Address by the Ministerial Delegate in Charge of Human Rights
on the Occasion of the Opening of the Awareness-Raising Workshopon Media Coverage of Major Sporting Events
and the Promotion of Human Rights in the Sports Sphere**
Ladies and Gentlemen,
International partners,
Experts, representatives of national institutions and sports bodies,
Esteemed journalists,
Distinguished guests,
I am pleased to welcome you all and to extend my sincere thanks for responding to the invitation to take part in this awareness-raising workshop, which we consider an important milestone in strengthening the presence of human rights within the sports sphere, as well as in media practice.
The importance of this workshop lies in the fact that it takes place at a pivotal moment for sport in Morocco, as our country prepares to host major sporting events, foremost among them the Africa Cup of Nations 2025 and the 2030 FIFA World Cup, jointly with Spain and Portugal, in addition to other continental and international sporting events.
Sport has become one of the most closely followed, monitored and influential spaces worldwide. Consequently, the way in which these events are organized and covered by the media conveys a clear message about our references, our human and civilizational values, and our social, human rights and development choices.
These major sporting events are not merely competitions or moments of entertainment; they are global platforms for the expression, exchange and cross-fertilization of human values, spaces for inclusion, for the dissemination of a culture of human rights, and for the strengthening of good governance. As such, they provide an opportunity to promote coexistence, equal opportunities and social cohesion. At the same time, however, and in the absence of vigilance and appropriate safeguards, these events may also become spaces for the spread of hate speech, verbal or symbolic violence, and various forms of discrimination and racism.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Sport is one of the fundamental rights and a key gateway to the enjoyment of other rights, such as the right to health, leisure and education. This has been affirmed by international reference instruments, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenants on Civil and Political Rights and on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, and the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, among others.
In this regard, we recall the resolution of the Human Rights Council adopted on 12 October 2023, which stressed the need to create “a sporting environment free from racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance.” Its most recent resolution, adopted in October 2025, reaffirmed this commitment, calling on States to develop codes of conduct and to fund awareness-raising campaigns to combat racism in sport.
It is therefore our collective responsibility to translate these commitments into tangible realities and to ensure that our sporting spaces are safe, inclusive, educational and engaging environments that reflect our ambition to advance the human rights, democratic and development project pursued by our country under the leadership of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may God assist Him.
Today, Morocco reaffirms its choice to pursue an ethical, inclusive and development-oriented approach to sport, based on respect for dignity and equality, and aligned with international standards, particularly the requirements set out in the FIFA World Cup hosting regulations, which include explicit provisions relating to human rights, child protection, gender equality and the prohibition of all forms of discrimination.
In this regard, Morocco demonstrates regional leadership, creative capacity and strong readiness to successfully host major sporting events in accordance with international standards and under the best organizational conditions, fostering creativity and sporting competition, strengthening bonds between countries, nations and peoples, contributing to international cooperation and peace, and placing sport at the service of human rights and development.
We also wish to highlight and commend the pioneering role of sports journalists and sports media in supporting this national strategic orientation and in contributing to the exceptional efforts undertaken by stakeholders in the sports sector, foremost among them national sports bodies.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Sports media today bear increasing responsibility. They are no longer merely conveyors of information, but influential actors in shaping public opinion, preventing hate speech, and promoting a positive image of sport and the noble human values it embodies.
In this respect, the Olympic Charter, the recommendations of the Council of Europe, UNESCO and the International Labour Organization, the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs), as well as the standards of FIFA, CAF and other international sports governing bodies, all emphasize the role of the media as a key partner in ensuring respect for fundamental rights during major sporting events.
The expansion of media coverage—no longer limited to print press, television and radio, but extending to digital platforms—has introduced new challenges, including the rapid and irreversible spread of violent, discriminatory, racist and stereotypical content, with serious negative impacts, particularly on women, children, adolescents and young people. This constitutes a major challenge that calls for collective action to ensure that media fulfill their noble mission in a manner consistent with the spirit and values entrusted to sport and journalism.
This issue also intersects with the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence campaign, which this year focuses on digital violence. This further underscores the importance of promoting women’s sport and protecting women from violence in sports environments, including by highlighting and addressing digital violence targeting women, through the combined efforts of all concerned actors, including sports media.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
As Morocco prepares to host major continental and international football events, it is fully aware of the responsibility it bears and is committed to making these events exemplary, at the African, Mediterranean and international levels, in terms of:
preventing hate speech, violence and discrimination;
promoting diversity within the media;
supporting the effective inclusion of women in sport;
protecting children, adolescents and young people;
respecting the dignity of workers, fans, journalists and athletes.
The growing integration between the global regulatory framework of sport (lex sportiva) and human rights principles represents an opportunity to strengthen a culture of dignity and equality inside and outside stadiums, thereby contributing to the rooting of human rights in local contexts and social practice.
We find ourselves at crossroads where people from different cultures, civilizations, continents, traditions and values come together. It is our responsibility to manage this diversity in a way that strengthens coexistence, mutual respect, human values and peace.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Allow me to underscore the essential role of sports journalists in preventing human rights violations, promoting respect for their principles and values, and conveying a responsible and dignified image of competitive sport, through professional practice that respects journalistic ethics, rejects discrimination, and places sporting events in their proper context.
Through your commitment, Ladies and Gentlemen journalists, the media can promote inclusive participation, advocate for the growing presence of sport that respects human rights values, and confront stereotypes, hostile, inciting, violent and discriminatory discourse.
By strengthening ethical and professional media coverage, we are not only preparing for the organization of major events, but also building a national model of sports governance and responsible communication grounded in human rights, and contributing to the education of future generations in a culture of human rights.
In conclusion, I call upon all stakeholders—national institutions, sports associations, media outlets, civil society, supporters’ associations and international partners—to continue collective mobilization in order to transform these major sporting milestones into a genuine lever for human rights and development, and to ensure that the upcoming events hosted by the Kingdom of Morocco become best practices where sporting enjoyment is combined with respect for human rights, and where spectacle contributes to the promotion of universal human values.
We look forward to journalists being strategic partners in achieving this objective, through media coverage that promotes equality, fairness, mutual respect, tolerance, diversity, dialogue and cooperation.
I thank you for your positive engagement with this workshop and wish you fruitful discussions, constructive dialogue and joint action in support of media, sport and human rights. We also reaffirm our commitment to continuing to support this important initiative at multiple levels—security, legal, educational and others—in cooperation with all relevant institutions, including the media.
Please accept, from the Ministerial Delegation in Charge of Human Rights, the assurance of our highest consideration, sincere thanks and appreciation.