Youth Charter Call: Sport for Development and Peace

The Youth Charter (YC) ( www.YouthCharter.org ), an international charity recognized by the United Nations, has officially launched a Global Call to Action on Sport for Development and Peace (SDP). This initiative was announced at the 80th United Nations General Assembly in New York and the IOC Summit Milano Cortina 2026 in Italy.

This declaration aims to mobilize world leaders, governments and sports bodies to strengthen the role of sport in addressing the most pressing crises of our time, including armed conflict, climate change, inequality and lack of representation in governing bodies.

At the UNGA, world leaders reaffirmed that “sport is an important enabler of sustainable development,” while the International Olympic Committee (IOC) renewed its commitment to unity and peace ahead of the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympic Games. The Youth Charter calls for these commitments to be translated into concrete actions.

The proposals put forward by the Youth Charter include:

• Integrating sport into policies : Systematically include sport in conflict prevention, peacebuilding and humanitarian response strategies.
• Community Campus Development : Creating safe spaces combining education, sports and digital engagement for young people.
• Strengthening the UN–IOC Agreement : Establish annual reviews at General Assemblies to measure progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Geoff Thompson, founder and chairman of the Youth Charter, said: “At a time of global conflict, division and climate crisis, sport remains one of the few universal tools capable of bringing people together, healing communities and empowering young people.”

A Call to Action

The Youth Charter, celebrating more than 30 years of advocacy since its founding during Nelson Mandela's visit to Manchester in 1993, continues to champion the role of young people as agents of change. This Global Call to Action invites governments, the IOC, UN agencies, and civil society to join a renewed global movement for peace through sport.

Full Document

For more information, see the full document: Youth Charter – Global Call to Action on Sport for Development and Peace .

The Emissary