ClubLFC backs United Nations initiative that uses love of sports to combat hate
Liverpool FC is lending its support to a new United Nations initiative that has been created to use sport as a way to combat the ever-growing global increase in hate speech and violence.
The Game Plan, which was officially launched today at the UN and Eradicate Hate Global Summit Sports event in New York, USA, has been developed by the UN Office on Genocide Prevention and the Responsibility to Protect and Eradicate Hate Global Summit Sports Working Group.
The new campaign – outlined by the acronym SPORT: speak, promote, organise, recognise and train – will focus not just on identifying and reporting hate speech, but on positive reactions that everyday people and athletes have taken to counter it.
LFC’s senior equality, diversity and inclusion manager, Rishi Jain, spoke candidly at the event on the challenges that remain in sport and what proactive steps LFC is taking to stop the escalation of hate speech and behaviours through its ongoing Red Together programme, which encompasses the club’s equality, diversity and inclusion work.
Jain said: “We are proud to be supporting this new initiative and reinforcing our commitment to positive change both as a football club and as part of the wider sporting community. It’s an honour to be invited to speak at this prestigious event with like-minded representatives from a range of different sports leagues from across the world.”
Alice Wairimu Nderitu, under-secretary-general and UN special adviser on the prevention of genocide and a member of the Sports Working Group, added: “We all share a love of sports, whether it’s football, American football, baseball or whatever sport. It could make a difference if they hear their favourite athletes and leagues speak with a unified voice in condemning hate-fuelled extremism.”
The UN and Eradicate Hate Global Summit Sports Working Group includes a multitude of sport leagues from around the globe and its membership will continue to expand.