Human Rights in Youth Sport: A Critical Review of Children's Rights in Competitive Sport

The human rights of the child have been inscribed in the UN's 1989 Convention on the Rights of the Child, and ratified by 191 countries. Paulo David's work makes it clear, however, that too often competitive sports has yet to recognize the value of respect for international child rights norms. Human Rights in Youth Sportoffers critical analysis of some very real problems within youth sport and argues that the future development of sport depends on the creation of a child-centered sport system. Areas of particular concern include issues of over training, physical, emotional, and sexual abuse, doping and medical ethics, education, and child labor. The text also examines the specific responsibilities and accountabilities of parents, coaches, and managers and should be essential reading for anybody with an interest in the ethics of sport, youth sport, coaching, and sports development.

Paulo David works at the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) as Secretary of the Committee on the Rights of the Child.