Within the presence of H.E. Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, H.E. Hassan Al Thawadi, Secretary General of the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC), and an accompanying delegation recently participated in an event organised by the Permanent Mission of the State of Qatar to the United Nations (UN) in Geneva under the title of "Hosting Mega Sport Events: Strengthening the respect for Human Rights".

The event, which took place on the side-lines of the 37th Session of the UN Human Rights Council (UNHCR), brought together leaders from various sport, governmental and civil society organisations to identify challenges and good practices on the role that mega sporting events can have in promoting and protecting human rights.

It was inaugurated by H.E. Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, who in his opening remarks spoke about the ways sport and human rights are intertwined, stating: "Sport is a universal language for promoting and protecting human rights. In the same way that it can foster economic development, it can also enhance social inclusion and strengthen mutual understanding. Qatar is the host nation of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, the first mega sporting event in the region, as well as the 2019 IAAF World Athletics Championships, both of which are unique opportunities to promote the values of solidarity, social inclusion and the protection of human rights."

H.E. Mr. Manabu Horii, Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan and H.E. Mr. Guy Ryder, Director General of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) also delivered opening remarks, whilst H.E. Ms. Kate Gilmore, UN Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights and Ms. Rita Schiavi, Chair of the International Women Committee at the Building and Wood Workers' International (BWI) union joined H.E. the SC Secretary General in a panel discussion moderated by Mr. John Morrison, Chief Executive of the Institute of Human Rights and Business.

During the panel discussion, H.E. the Secretary General spoke about the ways in which the spotlight of the 2022 FIFA World Cup™ has inspired fundamental progress in the sphere of human rights in Qatar. H.E. said: "Our bid for the 2022 FIFA World Cup fully recognised the power of mega sporting events as truly transformational platforms that have the potential to accelerate positive change. We are realising that potential through the significant progress that we have made on workers' welfare and our efforts are being recognised by the international community and civil society."

H.E. also emphasised the importance of ensuring that mega sporting events leave genuine change and a human legacy for host nations and beyond, stating: "Leaving a lasting legacy is one of the key objectives of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, and there is no legacy more noble than human rights. When we started preparing for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, we realised that we would face challenges with workers' welfare. We addressed the issue directly and committed to ensuring the health, safety, security and dignity of every worker on our projects. Our standards for contractors are rigorous and enforced and we have built partnerships with experts in the field such as BWI, to assist in ensuring that our accommodation and sites meet international standards and are a safe environment for workers."

Ms. Rita Schiavi, Chair of the International Women Committee at BWI, reflected on the union's work with the SC, stating that the progress being achieved in improving the welfare of workers on 2022 FIFA World Cup™ projects is setting an international benchmark that other mega-event organisers can learn from.

During the panel discussion, H.E. Ms. Kate Gilmore, UN Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, argued that human rights are inherently embedded within sport and as such the two should not be treated as mutually exclusive, drawing a historical account of various instances in which sport transcended political and cultural boundaries to bring people together to demonstrate her point. From his side, H.E. Mr. Guy Ryder, Director General of the International Labour Organisation (ILO), also affirmed the role mega sporting events have in promoting human rights, noting that while events often bring great challenges and corresponding obligations, they should be as much a celebration of human rights as they are of sport.

The "Hosting Mega Sport Events: Strengthening the respect for Human Rights" event falls in line with the UNHCR's recognition of the ways mega sporting events can be used to promote awareness, understanding and application of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as well as the achievement of the UN's Sustainable Development Goals of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.