New Human Rights Academy to Support Sport Sector

January 13, 2022

The Centre for Sport and Human Rights (CSHR) and the World Academy of Sport (WAoS) have launched the Global Sport and Human Rights Academy (GSHR Academy). As a first of its kind in the field, the academy intends to share best practices on human rights as it pertains to sport on a global scale through bespoke content and tailored pathways for stakeholders in the sports ecosystem.

CSHR is on a mission to advance a world of sport that promotes human rights by generating awareness, building capacity and delivering impact. This new academy will build on CSHR’s existing resources and educational activities and support long-standing goals to democratize, disseminate and demystify human rights for all those engaged in sport.

The academy’s goal is to offer strategies and resources that allow stakeholders to address a human rights agenda within the context of their respective environments. It intends to:

• Cultivate and curate multi-sector research on sport and human rights.
• Strengthen the capacity of all those in sport through learning and development programs.
• Build a diverse global network of faculty, guest lecturers, experts, advocates and activists.
• Facilitate an educational network and publish a global digital library through a one-stop virtual learning platform, CENSEO, pioneered by WAoS for the global sporting world.

“With the launch of the Global Sport and Human Rights Academy, we are finally able to bring knowledge of sport and human rights to a global scale, making it accessible to everyone,” said Mary Harvey, CEO of CSHR.

The academy’s first module will be free to access and is set to be released this month. The 101 Module will equip participants with a foundational understanding of the opportunities and risks facing those who deliver sport and host major events. It also outlines how we can work together towards achieving a world of responsible sport rooted in international human rights standards.

“We all know that sport has the power to change not just attitudes, but also behavior... together we can assist all parties in the global sporting ecosystem to navigate change and celebrate and share best practices on a global scale,” said Chris Solly, CEO, WAoS.

The GSHR Academy builds upon CSHR’s Convergence 2025 strategy, which describes how the Centre will address urgent challenges and trends in sport and human rights by offering support and dialogue that creates lasting value in the sector. It fulfills priorities including the nurture of thought leadership, innovation and knowledge within sport about human rights and strengthening systems and practices within sport to align with human rights responsibilities.