Human rights and youth sport

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Sports are activities involving physical exertion and skill, in which a team compete against another as a form of entertainment. [1] The universality of sport allows it to encompass several different rights. Most sporting events have a huge impact on human rights. Human rights are rights that are believed to belong to justifiably every person. In particular youth sport which concerns the rights of children. The practice of sport is beneficial to children as it can have a positive impact on their physical, mental, psycho-motor and social development skills. Sport is helpful in a human rights context as it encourages the integration of children from different cultural or economic backgrounds, those with disabilities and helps promote gender equality. [2]

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The practice of sport is seen to be important to the development of young people as it fosters their physical and emotional health and builds valuable social connections. It offers opportunities for play and self-expression that is beneficial especially for young people with few other opportunities. Within schools physical education is a vital component of quality education as it promotes physical activity and can help improve academic performance.

International conventions and organisations

Convention on the Rights of the Child

The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child 1990 does not include any direct reference to sports. The articles in the Convention are applicable in the wider context of youth sport. [3] Article 31 does provide some reference in relation to the rights of the child when it comes to cultural, artistic,recreational and leisure activity. [3]

Sport and games are an asset in reaching the objectives found in the Convention. Youth sport can help to combat discrimination by promoting the integration of race, gender, religion, children from different economic and social backgrounds, age and ability. [3] Provide social and participative opportunities for children and also provide access to those with disabilities, from different social or economic situations. [3] By providing sport in schools or at a community based level it can motivate and stimulate children towards achievement, promote public health and encourage fair play and the channelling of certain emotions and violence. [3]

United Nations Office for Sport Development and Peace

The United Nations Office Sport Development and Peace, (UNOSDP) have implemented strategies to foster youth development in sport. They address the areas of child protection in sport and sport to strengthen child and youth education. The United Nations Inter-Agency Task Force on Sport for Development and Peace 2003 defines sport for development as "all forms of physical activity that contribute to physical fitness, mental well-being and social interaction, such as play, recreation, organised or competitive sport, and indigenous sports.” The UNOSDP have instigated these strategies as children should have the opportunity to take part in sport at all levels in a safe, secure and positive environment as children can be vulnerable to being influenced in sport and child protection is important.

Council of Europe

The Council of Europe is one of the most active intergovernmental institutions for the protection of human rights of athletes and youth. The Council has established norms and standards which encourage member states to adopt laws, policies and programmes. [4] The Council of Europe has developed the 1992 European Sports Charter with the view to the promotion of sport as an important factor in human development and provides that Governments should take the steps necessary to apply the provisions of the Charter in accordance with the principles set out in the Code of Sports Ethics set out by the Council. [4] This Charter will help to enable every individual to participate in sport and to ensure that all young people should have the opportunity to receive physical education instruction and the opportunity to acquire basic sports skills. [4] The Council wants to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to take part in sport and physical recreation in a safe and healthy environment and in co-operation with the appropriate sports organisations. [4] It will also look to ensure that everyone with the interest and ability should have the opportunity to improve their standard of performance in sport and reach levels of personal achievement and/or publicly recognised levels of excellence. [4] The Charter will also help to protect and develop the moral and ethical aspects of sport and promote the human dignity and safety of those involved in sport, by safeguarding sport, sportsmen and women from exploitation for political, commercial and financial gain and from practices that are abusive or degrading including the abuse of drugs and the sexual harassment and abuse of children, young people and women. [4]

Child protection

Sport is a physical activity which is most readily identified with youth as there has been an increase in youth involvement in high performance sports due to early identification of athletic talent and early specialisation. There is a need for child’s rights to be protected in organised sports as abuses can take place. [5] The United Nations Office on Sport for Development and Peace (UNOSDP) has a strategy in place to protect the rights of the child when it comes to abuse. The most commonly abused human rights in relation to youth sport recognised by the UNOSDP found in conjunction with 1990 Convention on the Rights of the Child are the right to health (Article 24), the right to protection from all forms of violence and maltreatment (Article 19), the right to protection from trafficking (Article 11), the right to education (Article 23) and the right to rest (Article 31.1). The World Health Organization report in 1999 defined child abuses as "all forms of physical and/or emotional ill treatment, sexual abuses, neglect or negligent treatment or commercial or other exploitation, resulting in actual or potential harm to the child’s health, survival, development or dignity in the context of a relationship of responsibility, trust or power.” [6] The most common forms of abuse in youth sport are child trafficking and labour, physical abuse, peer violence, physical violence by adults including physical punishment, violence due to participation in competitions, sexual abuse and harassment. [7] Also emotional and psychological abuse such as neglect and bullying. [7] Abuse can lead to other problems which can have lifelong effects on the child such as physical injuries, sexual health problems, depression, low self-esteem, eating and sleeping disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder and suicide. [7]

Abuses in youth sport can happen for numerous reasons. Abuses can occur because children feel a sense of dependency. [7] Children find themselves in unique situations where they often train with those who are older or with an adult coach therefore the environment they are in creates a pseudo family within which there are certain expectations and pressures placed on them which can create strong emotions and they form a dependency to the adults in charge. [7] Training to please, the psychological development of the child often impulses them to train excessively and do almost anything to please adults and achieve in their chosen sport which can make them vulnerable to the possibility of abuse. [7] Lack of qualified trainer’s, often trainers are sports people who may have gone through a professional sports career but may not have the necessary coach training required to deal with children. [7] Lack of international standards, the UNOSDP is working to develop international standards with respect to human rights to protect children in sports as the lack of international standards can lead to human rights abuses of children in sport. [8]

Combating human rights violations

In order to move forward to prevent human rights violations the UNOSDP International Working Group propose that States should implement policies that educate children, parents and coaches, along with developing policies and international standards to combat human rights abuses in youth sport. [7] Educating children about the risks of abuse in sport, their rights and whom to ask for help will help combat breaches of human rights and abuse. The Canadian Red Cross RespectedED teaches children and adults how healthy relationships look and feel, detecting signs of abuse or harassment and how to get help. [7] Raising awareness of abuse to parents by informing parents of the possible harms that intensive training can do to their children, their role and responsibilities, and how they can contribute to the prevention of child abuse in sport. [7] Targeting coaches by providing training and education to coaches on ethics in sport and acceptable training techniques as well as screening for potential offenders which should help to mitigate child abuse. [7] This provides children with the appropriate direction and guidance and allows for competent supervision. [9] Developing practices to protect children and youth, and also developing policies that concern sport participation, training and competition should help recognise and prioritise the needs and interests of the child or youth at all times. [7]

The development of a child-centered sports system which aims at developing competitive talent among athletes and fulfilling their human rights and dignity is a way of enabling children to develop holistically in a sports system. [10] A child sensitive system to combat human rights violations would look at promoting equality, non-discrimination and fairness. [11] Addressing the best interests of the child which allows them to be included in any decisions being made but also allows others to focus on the impact the potential situation may have on the child. [12] Also recognising the child as the subject of rights and their ability to exercise rights makes them less vulnerable to abuse and exploitation. [13] Evaluating the evolving capacities of the child as children are constantly developing therefore consideration has to be given to age, maturity and capacity for discernment. [14] All young athletes are different and cannot compete at the same levels therefore the developmental capacities need to be addressed. [15] Implementing health standards for all athletes which address physical, psychological, spiritual, social and cultural aspects. [16]

Related Research Articles

Convention on the Rights of the Child International treaty about the rights of children

The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child is an international human rights treaty which sets out the civil, political, economic, social, health and cultural rights of children. The Convention defines a child as any human being under the age of eighteen, unless the age of majority is attained earlier under national legislation.

Child Human between birth and puberty

A child is a human being between the stages of birth and puberty, or between the developmental period of infancy and puberty. The legal definition of child generally refers to a minor, otherwise known as a person younger than the age of majority. Children generally have fewer rights and responsibilities than adults. They are classed as unable to make serious decisions.

Early childhood education The teaching of children from birth to age eight

Early childhood education (ECE), also known as nursery education, is a branch of education theory that relates to the teaching of children from birth up to the age of eight. Traditionally, this is up to the equivalent of third grade. ECE is described as an important period in child development.

Children's rights are a subset of human rights with particular attention to the rights of special protection and care afforded to minors.. The 1989 Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) defines a child as "any human being below the age of eighteen years, unless under the law applicable to the child, majority is attained earlier." Children's rights includes their right to association with both parents, human identity as well as the basic needs for physical protection, food, universal state-paid education, health care, and criminal laws appropriate for the age and development of the child, equal protection of the child's civil rights, and freedom from discrimination on the basis of the child's race, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, religion, disability, color, ethnicity, or other characteristics. Interpretations of children's rights range from allowing children the capacity for autonomous action to the enforcement of children being physically, mentally and emotionally free from abuse, though what constitutes "abuse" is a matter of debate. Other definitions include the rights to care and nurturing. There are no definitions of other terms used to describe young people such as "adolescents", "teenagers", or "youth" in international law, but the children's rights movement is considered distinct from the youth rights movement. The field of children's rights spans the fields of law, politics, religion, and morality.

Trafficking of children Form of human trafficking

Trafficking of children is a form of human trafficking and is defined by the United Nations as the "recruitment, transportation, transfer, harboring, and/or receipt" kidnapping of a child for the purpose of slavery, forced labour and exploitation. This definition is substantially wider than the same document's definition of "trafficking in persons". Children may also be trafficked for the purpose of adoption.

Child abuse Maltreatment or neglect of a child

Child abuse or child maltreatment is physical, sexual, and/or psychological maltreatment or neglect of a child or children, especially by a parent or a caregiver. Child abuse may include any act or failure to act by a parent or a caregiver that results in actual or potential harm to a child and can occur in a child's home, or in the organizations, schools, or communities the child interacts with.

Child protection Protecting children from harm and neglect

Child protection is the safeguarding of children from violence, exploitation, abuse, and neglect. Article 19 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child provides for the protection of children in and out of the home. One of the ways to ensure this is by giving them quality education, the fourth of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, in addition to other child protection systems.

Right to education Human right

The right to education has been recognized as a human right in a number of international conventions, including the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights which recognizes a right to free, compulsory primary education for all, an obligation to develop secondary education accessible to all with the progressive introduction of free secondary education, as well as an obligation to develop equitable access to higher education, ideally by the progressive introduction of free higher education. In 2021, 171 states were parties to the Covenant.

Evolving capacities is the concept in which education, child development and youth development programs led by adults take into account the capacities of the child or youth to exercise rights on their own behalf. It is also directly linked to the right to be heard, requiring adults to be mindful of their responsibilities to respect children's rights, protect them from harm, and provide opportunities so they can exercise their rights. The concept of evolving capacities is employed internationally as a direct alternative to popular concepts of child and youth development.

Play (activity) Voluntary, intrinsically motivated recreation

Play is a range of intrinsically motivated activities done for recreational pleasure and enjoyment. Play is commonly associated with children and juvenile-level activities, but play occurs at any life stage, and among other higher-functioning animals as well, most notably mammals and birds.

UNICEF UK

UNICEF UK, also known as the United Kingdom Committee for UNICEF, is one of 36 UNICEF national committees based in industrialised countries. The national committees raise funds for the organisation's worldwide emergency and development work. In 2007, UNICEF UK raised £41.3 million for UNICEF's work with children worldwide. UNICEF UK also advocates for lasting change for children. For example, it works to change government policies and practices that are detrimental to children's rights in the UK and internationally.

Child migration or "children in migration or mobility" is the movement of people ages 3–18 within or across political borders, with or without their parents or a legal guardian, to another country or region. They may travel with or without legal travel documents. They may arrive to the destination country as refugees, asylum seekers, or economic migrants.

Corporal punishment in the home A form of punishment used by parents to inflict physical pain or discomfort

Physical or corporal punishment by a parent or other legal guardian is any act causing deliberate physical pain or discomfort to a minor child in response to some undesired behavior. It typically takes the form of spanking or slapping the child with an open hand or striking with an implement such as a belt, slipper, cane, hairbrush or paddle, hanger, and can also include shaking, pinching, forced ingestion of substances, or forcing children to stay in uncomfortable positions.

UNICEF Indonesia

UNICEF Indonesia is one of over 190 national offices of the United Nations Children’s Fund. As one of the first UNICEF offices established in Asia, UNICEF Indonesia has been on the ground since 1948 to uphold the rights of children in the vast archipelago, including their right to an education, healthcare and protection from abuse and exploitation. It also advocates for political change in support of children, and works with partner organizations from the public, charity and private sectors, to effect change.

Youth sports

Youth sports is any sports event where competitors are younger than adult age, whether children or adolescents. Youth sports includes school sports at primary and secondary level, as well as sports played outside the education system, whether informally or organized.

Physical literacy is a fundamental and valuable human capability that can be described as a disposition acquired by human individuals encompassing the motivation, confidence, physical competence, knowledge and understanding that establishes purposeful physical pursuits as an integral part of their lifestyle.

Child labor in the Philippines is the employment of children in hazardous occupations below the age of fifteen (15), or without the proper conditions and requirements below the age of fifteen (15), where children are compelled to work on a regular basis to earn a living for themselves and their families, and as a result are disadvantaged educationally and socially. So to make it short, it is called child labor when it is forced.

Institutionalization of children with disabilities in Russia is the placement of children, who have been abandoned or whose parents cannot support them, into a facility which can be similar to an orphanage. This often occurs in countries where alternative methods of care are not available. The definition of an institution can be ambiguous; the "Report of the Ad Hoc Expert Group on the Transition from Institutional to Community-based Care" defines an institution based on the following guidelines:

Armenia and the United Nations Armenia at the United Nations

Armenia was admitted into the United Nations on 2 March 1992, following its independence from the Soviet Union. In December 1992, the UN opened its first office in Yerevan. Since then, Armenia has signed and ratified several international treaties. There are 20 specialized agencies, programs, and funds operating in the country under the supervision of the UN Resident Coordinator. Armenia strengthened its relations with the UN by cooperating with various UN agencies and bodies such as the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, the World Food Programme, and with the financial institutions of the UN. Armenia is a candidate to preside as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council in 2031.

Education in emergencies and conflict areas is the process of teaching and promoting quality education for children, youth, and adults in crisis-affected areas. Such emergency settings include: conflicts, pandemics and disasters caused by natural hazards. Strengthened education systems protects children and youth from attack, abuse, and exploitation, supports peace-building, and provides physical and psychological safety to children. In times of crisis, education helps build resilience and social cohesion across communities, and is fundamental to sustained recovery.

References

  1. ↑ "Definition of SPORT". www.merriam-webster.com. Retrieved 2017-09-07.
  2. ↑ Paulo David, Human Rights in Youth Sport: A critical review of children's rights in competitive sports, (Routledge, London and New York, 2005).
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 "OHCHR | Convention on the Rights of the Child". www.ohchr.org. Retrieved 2019-06-17.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Enlarged Partial Agreement on Sport (EPAS)". Sport. Retrieved 2020-11-17.
  5. ↑ Kidd, Bruce; Donnelly, Peter (2000-06-01). "Human Rights in Sports". International Review for the Sociology of Sport. 35 (2): 131–148. doi:10.1177/101269000035002001. ISSN   1012-6902. S2CID   145101038.
  6. ↑ "WHO | The world health report 1999 - making a difference". WHO. Archived from the original on September 15, 2004. Retrieved 2019-06-17.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 https://www.un.org/wcm/webdav/site/sport/shared/sport/SDP%20IWG/2011-08-16_Child_Protection_in_Sport.pdf [ dead link ]
  8. ↑ http://www.righttoplay.com/International/news-and-media/Documents/Final%20Report%20revised%202010.pdf Archived 2010-12-12 at the Wayback Machine
  9. ↑ Paulo David, Human Rights in Youth Sport: A critical review of children's rights in competitive sports, (Routledge, London and New York, 2005).
  10. ↑ Paulo David, Human Rights in Youth Sport: A critical review of children's rights in competitive sports, (Routledge, London and New York, 2005).
  11. ↑ Paulo David, Human Rights in Youth Sport: A critical review of children's rights in competitive sports, (Routledge, London and New York, 2005).
  12. ↑ Paulo David, Human Rights in Youth Sport: A critical review of children's rights in competitive sports, (Routledge, London and New York, 2005).
  13. ↑ Paulo David, Human Rights in Youth Sport: A critical review of children's rights in competitive sports, (Routledge, London and New York, 2005).
  14. ↑ Paulo David, Human Rights in Youth Sport: A critical review of children's rights in competitive sports, (Routledge, London and New York, 2005).
  15. ↑ Paulo David, Human Rights in Youth Sport: A critical review of children's rights in competitive sports, (Routledge, London and New York, 2005).
  16. ↑ Paulo David, Human Rights in Youth Sport: A critical review of children's rights in competitive sports, (Routledge, London and New York, 2005).
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