Week of Action on Sport and Refugees: Taking Action for Inclusion and Protection

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency and more recently the Sport for Refugees Coalition, in partnership with sportanddev, have hosted a Week of Action on Sport and Refugees annually since 2020. Taking place this year between 23-27 October, the 2023 edition will champion the role of sport in improving the lives of refugees, in particular through greater inclusion and protection from harm, abuse and neglect.

At the forefront of current efforts is the December 2023 Global Refugee Forum. A diverse group of stakeholders, including states, humanitarian, development, faith, sport, youth and other actors will share expertise and knowledge, and pledge to further share responsibility to support refugees and the communities that host them.

The week’s activities will be facilitated by the Sport for Refugees Coalition's co-convenors, the Scort Foundation, the Olympic Refuge Foundation and UNHCR, with the support of the International Platform on Sport and Development (sportanddev). They will focus on the role of sport at the Global Refugee Forum, in particular the Joint Pledge on Sport for Inclusion and Protection, underlining the key role sport can play in support of the UN Member State-mandated international framework for solving the refugee crisis, the Global Compact on Refugees.

The Joint Pledge on Sport for Inclusion and Protection represents a refreshed perspective on the different ways in which sport can contribute to improved lives for refugees and the communities that so generously host them. Developed by a multistakeholder reference group from the sport sector and beyond, this pledge presents a shared conviction that sport is, and can make further substantial contributions to better futures for some of the most marginalized people on earth.

We will answer the following questions:

• What is the Sport for Refugees Coalition? 
• What are the Global Compact on Refugees (GCR) and the Global Refugee Forum (GRF)?
• What is the Joint Pledge on Sport?
• How does the Joint Pledge on Sport contribute to better lives for refugees and global processes such as the GRF and GCR?
• How can my organisation get involved in the Joint Pledge on Sport and the Sport for Refugees Coalition?

For more information on the Sport for Refugees Coalition and how you can get involved, please reach out at [email protected].

Week of Action programme

Webinar: Leveraging the sport ecosystem for refugee protection and inclusion at the Global Refugee Forum

When: 24 October 2023, 14:00 – 15:30 CEST

Led by sportanddev and the Sport for Refugees Coalition co-convenors, this webinar will offer insights into the significant role that the sport ecosystem can play in contributing to refugee response, within the framework of the Global Compact on Refugees.

Participants will find out how they can contribute to international action to improve the lives of refugees by committing to the Joint Sport Pledge. They will also connect with various stakeholders and share promising practices related to sport and refugees.

• Find out more and register

Online workshop: How can I commit to the Joint Pledge on Sport at the Global Refugee Forum?

When: 26 October 2023, 14:00 – 15:00 CEST

This workshop will be led by the co-convenors of the Sport for Refugees Coalition, Scort Foundation, Olympic Refuge Foundation, and UNHCR. It will provide the unique opportunity to understand how to commit to the Joint Pledge on Sport for Protection and Inclusion for the Global Refugee Forum 2023.

Assisted by the co-convenors, participants will join working groups to jointly draft a commitment under one of the five pledge components.

• Find out more and register

FAQs and open forum

Answers to frequently asked questions will be made available for organisations and other interested stakeholders seeking guidance on how to join the Joint Pledge on Sport for Inclusion and Protection and understand the commitment process.

The information will be available in English, French, Arabic and Spanish.

An open forum will also be available to allow individuals to post further questions and receive support from the co-convenors.

Wrap-up article

Following the Week of Action, we will share key messages and valuable resources that can support stakeholders in formulating and submitting their commitments under the Joint Pledge on Sport for Inclusion and Protection.

The information will be available in English, French, Arabic and Spanish.