Sport and Rights Alliance

Violence, harassment, and discrimination in sport constitute a widespread and deeply rooted problem. Many athletes are exposed to abuse from a young age, and existing safeguarding systems often fail to protect or support them effectively. Despite the introduction of new policies, coordinated and fair processes are still lacking, and those who report abuse are frequently met with lengthy and ineffective investigations that risk causing further trauma. The lack of qualified legal assistance further exacerbates
their vulnerability, particularly for women, minority groups, and athletes from the Global South, who often lack both the resources and access to adequate support. 

At the same time, important global policy processes are underway
within UNESCO and the International Olympic Committeee (IOC), yet athletes own experiences and needs are still not sufficiently reflected in these discussions. There is therefore a clear gap between the scale of the problem and the capacity
of existing systems to address it effectively.

Through this project, the Sport & Rights Alliance seeks to develop
 an integrated support framework that combines trauma-informed resources, access to legal assistance, and athlete-led advocacy efforts. The aim is to build a sustainable ecosystem for protection, accountability, and systemic change 
across the sports sector. 

What happens in the project? 

The project is built around three interconnected components 

Phase 1 – Healing 

• SRA will develop a trauma-informed Athlete Survivor Well-Being Toolkit and deliver a digital capacity-building workshop. 

• The materials will be co-created with athletes who have lived experience and will be made globally accessible. 

Phase 2 – Action 

• The project will establish a global Legal Aid Network, with participating lawyers receiving trauma-informed training. 

• A secure system will be developed to match athletes with appropriate legal counsel. 

• SRA will also undertake three strategic pilot cases aimed at establishing legal precedents, exposing systemic failures, and strengthening access to justice. 

Phase 3 – Reform 

• SRA will leverage its formal position within UNESCO’s Safe Sport Task Force and the IOC’s International Safe Sport Framework Core Group to ensure that survivors actively participate in shaping new global safe sport standards and policies. 

• Through survivor-led advocacy and engagement in international policy processes, the project will promote stronger accountability mechanisms and more effective protections for athletes worldwide. 

Why is the project supported? 

By strengthening athletes’ ability to heal, access legal support, and influence the development of global safeguarding standards, the project contributes to a safer, more equitable, and more accountable sports system.