The fight against homophobia
the EU Dimension and the role of sport
Bart Ooijen
Sport Unit
DG Education and Culture
European Commission
Utrecht, Netherlands
12 October 2012
Sport
The principle of equal treatment is a fundamental value
for the European Union, which is going to great lengths
to combat homophobia and discrimination based on
sexual orientation.
Article 21 of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights
explicitly prohibits discrimination based on sexual
orientation
Article 19 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the
European Union (Lisbon Treaty) allows taking
appropriate action to combat discrimination based on
sexual orientation
Sport
EU Anti Discrimination
Five pillars:
 EU ANTI-DISCRIMINATION LEGISLATION
 MAINSTREAMING OF ANTI-DISCRIMINATION IN ALL
EU POLICIES
 PROMOTING AWARENESS AND SUPPORTING PROJECTS
 MOBILISING STAKEHOLDERS THROUGH DIALOGUE
 MONITORING AND RESEARCH
Sport
How far have we come today in 2012?
• Europe with growing nationalism, xenophobia and
intolerance. What does this mean for LGTBI people?
-
-
Pride festivals are being disrupted lesbian, gay
and transgender people are falling victim to hate
crime.
People are discriminated against and are victims
of other forms of intolerance.
there are still several Member States that
don’t acknowledge same sex marriages.
Sport
It's getting better
-
European Union membership has contributed to
improving the situation for LGBTI people around
Europe
-
The Copenhagen criteria require applicant
countries to pay full respect to human rights: all
candidate countries and states applying for
membership have abolished legislation banning
homosexuality.
-
positive developments in the Balkans.
Sport
It's getting better
-
the Employment Equality Directive adopted in
2000 prohibits discrimination in the workplace.
-
EU completes the legal Framework Decision
against discrimination. (discrimination is crime)
-
cooperation with Member States on public
policies combating discrimination and promoting
equality through an exchange of good practices
and seminars on mainstreaming LGBTI
dimensions in different areas.
Sport
What more needs to be done?
• Fundamental Rights Agency conduct a survey on
the discrimination, hate speech and hate crime
against LGBTI people in all EU Member States.
• Does the EU needs a comprehensive strategy to
be able to really address the problems and
improve the situation.
Sport
What role SPORT can play?
Sport
What role SPORT can play?
Sport
What role SPORT can play?
New UK charter tackles homophobia in sport 2011
Sport
Premier league clubs refused to campaign
"We need some role models in this country if we
want more people to come out, but there are none.
The only openly gay footballers, someone like my
uncle who has passed away. It is still a harsh reality
for the next person coming out knowing that my
uncle committed suicide".
@AmalFashanu
Sport
What role SPORT can play?
German gay footballers
get support of Angela
Merkel
Sport
What role European SPORT can play?
UEFA fines Antonio Cassano
€15,000 for ‘Homophobic
Slur’ used At EURO 2012
Press Conference
ENGSO Youth Sport speaks out
on TabooPhobia - Developing a
youth led campaign to challenge
homophobia in and through sport
Sport
23 outOlympic
athlete
competing
in the 2012
Summer
Olympics
Is there an added value for the
Europe Union
to play a role in this field of sport?
Sport
Article 165 TFEU
(Lisbon treaty 1-12-2009)
• Promotion of European sporting issues, while taking
account of:
•
•
•
•
the specific nature of sport,
its structures based on voluntary activity
its social and educational function.
Principle of subsidiarity
• Developing the European dimension in sport, by promoting:
• fairness and openness in sporting competitions
• cooperation between bodies responsible for sports,
And by protecting the physical and moral integrity of sportsmen and
sportswomen, especially the youngest sportsmen and sportswomen.
Sport
White Paper on Sport/Communication
 Using the potential of sport for social inclusion,
integration and equal opportunities
 Sport as a tool of social cohesion – fight against
exclusion, empowering individuals, combating all forms
of discrimination including homophobia
Sport
What role EU SPORT can play?
• Fight against homophobia in sport:
- spectators of professional team sports
- exchange of good practices on professional
and grassroots sports
- make framework decision discrimination
applicable for sport legislation
• Use sport as a tool because of its popularity and
media coverage to change attitude in society
Sport
Conclusions
• Non-discriminatory laws, code of conducts,
charters, seminars, a vigilant civil society are no
guarantee for success for an inclusive society.
• Sport governing bodies could contribute to this
process if it will take the fight against homophobia
seriously
• To really change and influence people's attitudes
and feelings in a dynamic European Union remains
a challenge, long term substantial and tailor made
projects are necessary and sport can be part of
this.
• You will find the EU on your side, where possible!
Sport
Thank you
for your attention !
19
Sport