In the last summer, men’s euro organizers in Germany agreed to focus a special focus on human rights during the month’s long tournament
European football governing bodies UEFA, German Football Association (DFB), German government and German states and cities where all the plyptated “democracy, equality, and human rights were organized during the Euro 2024” Euro 2024.
In this summer, women’s euro organizers in Switzerland are planning to carry forward such efforts.
The Swiss government and other associations and institutions participating in the tournament signed an announcement in March, in which they themselves come to athletes for “diversity, equal opportunities, and sports”, as the Swiss Sports Minister Viola Amaid said.
Profit from Euro 2024
The Human Rights Advisory Board for the Women’s Tournament is modeling on one used in Germany with non-governmental organizations.
The UEFA told DW in a statement, “UEFA Euro 2024, on the experiences of the Advisory Board, we inspired a new authorities (Council of Europe and Swiss Department of Foreign Affairs) to ensure more wide for human rights.”
Sylvia Shenk, a runner-up runner of Transparency International Germany, was a member of that board.
“It was just the beginning,” Shenk told DW. “But it was importing. We fought for it for years.”
Last year, things were thrown together at the last minute, but as Sank said, this time it is not so.
“The Human Rights Advisory Board was called only in May (last year), and our first meeting was held in June. [the European Championship began on June 14]For the Women’s European Championship, the body was formed at the beginning of the year. ,
‘A step in the right direction’
The organizers included the advisory board when assessing the risks of human rights violations in Euro 2025. UEFA, Swiss FA, and eight host cities implemented some suggestions in their plan.
Anyone who threatens or discriminates in stadiums can report it using the QR code displayed on the poster. The “Awareness Team” wants to be available to respond to the events at the stadium.
Complaints of human rights violations can be submitted to UEFA through tournament app or website. Independent legal body is to assess complaints, where are applied, and they are passed to the authorities.
Lisa Salza, head of Amnesty Switzerland’s game, said, “Even though thesis is less wider than the desired, the approach is a step in the right direction.”
“Finally, it is imported that the rules of conduct for this tournament search as a train station in the stadium, in fan areas, and in sensitive places,” he said. The message is “zero tolerance for discrimination, racism and sexual violence.”
Outside legal firm assesses reports reports
During the Euro 2024, the Frankfurt Law firm was hired by the UEFA to assess the search report. Most of the thesis were political in nature, such as nationalist, right -wing statements, gestures, or symbols responsible for players or fans. Only a small number of cases of resentment and repetition discrimination of sex was reported.
Another attention is competing with cyberbuling. In last year’s tournament, social media accounts of around 700 players, coaches and referee were monitored. According to the UEFA, 666 aggressive posts were reported to social platforms during the group phase alone. Most of the posts were directed against the players, including 90%. The UEFA estimated the ratio of racist humiliation at around 5% and homophobic statements at 2.5%.
This photo was quite different in the 2022 Women’s European Championships in England, when UEFA first fought cyberbulling – working in collaboration with Meta, X, Tikok. During the final between England and Germany, 189 posts were marked. More than half of these were classified as a common abusive language and was responsible for every 2% in 45% sexism cases of racism and homophobia.
Social media platforms pledge to the ongoing cooperation
Meta and X changed their corporate policies after the election of US President Donald Trump last year and are now taking less action against abusive language. However, the UEFA is not expected that the Euro 2025 will have a significant impact on the fight against cyberbulling.
The UEFA said, “The social media company confirmed its commitment to work and continued to support the efforts to protect the game.”
Shenk does not expect that this summer tournament will have more sexism than men’s previous year – not at least in the stadium.
“Not the viewer area, I don’t think, because the mixture is different. It is more than a family atmosphere there,” he said. “It can play a big role in online hate comments.”
‘Resurgence’ of abusive language
However, Salza “risk of oral or physical sexual violence, against fans and players, both fan zones and stadiums.
An example of this cam at the Eurovision Song Contest organized by Basel in May, when a right -wing extremist organization attempted to incite hatred against refugees and other migrants.
“Looking at many crises around the world and the risk is that the thesis will move forward in the coming weeks, one may assume that there will be further protests and expulsion of the opinion inside and outside the stadium inside and outside (Euro 2024),” Salza warned.
“It would be the duty of the organizers to protect the expression and freedom of the assembly even in this extraordinary state.”
This article was the original published in German.
