The conference “Promoting Access to Rights for Youth in the Americas through Sports and Play” will include the participation of academic experts in an exchange about the importance of active lifestyles and sports as enablers for equity, social inclusion, and human development and will explore how sports can be a powerful driver for positive social change.

The Organization of American States (OAS) and Ferrero Group recently signed a cooperation agreement that seeks to promote sports activities, help guarantee the rights of children, adolescents, and women, and seek gender equality in sports in the Americas.

Sport is inextricably linked to other human rights, such as the right to physical and mental health, the right to an education conducive to the full development of the human personality, the right to be part of cultural life, the right to rest and recreation, the right of children to play, the right of women to participate in sports, and the right of people with disabilities to participate on an equal opportunity basis.

The partnership between the OAS and Ferrero Group emerged from the shared commitment to enhancing access to rights through sport and play for children and adolescents in the Americas, and already performed two local events and trainings in Buenos Aires (Argentina) and Montevideo (Uruguay).

Ferrero through its Corporate Social Responsibility program, Joy of Moving, seeks to increase the practice of youth sports and inspiring millions of children, and their families around the world to be active, enjoy movement and develop life skills in an attractive and joyful way. It is the company’s strong conviction that a positive attitude towards movement will make today's children better adults in the future. The Joy of Moving initiative is already present in Americas in USA, México, Ecuador, Colombia, Brazil, Argentina and was recently launched in Uruguay.

Joy of Moving is inspired by Art. 31 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child which highlights that: “Every child has the right to rest and leisure, to engage in play and recreational activities appropriate to the age of the child.” Likewise, in line with the 2030 agenda of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, it seeks to establish partnerships to promote quality education (SDG 17 and 4).

The event is organized by the Secretariat for Access to Rights and Equity (SARE) of the Organization of American States (OAS) and Ferrero International with the support of the Permanent Observer Mission of Italy to the OAS and the Embassy of Italy in Washington, and it will be held on October 16, 2024, at the Auditorium of the Embassy of Italy to Unites States.

Invitation