The President of Ireland Michael D. Higgins is a big football fan but he had an extra reason to be present last night for the World Cup Qualifier against Austria as he was joined by UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein to highlight a new campaign focusing on football’s role in promoting human rights.
Over the last two weeks, both the FAI and the UN have engaged people on social media with the ‘Stand Up for Someone’s Rights Today’ campaign. Last night, the campaign was promoted on the big screen and in the official match programme.
“On behalf of the Football Association of Ireland, I am delighted to help promote the United Nations’ ‘Stand Up For Someone’s Rights Today’,” said John Delaney, FAI CEO.
“This is a positive opportunity for football to help promote the UN’s Human Rights work in combatting discrimination.”
“Football can be a powerful force for equality, diversity and integration,” added Laurent Sauveur, UN Human Rights Office’s director of communications and fundraising.
“Our partnership with the FAI is designed to capitalise on sporting values and the vital role sport can play in combatting discrimination. Given the unmatched global impact of football, and its appeal across all sectors of society, it is clear that players, supporters and administrators can have a significant influence on the fight against racism and other forms of discrimination.”
The partnership with the UN is part of a global effort to push back against racism, xenophobia and all forms of discrimination.
‘Stand Up for Someone’s Rights Today’ is a campaign that asks all of us to play a meaningful role in promoting and defending human rights in our daily live and communities,” said Sauveur.
Irish football’s role was highlighted on the UN website standup4humanrights.org over the past two weeks alongside images of Nelson Mandela and Eleanor Roosevelt.
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