The 2018 Social Forum took place from 1 to 3 October 2018 in Room XX, Palais des Nations, Geneva, Switzerland. The Human Rights Council, in its resolution 35/28, decided that the 2018 meeting of the Social Forum should focus on 'the possibilities of using sport and the Olympic ideal to promote human rights for all and to strengthen universal respect for them'.

Outcome documents

• Report of the 2018 Social Forum A/HRC/40/72
• llustrated Report: The possibilities of using sport and the Olympic ideal to promote human rights for all and to strengthen universal respect for them
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Videos from the Forum

• Opening remarks (Video)
• Panel on Sport & the Olympic Ideal (Video)
• Panel on Sports, Human Solidarity and Universal Values (Video)
• Panel on Sports and the "Equal Rights of Men and Women"? (Video)
• Panel on Celebrating Diversity (Video)
• Panel on Sports and Rights at Work (Video)
• Panel on Sports, Sustainable Cities & Adequate Standard of Living (Video)
• Panel on Power of Collective Action for Sharing Sports (Video)
• Panel on Sports for Sustainable Development & Sustained Peace (Video)
• Panel on Youth, Children & Future Generations (Video)
• Panel on the Way Forward, closing remarks and musical performance  (Video)

Background

Sport and the Olympic ideal continue to be used in the promotion and strengthening of universal respect for human rights. Events based on sport create an opportunity for numerous athletes and sportspersons to stand-up for human rights by fighting racism, promoting gender equality, ensuring inclusion and accessibility to persons with disabilities, highlighting challenges imposed by war or persecution, and by uncovering outcomes of extreme poverty.

According to the Olympic Charter, the 'goal of Olympism is to place sport at the service of the harmonious development of humankind, with a view to promoting a peaceful society concerned with the preservation of human dignity'. This theme not only contributes to the upholding of human rights, and the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals but also toward the pursuit of sustained peace.

As a universal language, sports can play a major role in respecting, protecting and fulfilling all human rights for all.

Side events

• List of Side and Cultural Events
• Concept note: "uMama" (Movie screening)
• Concept note: "Is a meaningful social legacy and social engagement for human rights with sports mega events possible?" (Panel)
• Concept note: "UNESCO's Kazan Action Plan: Pivotal Instruments to Advance Action and Investment in Human Rights." (Panel) (Brochure / Flyer)

Further information

• Human Rights Council Resolution 35/28
• Programme of work of the 2018 Social Forum
  English
• Flyer with relevant information on the 2018 Forum
  English | Français
• Report of the Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health (main focus: sports and healthy lifestyles as contributing factors to the right to health) (A/HRC/32/33)
• Kazan Action Plan (adopted on 15 July 2017 by UNESCO's Sixth International Conference of Ministers and Senior Officials Responsible for Physical Education and Sport, MINEPS VI.)
• The UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights
• Human Rights Council Advisory Committee study on Sports and the Olympic Ideal
• The Universal Declaration of Players Rights
• FIFA Human Rights Policy
• FIFA statement on human rights defenders and media representatives
• Right to education: the implementation of the right to education and Sustainable Development Goal 4 in the context of the growth of private actors in education - Report of the Special Rapporteur on the right to education
• Human Rights Council resolution 41/17 The right to education: follow-up to Human Rights Council resolution 8/4
• The Abidjan Principles on the human rights obligations of States to provide public education and to regulate private involvement in education
• World Programme of Action for Youth
• World Programme for Human Rights Education
• United Nations Declaration on Human Rights Education and Training
• UNESCO Convention against Discrimination in Education