UEFA EURO 2024: a Declaration to protect and uphold Human rights

At the beginning of November 2023, UEFA and the German Football Federation (DFB) presented their Human Rights Declaration for UEFA EURO 2024. The organisers see this as essential for the success of the tournament, and part of a more comprehensive ESG strategy.

It was a key element in Germany’s bid. The adoption of the Human Rights Declaration for UEFA EURO 2024 at the beginning of November marked the determination of the organisers (UEFA, DFB and its fellow organisation EURO 2024 GmbH) to make the 2024 European championship a sporting event committed to human rights. The result of a collaboration between the public authorities, the sporting authorities and expert organisations (Centre for Sport and Human Rights, Sport and Rights Alliance…), this Declaration sets out a number of objectives to attain as well as a monitoring and evaluation process which will give substance to this defining principle of the tournament’s environmental, social and governance strategy (ESG strategy), adopted in July 2023.

This declaration identifies key objectives, including:

• Accessibility, diversity and inclusion: the stadiums, working environments and the whole football ecosystem must be accessible to all. Diversity and inclusion will be of primary importance at the tournament, so that all social groups and communities can take part. Additionally, the UEFA Foundation for Children and the DFB foundations will implement measures in support of amateur football and give children access to matches.
• Combating discrimination and bullying: schemes to prevent, detect and combat all forms of discrimination and bullying will be run throughout the tournament. Particular attention will be paid to cases of abuse on social media.
• Freedom of speech: this basic freedom will be guaranteed and everyone will be welcome to support their team, enjoy the event and exercise their freedom of speech during the tournament.
• Safety, health and well-being: UEFA EURO 2024 must be a safe experience for everyone involved in the tournament. The tournament will be a tobacco-free zone, and the quality of the food and drink available in and around stadiums will be carefully controlled. Physical activity will be supported and encouraged.

This Declaration will be realised by a specific action plan. It is an integral part of UEFA EURO 2024’s ESG strategy, which includes the protection of rights, diversity and inclusion, health and
well-being, and solidarity. The activities based on human rights will be continuously assessed, and an audit will be produced to measure the progress achieved.

This article was published in the magazine Sport and Citizenship n°57 : protecting sport integrity