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Latin American athletes, clubs, and experts stress the urgency of education and awareness to eradicate racism and discrimination in the world of sport
Before redefining sanctions and other punitive measures, investing in education, training, and awareness is essential to ensuring safe and inclusive sports environments, agreed representatives from various sectors involved in sports across Latin America during one of the two major Regional Consultations organized by the OHCHR and UNESCO for a World of Sport Free from Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Other Forms of Intolerance.
At a key moment, as the world prepares for global sports events such as the FIFA World Cup 2026 and the Women’s World Cup 2027, Mexico hosted the Latin America Regional Consultation. The event brought together athletes, civil society organizations, academia, and international bodies over two days at the Human Rights Commission of Mexico City.
During one of the dialogues coordinated by UNESCO, participants stressed the importance of strengthening education from an early age, financing the development of educational resources, providing continuous training for coaches and sports managers, diversifying leadership and staff at all levels of the sports ecosystem, and raising public awareness through media, advertising, and social communication.
UNESCO co-organized the regional consultations as the United Nations agency mandated with physical education, physical activity, and the sport, and shared its perspectives in the session alongside representatives of the Americas Paralympic Committee, Club Independiente del Valle, the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), the Vini Jr. Institute — founded by Brazilian footballer and UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador VinÃcius Júnior — and Kenyan-Mexican athlete and medallist Risper Biyaki, a member of UNESCO’s Fit for Life Network Against Racism.
In conjunction with the March 2025 consultation for Europe, held in Brussels, this process concluded a series of regional consultations whose findings will be integrated into a global report. This report is part of the broader process driven by , aimed at consolidating concrete policies to eradicate racial discrimination in the world of sport ahead of the Council’s 60th session in September 2025.
