On 18 November 2015, at the 38th session of the UNESCO General Conference in Paris, Member States approved, by resolution 38 C/43, the International Charter of Physical Education, Physical Activity and Sport. It is not a convention open for ratification and it does not provide for a depositary of instruments: the General Conference proclaims it and invites Member States to apply its principles. It is not the 1978 Charter, nor the 1991 amendment of Article 7 of that Charter.

The preamble recalls the UN Charter and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, acknowledges cultural diversity in play, dance and traditional and indigenous sports as part of humanity’s intangible heritage, and proclaims the Charter at the service of human development. Article 1: the practice of physical education, physical activity and sport is a fundamental right for all, without discrimination; inclusive, adapted and safe opportunities must be available, notably to preschool children, women and girls, the aged, persons with disabilities and indigenous people; each education system must include quality physical education classes, preferentially on a daily basis, as a mandatory part of primary and secondary education.

Article 2: when appropriately organized, taught and practised, these activities can yield health, social and economic benefits, including physical literacy, swimming as a vital skill where there is a drowning risk, and prevention of heart disease, diabetes, cancer and obesity. Article 4: programmes must inspire lifelong participation; quality inclusive physical education classes, taught by qualified teachers, should be mandatory in all grades and levels. Article 7: teaching, coaching and administration must be performed by qualified personnel; volunteer coaches and officials should be offered suitable training and supervision.

Article 5: stakeholders must ensure that their activities are economically, socially, environmentally and sporting sustainable; parties to major sport events must ensure a sustainable legacy for hosting communities. Article 8: adequate and safe spaces, facilities and equipment, mindful of climate, culture, gender, age and disability; public authorities should integrate opportunities for physical activity into urban, rural and transportation planning. Article 9: safety and the management of risk; harmful practices listed range from discrimination and doping to sexual exploitation and violence.

Article 10: integrity must be protected from violence, doping, political exploitation, corruption and manipulation of competitions; the universally adopted anti-doping rules must be implemented at all levels; organizations must implement good governance; employers must respect international labour conventions. Article 11: sport for development and peace initiatives should aim, among other things, at eradicating poverty, human rights, and post-conflict and post-disaster recovery. Article 12: international co-operation should reduce disparities between States through exchange of good practice, education programmes, capacity development and indicators based on the Charter’s principles. Resolution 38 C/43 invites Member States to implement the recommendations and requests the Director-General to ensure a lead role in follow-up of the Charter and of the Declaration of Berlin.

It is not the Olympic Charter, not the International Convention against Doping in Sport of 2005, not the 2013 Declaration of Berlin and not the 2017 Kazan Action Plan.

Image: Japanese garden at UNESCO headquarters, Place de Fontenoy, Paris; Gonzalezpascalphotos, 8 March 2013; CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons. Cropped to 16:9.

Source consulted: International Charter of Physical Education, Physical Activity and Sport. Treaty text: International Charter of Physical Education, Physical Activity and Sport, Paris, 18 November 2015.