"UN experts welcome FIFA commitment to stand up for human rights defenders", 30 May 2018

UN human rights experts have welcomed the move by world football’s governing body FIFA to take steps to safeguard human rights defenders and journalists who raise human rights concerns linked to FIFA events. “FIFA’s commitment is a very positive move,” said the UN Working Group on business and human rights and the UN’s special rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders.“This needs now to be followed up by action to prevent or identify and address any such attacks on human rights defenders in the context of forthcoming World Cup tournaments.” The newly issued “FIFA Statement on Human Rights Defenders and Media Representatives”* elaborates on the 2017 FIFA policy on human rights. It indicates that it should be read, interpreted and applied in accordance with FIFA’s responsibilities under the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and consistent with the spirit and intent of the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders. Among concrete steps, FIFA will require bidders and hosts of FIFA tournaments to uphold their commitment to respecting and helping to protect the rights of human rights defenders and media representatives.