Theme 1: a European approach to sport policies: the revision of the European Sports Charter

Since 1992, the European Sports Charter of the Council of Europe has provided a European framework for the development of sports policies, based on common values, outlining the roles of the various stakeholders and recognising the constituting elements of a national sports policy.

The revision of the European Sports Charter will be discussed on the occasion of the 16th Ministerial Conference. According to the work undertaken so far under the aegis of EPAS, the revised European Sports Charter must take into account the challenges of today's sport. Its implementation will need to be supported and evaluated in a more systematic way. It will be an opportunity to renew the pact, or even to establish a "new deal" between public and private stakeholders in sport.

Theme 2: Human rights in sport

Among the principles that have recently emerged in the context of sport, respect for human rights will certainly be enshrined in the revised European Sports Charter. In recent years, the importance of the impact private organisations have had in the world of sport has given rise to a debate on the responsibility of companies with regard to human rights. Sports organisations, which have a significant influence and represent a considerable amount of the activity, are no exception to this expectation: freedom of the media, the fight against discrimination, the right to privacy, freedom of expression, freedom of assembly and association, the right to health - most rights and freedoms can be threatened in the field of sport.

The Ministerial Conference will examine how information gathered by the Council of Europe's specialised human rights bodies could shed light on sports practices. It will also consider how leaders of the sport movement could be made aware of human rights and how sports policies could integrate these issues. These debates could be illustrated by examples such as the right to a fair trial in disciplinary proceedings, the right to physical integrity of children and the protection of economic and social rights in sport.