Respecting Human Rights

At all times, the IOC recognises and upholds human rights, as enshrined in both the Fundamental Principles of the Olympic Charter and the IOC Code of Ethics.

The IOC is committed to improving the promotion and respect of human rights within the scope of its responsibility across its three spheres of activity – as an organisation, as the owner of the Olympic Games and as the leader of the Olympic Movement.

The objective is to ensure that people’s rights are put at the core of our operations and are respected in line with international agreements and standards – within the IOC’s remit.

The United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs) and other globally recognised standards, such as the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and ILO conventions, help the IOC inform its approach on human rights within specific areas, such as responsible sourcing, our approach to safe sport for athletes or the Games.

Human rights in the three spheres of responsibility

The IOC is taking action at three main levels to improve the promotion of and respect for human rights, and to deliver on its human rights responsibilities.

Strengthening our human rights approach across our organisation in a comprehensive way

Upholding human rights across the lifecycle of the Olympic Games

Promoting respect for human rights principles throughout the Olympic Movement at large

FAQ on the positioning of the Olympic Games

Read more to find out about the purpose of the Olympic Games; the role and remit of the IOC and the Olympic Movement; and the responsibilities of the hosts and organisers.

Fairness, Inclusion and Non-Discrimination

The IOC Framework on Fairness, Inclusion and Non-discrimination aims to help sports bodies provide pathways to inclusion in elite sport for all athletes, without discriminating on the basis of gender identity or sex variations, while defining disproportionate advantage in ways that preserve meaningful and fair competition.

Reference documents

Olympic Charter

Human rights are enshrined in Fundamental Principles 1, 2, 4 and 6 and Rule 2 of the Olympic Charter.

Code of Ethics

Human rights are enshrined in Article 1 of the IOC Code of Ethics.

Olympic Agenda 2020+5

One of the aspects of recommendation 13 of Olympic Agenda 2020+5 refers to the protection and respect of human rights.

Read recommendation 13

Introduction to the key principles of the IOC Human Rights Strategic Framework - may 2022

The IOC is progressing further in the establishment of a Human Rights Strategic Framework. During the final day of the 139th IOC Session, IOC Members were presented with a progress report as an introduction to the key principles of the IOC Human Rights Strategic Framework, which is scheduled to be finalised by September 2022.

Recommendations for an IOC human rights strategy - mar 2020

The recommendations were produced by independent experts HRH Prince Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, a former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, and Rachel Davis, Vice-President of Shift – a non-profit centre of expertise on business and human rights – as part of a report commissioned by the IOC in 2019. They were developed following a consultative process with key internal staff and expert civil society stakeholders.

Future Host questionnaire - Olympic Games - jan 2021

Preferred Hosts are required to submit responses to the Future Host Questionnaire and, among other things, describe how they will seek to identify and address adverse human rights impacts, in line with the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, throughout the lifecycle of the Games.

Read the questionnaire

Host City Contract operational requirements - jun 2018

As part of the Olympic Agenda 2020 reforms, human rights standards were reinforced in the “Operational Requirements” of the Host City Contract for the Olympic Games 2024 and beyond.

Read the operational requirements

News

IOC News 20 May 2022
IOC takes next steps in establishment of Human Rights Strategic Framework

Beijing 2022 19 Jan 2022
IOC conducts third-party due diligence on its suppliers for Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022

IOC News 03 Mar 2020
IOC continues working on human rights and takes first steps on a strategy

IOC News 02 Dec 2020
IOC moves forward with its human rights approach

IOC News 31 Oct 2019
IOC is committed to inclusion across the Olympic Movement

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