Sport plays an important role for many individuals and communities, and through the messages it vehicles, it has the power to inspire and transform lives.As the President of an International Federation and someone who has dedicated my life to sport, I am very conscious of the influence sport can and does have at every level of society, from the economic impact to the cultural and individual benefits from taking part in sport, being part of a club or simply being inspired by sporting heroes.There is no doubt in my mind that sport can be a catalyst for change and that through sport we share and promote values which are not only inherent to the sporting sphere but also human rights.However, having said this, let there be no misconception, human rights is not our core business, and we cannot be expected to resolve issues which even the signatories and the creators of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights are still grappling with.But we can contribute... And we have a duty to do our bit...The Olympic movement is built on the universal ethical principles linked to human rights (IOC Code of Ethics, article 1.4), such as “the respect for human dignity; the rejection of discrimination of any kind on whatever grounds, be it race, colour, sex, sexual orientation, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status; and, the rejection of all forms of harassment and abuse, be it physical, professional or sexual, and any physical or mental injuries”. As members of the Olympic Family we are not only committed but driven by these founding values.So what are we doing or what should we be doing in the name of human rights?The FEI’s raison d’être and the principles of equality and mutual respect are clearly embedded in the FEI Statutes and apply to everything we do. As a sports organisation, we have a very clear mandate which is outlined in our values, from providing “a level playing field for men and women of all ages to compete together in a safe environment from grassroots to the world stage”, to developing the sport and ensuring we are “meeting the needs of today without compromising those of tomorrow”. We have jurisdiction on our events, and we maintain and enforce our values and our rules fervently to ensure the integrity of the sport.So, the question really is, how can we feasibly promote human rights and influence the actions of third party states and regimes within our sporting context?First of all, I believe education and development are an extremely important part of any International Federation and through sport and development initiatives we have immeasurable opportunities to not only grow the sport but also promote our values, including respect for human rights.As an example, recently in Iran, and through our development programme FEI Solidarity, we worked hand in hand with the local Federation to provide a pathway for disabled athletes to access and compete in Para Equestrian sport; we helped establish a pony club structure for kids; and, we assisted coaches to set up Vaulting clubs and competitions where boys and girls train and compete together. With these programmes alone, we have shown how the very access to sport, and participation in sport interacts with fundamental human rights, which in turn can generate positive ambition and resolve for individuals and communities. This is how we can make a difference.The second major area where International Federations can have an influence is connected to the organisation of major events around the world.As governing bodies, we select the locations for our major events. Many would argue we should not go to countries where there is a track record of human rights abuse, but in function of the criteria you use to assess the status of a nation, you could potentially end up with very few countries left...And then, you also run the risk of being portrayed as avoiding or running away from your responsibilities. We all have a role to play in the promotion of human rights, so rather than turning our back on the issues, by taking them on, we are also addressing the situation.The IOC have taken important steps in this direction. In 2017, the IOC presented their commitment to human rights and Olympic Agenda 2020 with therevision of the Host City Contract (as of 2024) which resulted in the inclusion and explicit reference to the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. The Olympism in Action Forum, which then took place in Buenos Aires in 2018, was another important milestone in promoting the IOC’s commitment to embracing the role of sporting bodies and their collective power to make a difference when it comes to human rights and sustainability.Just like the IOC, through the FEI’s Host Agreements – and I know of many other IFs that also do this - we are able to use the contractual requirementswe draw up with our hosts to ensure that the fundamental principles of equality and mutual respect are upheld in the context of our events. Which, as I have said, can be a constructive mechanism to create awareness to improve human rights in a country. Which leads me on to the third main area where I believe the sports industry has an important role to play: raising awareness.The sporting world has a large, global audience and collectively, we generate a lot of media attention and this platform is where our strength lies when it comes to raising awareness on issues beyond the sporting sphere.Sport is built on the foundations of fair play and a level playing field where everyone has the same rights and is treated equally when it comes to competing and the conditions of competition. But, as we know, sporting events do not occur in a vacuum, and we cannot pretend or hope to distance ourselves from the economic, political and social environment. This is where we can and should make the most of our voice. And over the years, I believe we have. There are countless examples of positive human rights victories linked to sport, from achieving gender equalityto combatting racial and ethnic discrimination. When it comes to the participation of women, the plight of refugees with the Rio2016 team or the united North and South Korean team, for example, I completely accept that these victories might be perceived as only symbolic, but they do shine a spotlight and create an awareness which is a necessary building block for change in the long run.So to conclude, yes, the practice of sport is a human right, and every individual must have the possibility of practising sport, without discrimination ofany kind. Our role as IFs rests in how and where we can have an influence, be it through our development and education initiatives, the conditions and requirements we attach to our agreements, or the global promotion of our sporting values. These are the tools we have in our toolbox when it comes to human rights, and I strongly believe we have a duty to uphold our values where and when we can.I’ve said it before, sport cannot be expected to solve all the problems in the world, but we can and should be a part of the solution. This is a team effort and everyone has their role to play, just like a global pandemic, we need to take our responsibilities and lead by example.