High-Level Conference & Workshop – Game Changer: Sport’s role in fighting discrimination​Equality Bodies and the Role of Sport in the Fight against Discrimination

Equinet and UNAR – the Italian Office against Racial Discrimination will hold a High-Level Conference on sport’s role in fighting discrimination taking place in person in Rome, Italy on 7 November 2024. It is aimed at Equality Bodies, as well as, EU institutions, national authorities, and CSOs. On the following day,  8 November 2024, Euqinet and UNAR will hold a workshop for Equinet Members. 

Registration will open in August.

Background

​​Sport serves as a cornerstone of social interaction, possessing the unique ability to unite individuals from diverse backgrounds, irrespective of race, gender, or sexual orientation. It is not merely a pastime but a powerful vehicle for promoting the values of diversity, fostering inclusivity, and challenging discrimination, stereotypes, and prejudice. However, the harsh reality reveals a troubling narrative of recurring racist incidents within European sporting arenas, alongside pervasive discrimination against women, racial minorities, and the LGBTQI+ community. 

​The persistence of these barriers, exacerbated by prejudice and harmful stereotypes, demands urgent action from EU institutions and Member States to dismantle systemic inequalities within the sports sector. The legal and policy framework at the European level provides a foundation for combatting discrimination, with the EU adopting equality strategies aimed at addressing disparities across all areas of life, including sports. Measures such as Regulation (EU) 2021/817 and European Parliament resolutions underscore the imperative of collaboration among stakeholders to confront racism and discrimination head-on. 

​Equinet’s exploration into the role of Equality Bodies in combatting discrimination within sports remains limited. However, several Equality Bodies have accumulated valuable experience in addressing these issues and stand ready to share best practices. This is the case of the Italian Equality Body, the National Office Against Racial Discrimination (UNAR), whose joint initiative with national sports federations and organizations National Observatory Against Discrimination in Sport is committed to promote equality and inclusion in and via sport throughout the country. 

​Equinet and UNAR seek to facilitate the dissemination of these insights, fostering a collective effort to drive meaningful change. Moreover, it is crucial to engage with relevant stakeholders to strategize on how Equality Bodies can collaborate effectively to promote equality and eradicate discrimination within sport. With this purpose, the conference will bring together Equality Bodies and relevant International and European institutions and organisations to share good practices and develop their cooperation on promoting equality and tackling discrimination in and through sport. ​ 

Objectives

The High-Level conference will bring together Equality Bodies and relevant institutions and organisations from across Europe to share good practices and develop their cooperation on promoting equality and tackling discrimination in sport.

Preliminary Agenda

The High-Level Conference will include the following sessions:

• A keynote speech aiming at providing an introduction to the topic. Highlighting the importance of sports, links with inclusion and non-discrimination, mentioning current challenges, areas of actions and needs.
• Panel discussion addressing the different challenges and aspects/angles of equality and discrimination in sport.
• #TheyLedTheWay: The aim of this session is to have a somewhat more dinamic conversation between the host and two athlete/sport related speakers.
• Promoting Diversity in the Olimpycs: This session aims to provide a good practice example promoting equality and non-discrimination through sport from Olimpycs Committee.
• Combating Hate Speech in Sport: This session aims to provide a good practice example promoting equality and non-discrimination through sport from the Council of Europe.
• Fostering Positive Social Change through Football for All: This session aims to provide a good practice example promoting equality and non-discrimination through sport from UEFA 

During the second day, Equinet Members will participate in a workshop, including the following sessions:

• Replay: Reflections from the Conference: During this session speakers from UNAR, the European Commission and Equinet will share their reflections from the Conference the previous day. Participants will be requested to share their impressions as well.
• Scoring Goals in Equality: Practice sharing: Participants will be divided into groups. Tandems speakers will rotate from one group to the other. Each tandem will present their initiative and open the floor to questions from participants and rotate every 15 minutes to the next table.  
• Mauling: Open discussion on takeaways: The host will moderate an open discussion to dwell into the main takeaways and thoughts/ open discussion regarding the two Conference and Workshop days. 

For further information, contact Daris Lewis Recio (daris.lewis@equineteurope.org).