The London Declaration (Declaration on Sport and Human Rights) was adopted by members of the Commonwealth Forum of National Human Rights Institutions (the Forum) at its Biennial Meeting in London, UK, on 17 April 2018.

The Declaration contains a variety of commitments that Forum members have made in order to realise the value of sport in contributing to the promotion and protection of human rights.

The Declaration was adopted in the context of the 2018 Commonwealth Games having taken place just ahead of the Biennial in Gold Coast, Australia, and with the 2021 Youth Games set to take place in Belfast, Northern Ireland and many other mega sporting events taking place across the Commonwealth.

Chief Commissioner of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission and former chair of the CFNHRI, Les Allamby, said:

We are delighted that this declaration was adopted by members of the Commonwealth Forum at this year’s Biennial meeting in London. The Declaration sets out key priorities for members in the area of sport and human rights, and demonstrates the potential of sport to promote and protect human rights. This Declaration comes at a time when we see Commonwealth nations hosting a variety of mega-sporting events – with Australia hosting the 2018 Commonwealth Games last month; Zambia preparing to host the 2019 African Games, and Samoa, the 2019 Pacific Games; the 2021 Youth Games set for Belfast, and the 2022 Commonwealth Games confirmed for Birmingham.

The London Declaration recognises the positive role that sport can play in the lives of all persons, and its potential to progress the realisation of rights for all persons. We look forward to continuing our work on sport and human rights as the Equality and Human Rights Commission takes the chair of the Commonwealth Forum.

Read the Declaration