Ulster Hockey is delighted to have pledged to support upholding the protection and promotion of human rights within and through their sports.
Alongside our friends at Netball NI and Swim Ireland, we have signed up to the Declaration on Sport and Human Rights. Chair Billy Pollock and Chief Executive Marc Scott were in attendance at a presentation lunch on 7th September 2022.
The Declaration sets out a number of commitments where signatories pledge to take human rights into consideration across all processes in their organisation.
The declaration is based upon the original 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights and adapted for ease of application with the sporting environment. It was originally drafted by Commonwealth Games Northern Ireland and the NI Human Rights Commission.
Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission Chief Executive, Dr David Russell, stated:
“It is so encouraging to see sporting bodies such as Netball NI, Ulster Hockey and Swim Ireland signing up to the Declaration on Sport and Human Rights. We are delighted that they have pledged to respect, protect and embed human rights into their organisations, and we look forward to working with them through the NI Sport and Human Rights Forum to realise in practice the goals of the Declaration.”
Conal Heatley, Chair of the Northern Ireland Sports and Human Rights Forum added:
“I am delighted that these three sporting bodies have signed up to the Declaration on Sport & Human Rights. The NI Sport and Human Rights Forum has gone from strength to strength since its formation in in 2019 and I would encourage all sporting bodies to join and demonstrate their commitment to human rights by signing the Declaration, recognising the role sport has to play in helping to fulfil the human rights of all.”
Billy Pollock, Chair of Ulster Hockey commented:
“Over the last 3 years Ulster Hockey has actively participated in the NI Sport & Human Rights Forum events and meetings which have been always interesting, informative and huge beneficial in the Governance of Hockey. We are delighted to officially sign the Declaration and pledge our full commitment to ensure Human Rights for all the Ulster Hockey Family and wider sport in Northern Ireland. We would encourage other local sports to come along and join us.”
