04/11/2026 Culture, Science, Education and Media
Speaking at the 19th Council of Europe Conference of Ministers responsible for Sport in Monaco, Mogens Jensen (Denmark, SOC), Chair of PACE’s Committee on Culture, Science, Education and Media, called for concrete action to make sport safer, more inclusive and respectful of human rights, particularly for children and young people.
“Sport should give children confidence, friendships and a sense of belonging. Safety, respect and dignity must be the rule, not the exception,” he said, highlighting the need for effective safeguarding, clear responsibilities, trusted reporting mechanisms and support for victims.
Referring to a 2025 PACE resolution and recommendation on Protecting human rights in and through sport: obligations and shared responsibilities, he stressed that accountability must extend throughout the sporting movement.
He also underlined the importance of inclusive sporting environments, recalling the discussion on stadia held by the Parliamentary Alliance for Good Governance and Integrity in Sport on 3 November, marking the 10th anniversary of the Council of Europe’s Saint-Denis Convention. Stadia, sports clubs and training facilities should be welcoming spaces for everyone, free from discrimination and intimidation.
Mr Jensen strongly criticised the decision to award Moscow the 2030 World Weightlifting Championships and the recent ruling paving the way for the return of Russian national teams to international ice hockey competitions. Referring to PACE Resolution 2608 (2025), he stressed that the autonomy and neutrality of sport cannot justify silence in the face of serious violations of human rights and international law. Individual athletes should not automatically be held responsible for their governments’ actions, but this cannot justify normalising Russia’s presence in international sport while its aggression against Ukraine continues.
He urged ministers to turn political commitments into measurable progress, strengthen safeguarding and complaints mechanisms, invest in prevention and give children and young people a meaningful voice. He also called on governments to use Council of Europe standards, including the Saint-Denis Convention, exchange good practices and work closely with their national parliaments to ensure effective follow-up at national level.
The Parliamentary Alliance will examine issues of governance, accountability and human rights in international football at a hearing in Paris on 1 December, to which FIFA, alongside other key stakeholders and experts, has been invited.