Week of Action 2023: Taking action for the inclusion and protection of refugees
The 2023 Week of Action on Sport and Refugees shed light on the important role that sport and its actors can play in refugee contexts. It focused on sport’s contribution to improved mental and physical wellbeing and social inclusion as well as its role in returning hope and a sense of normalcy to lives upended by violence and conflict.
Partnering with sportanddev, the co-convenors of the Sport for Refugees Coalition (SfRC) – the Olympic Refugee Foundation, the Scort Foundation, and UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency – led a series of events during the week highlighting how the sport ecosystem can contribute to promoting the inclusion and protection of refugees and join the international effort in advance of the upcoming Global Refugee Forum (GRF). These events included a webinar and an interactive workshop to share best practices and raise awareness of the Joint Pledge on Sport for Inclusion and Protection, which will be announced to the international community at the GRF.
If you want to learn more:
What’s the Global Refugee Forum?
The Global Refugee Forum (GRF) is the world’s largest international gathering on refugees, taking place in Geneva every four years since 2019. The second edition of the Global Refugee Forum (GRF) will take place in December 2023 and will bring together the international community to demonstrate solidarity, share good practices and announce concrete pledges to improve the lives of refugees and their host communities.
How can I join this international effort to support refugees through sport?
The Joint Pledge on Sport for Inclusion and Protection represents a refreshed perspective on the different ways that sport can contribute to improved lives for refugees and their host communities, building on the previous 2019 Sport Pledge. Developed by a multi-stakeholder reference group from the sport sector and beyond, this pledge is based on a shared belief and concrete evidence that sport can make substantial contributions to a brighter future for refugees. We are actively looking for organizations to join us in this effort – if you are interested, please contact us [email protected].
Figure 1: Diagram providing the Pledge overview and 5 commitment areas
By committing under one or more pledge components, stakeholders can make meaningful contributions to support refugees. Through this pledge, committing entities and individuals are shaping the future for refugees worldwide, using sport as a powerful vehicle for change, protection and inclusion of displaced individuals.
For more information on how to make a contribution to the Joint Sport Pledge, read our Guidance Note.
What’s the Sport for Refugees Coalition?
The Sport for Refugees Coalition (SfRC) is a global effort focused on supporting the lives of displaced people through sport. As a pledging entity, your organization is welcome to join the Coalition, sharing and gaining insights into how sport can contribute to improve the lives of refugees and being part of a collective voice highlighting the positive role sport can play in displacement. Learn more about the SfRC here.
If you have any question, contact the SfRC at [email protected] .
Other relevant resources:
- Multistakeholder Pledge: Sport for Inclusion and Protection
- Guidance note on how to join the Joint Sport Pledge
- Register your commitment on the Global Compact on Refugees online portal.
- Register your commitment on Joint Pledge on Sport commitment form.
Thank you to UEFA, Girl Power, ISCA, Tambai Zimbabwe and World Athletics. These organizations played a key role in the design of the Joint Pledge on Sport for Inclusion and Protection, and shared their expertise and experience during the Week of Action.
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