सव भव तु सिखनः ु Annual Report 2022-23 7.13 Sports and Human Rights 7.13.1 Sports is an integral part of human civiliza on. Non-discrimina on, and inclusivity are the main features of any sport. Through sports and its principles of respect and fair play, we can unite people across borders and can bridge social, cultural, and economic divides. However, human rights abuse in sports has invariably affected the growth of a healthy spor ng culture in India, which promotes various human rights, like right to culture, right to health, right to par cipa on, right to educa on, and so on and thus plays an important role in society. 7.13.2 In this regard, the Commission has been playing an important role in the protec on of human rights by iden fying policy gaps, by protec ng life and liberty, by ensuring that no discrimina on on the basis of caste and creed happens and by providing jus ce to all. 7.13.3 An Open House Discussion on Sports and Human Rights was organised in hybrid mode, on 01 November 2022, chaired by Dr. D. M. Mulay, Member, NHRC. Representa ves of the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Sports Authority of India, and other domain experts from governmental and nongovernmental organiza ons also joined the mee ng. The agenda of the mee ng were to examine the human rights issues in sports industries and solu ons thereof; to understand the infrastructural and structural challenges and solu on thereof; and finding remedies, accountability and embedding respect for human rights in sports federa on. A er due deliberaons, the following recommenda ons were made: • Principals of safe sport, privacy, and voice (right to raise), should followed in the sports sector all the me. • Periodic audits must be done by an independent expert agency of repute to assess adherence to 'Na onal Sports Development Code of India' and 'Human Rights Strategic Framework' by all Na onal Sports Federa on and place 70 report thereof in public domain. • Measures should be initated to promote sports literacy, such as, development and promo on of basic alphabe cal sports booklets, inclusion of module of sports in school curriculum etc. • A “Handbook on Human Rights in Sports” may be developed in vernacular languages. • A module on “Human Rights in Sports” may be developed for incorpora on in training courses for coaches organised by the Netaji Subhas Na onal Ins tute of Sports and its Centres and similar courses run at the State level ins tuons for coaches. The NHRC, in collabora on with Netaji Subhas Na onal Ins tute of Sports, may organise Training of Trainers (ToT) on these modules. • Measures must be taken to create awareness among various stakeholders about the Human Rights Framework established by the Internaonal Olympic Commi ee. • Feasibility for appointment of Ins tu onal Ombudsman and Ethical Officer in sports body at Na onal, State and District levels may be explored, to look into the grievances of sportspersons. • Feasibility to earmark minimum ten per cent (10%) Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funds for promo on of sports sector may be explored. 7.14 Human Rights of Indian Seafarers 7.14.1 Indian seafarers, like their counterparts from other na ons, have certain human rights that should be upheld and protected. However, they face specific challenges in their work. Abandonment of seafarers, imprisonment in foreign countries, ill-treatment, low wages, non- payment of salaries, poor working condi ons, lack of sensi sa on for women seafarers, and inadequate training are some of the major issues they Chapter 7 - Thematic Areas