Independent advisory board of human rights experts to meet on 13 March

News Hour:

To further strengthen its work to ensure respect for human rights, FIFA has set up an independent advisory body composed of international experts from the United Nations, trade unions, civil society and business. This Human Rights Advisory Board will provide FIFA with advice on all issues that the board members may consider relevant for the implementation of FIFA’s human rights responsibilities.

The board is scheduled to meet at least twice a year, with the first meeting to be held at the Home of FIFA in Zurich on 13 March 2017. After each meeting, a report will be published with the board’s recommendations to FIFA and an update from FIFA on how it is addressing previous recommendations from the board. The timeline for the publication of the first report will be discussed by the board at the 13 March meeting and communicated in due course.

The current members of the advisory board, selected on the basis of their expertise in human rights-related matters, are (in alphabetical order):

  • William Anderson (adidas)
  • Rachel Davis (Shift)
  • Ignacio Packer (Terre des Hommes)
  • Sylvia Schenk (Transparency International Germany)
  • Theo van Seggelen (FIFPro)
  • Lene Wendland (Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights)
  • Brent Wilton (The Coca-Cola Company)
  • Ambet Yuson (Building and Wood Workers’ International)

“The work of this advisory board is another important step as we strengthen our efforts to deliver on our human rights commitments. We are very glad to have such a prominent panel of experts who will support us with their expertise and challenge us where they believe we need to improve. It is the first advisory board of its kind for any sports federation, and we look forward to the pioneering work we will jointly undertake,” said FIFA Secretary General Fatma Samoura.

This article has been posted by a News Hour Correspondent. For queries, please contact through [email protected]
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