of a peaceful and better world through sport and the Olympic ideal and, in this context, welcoming also the adoption on that date of resolution 64/3, in which the Assembly invited the International Olympic Committee to participate in its sessions and work in the capacity of observer,

Recalling Council resolution 9/14 of 18 September 2008, in which the Council urged the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to take measures, in consultation with various international sporting and other organizations, to enable them to contribute to the struggle against racism and racial discrimination,

Recalling also Commission on Human Rights resolution 2005/64 of 20 April 2005, in which the Commission condemned all acts of racism in sporting events and urged all States and national, regional and international sporting associations and federations to adopt firm measures for the prevention of such acts,

Expressing serious concern at past and recent incidents of racism in sports and at sporting events and, in this context, welcoming efforts of sports governing bodies to combat racism, including by pursuing anti-racism initiatives and by developing and applying disciplinary codes that impose sanctions for racist acts,

Noting with appreciation the initiatives taken by the United Nations system, as well as national, regional and international sports federations and organizations, to promote development and peace through sport and physical education and, in this respect, acknowledging the importance of the work of grass-roots organizations,

Welcoming the readiness of South Africa to host the historic 2010 International Federation of Association Football World Cup, to be held for the first time on the African continent in recognition of its contribution to the advancement of world sports, and recalling the endorsement and support of the Heads of State and Government of the African Union for efforts to ensure the success of the event,

Recalling the invitation to the International Federation of Association Football, in connection with the 2010 Football World Cup tournament to be held in South Africa, to introduce a visible theme on non-racism in football,

Recalling also the request to the High Commissioner for Human Rights, in her capacity as Secretary-General of the Durban Review Conference, to bring the above- mentioned invitation to the attention of the International Federation of Association Football and to bring the issue of racism in sport to the attention of other relevant international sporting bodies,

Welcoming the hosting of the 2010 and 2014 International Federation of Association Football World Cups in South Africa and in Brazil, respectively; the hosting of the inaugural 2010 Summer Youth Olympic Games in Singapore; the hosting of the 2011 International Federation of Association Football Women’s World Cup in Germany; the hosting of the 2010 and 2014 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games in the cities of Vancouver, Canada, and Sochi, Russian Federation, respectively; the hosting of the 2012 and 2016 Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games in the cities of London and Rio de Janeiro, respectively; and stressing the importance of making use of these events to promote understanding, tolerance and peace and to promote and strengthen efforts in the fight against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance,

1. Recognizes the shared commitment to a world of sports free from racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, and calls upon all States to take all necessary measures to that end;

2. Welcomes the historic and unique dimension of the 2010 International Federation of Association Football World Cup in South Africa, which marks the first time this major sport event will be held on the African continent;

3. Underlines the importance of combating impunity for racially motivated crimes in sport, and urges States to take all appropriate measures, in accordance with domestic legislation and international obligations, to prevent, combat and address all manifestations of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance in the context of sporting events, and to ensure that racially-motivated crimes are punished by law, as appropriate;

4. Stresses the importance of combating and addressing acts of incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence in sporting events;

5. Strongly encourages States to organize and finance awareness-raising campaigns for preventing and combating racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance in sport;

6. Encourages relevant special procedures mandate holders to consider, within their existing mandates, the human rights dimensions and potential of sports free from racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance;

7. Invites States to consider including in their national reports, to be submitted to the Council under the universal periodic review mechanism, information on measures to combat racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance in sports and to promote sports as a tool to combat all forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance;

8. Encourages States to share experience and best practices in fighting all forms of racism and racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance in sport and in promoting integration and intercultural dialogue in and through sport;

9. Invites the President of South Africa, the President of the International Federation of Association Football and the Secretary-General to strengthen and reinforce

the visible theme on non-racism in football at the World Cup to be held in South Africa in 2010;

10. Invites host countries, in cooperation with the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, the Special Adviser to the Secretary-General on Sport for Development and Peace, relevant parts of the United Nations, the International Olympic Committee, the International Federation of Association Football and other relevant international sporting bodies to seize the opportunity offered by major sports events to develop campaigns aimed at sensitizing a wide public on the eradication of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance;

11. Invites the High Commissioner to cooperate with the Special Adviser to the Secretary-General on Sport for Development and Peace, relevant parts of the United Nations, the International Olympic Committee, the International Federation of Association Football and other relevant international, regional and national sports associations and federations, as well as non-governmental organizations and civil society, in the development of programmes to prevent and eradicate racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance in sports and to use sports as a tool to eliminate all forms of discrimination;

12. Encourages the High Commissioner, the Special Adviser to the Secretary- General on Sport for Development and Peace and other relevant parts of the United Nations to engage with relevant international sporting bodies to discuss practical measures aimed at combating racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance in sport, such as the development and promotion of codes of conduct against racism in sport and of international certificates for clubs and sports associations cooperating with programmes aimed at eradicating racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance in sports;

13. Encourages the High Commissioner and the President of the Council to invite, when appropriate, representatives of international sporting bodies to dialogue with the Council on these matters;

14. Calls on States, the United Nations and sport-related institutions to help initiate and assist in the implementation of grass-roots initiatives aimed at combating racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance in sports, and invites the United Nations Office of Sport for Development and Peace, where appropriate, to coordinate and facilitate the engagement of the respective stakeholders;

15. Requests the High Commissioner to include these matters, as appropriate, in her relevant reports submitted to the Council.

45th meeting 26 March 2010

[Adopted without a vote]