Kate Jenkins Sex Discrimination Commissioner Australian Human Rights Commission FOREWORDS Australian Human Rights Commission Participation in sport is a human right.1 We are all born free and equal in dignity and rights.2 Sport provides physical, social and mental health benefits. This makes it essential that everyone has the opportunity to participate in sport, regardless of their sex or gender identity. When Sport Australia first approached the Australian Human Rights Commission (the Commission) we welcomed this opportunity to partner with them and the Coalition of Major Professional and Participation Sports (COMPPS)3 on the development of these Guidelines for the inclusion of transgender and gender diverse people in sport (the Guidelines). The Commission thanks them for their commitment to promoting and facilitating inclusion in sport. Just as we understand and accept the importance of a person being able to bring their ‘whole self’ to work, a person must also be able to bring their ‘whole self’ to any sport they participate in. Sport 2030, Australia’s national sport plan, makes clear that ‘successful societies are inclusive societies’.4 Unfortunately transgender and gender diverse people are sometimes excluded from sport, or may experience discrimination and sexual harassment when they do participate. Through the targeted consultations we held to inform the development of these Guidelines we heard from a broad range of sporting stakeholders, including transgender and gender diverse athletes. While some reported positive experiences of inclusion, others described how they had been excluded from the sports they loved because of their sex or gender identity. Guidelines for the inclusion of transgender and gender diverse people in sport • 2019 • 5