Silent stands: the unseen side of human rights in sports

This study analyzes how human rights in sports are described across international documents and academic literature through a systematic review of texts. Our collection includes the IOC Olympic Charter and Strategic Framework on Human Rights (2022), UNESCO’s International Charter of Physical Education, Physical Activity and Sport (2015), the Council of Europe’s European Sports Charter, FIFA’s Human Rights Policy (2017), the World Players Association’s Universal Declaration of Player Rights (2017), along with peer-reviewed studies and selected NGO and institutional reports from 2005 to 2025, with a focus on 2008–2025; works before 2008 are considered foundational. We use both deductive coding (covering equality, child and women’s protection, privacy, freedom of expression, labour rights) and inductive coding to allow for cross-thematic comparisons. Results show widespread agreement in the language of rights across instruments, but there remain significant gaps in enforcement, independent oversight, and accessible redress. By examining these patterns through the lens of the ‘discourse–practice gap’, we suggest governance measures focused on binding standards, independent monitoring, transparent reporting, and dedicated compensation funds. Overall, the analysis argues that human rights in sport are not just an ethical ideal but a practical necessity that demands institutional accountability.