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Evolution of the Charter

In 1978, the International Charter of Physical Education and Sport was adopted by UNESCO’s 20th General Conference as a standard-setting instrument.

Resolution 20, View the records of the General Conference
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In 1991, Article 7 of the Charter was amended to avert the dangers and harmful influences which are a threat to sport.

Resolution 26C, View the records of the General Conference
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In order to integrate the many evolutions in the field of Sports, a thorough revision of the Charter was initiated in 2013.

 

Revision Timeline

MINEPS V, May 2013 (Berlin, Germany)

  • The Declaration of Berlin, adopted by 121 Member States represented at MINEPS V, invited the Director-General to consider a revision of the Charter.

    Download the Declaration (see paragraph 19):
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First MINEPS V follow-up meeting for Latin America and the Caribbean, October 2013 (Bogota, Colombia)

  • Participants support the revision of UNESCO’s International Charter of Physical Education and Sport and invite UNESCO to examine the possibility for the revised Charter to be adopted no later than during the 38th session of the General Conference in 2015.

    View the Final Report:
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37th session of the UNESCO’s General Conference, November 2013 (UNESCO Headquarters, Paris, France)

  • The General Conference of all 195 Member States of UNESCO requests the Executive Board to confirm that the revision is desirable and, should this be the case, asks Director-General  to the prepare a draft text of the revised Charter to be submitted to the Executive Board at its 196th session, in order to be examined and adopted by the General Conference at its 38th session.

    Resolution 37C/38. View the records of the General Conference
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Ordinary Session of the Intergovernmental Committee for Physical Education and Sport (CIGEPS) and its Permanent Consultative Council (PPC), March 2014 (UNESCO Headquarters, Paris, France)

  • 18 Member States take note of the Report on the revision.
  • They confirm the necessity of revising the Charter and agree that the revised Charter should be adopted during the 38th session of UNESCO’s General Conference in 2015.

    Resolution CIGEPS/2014/3, see 2014 Session Report
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194th session of UNESCO’s Executive Board, March 2014 (UNESCO Headquarters, Paris, France)

Experts Meeting, September 2014 (Medellin, Colombia)

  • 17 International experts, the Chair of CIGEPS, as well as the UNESCO Secretariat identify main provisions of the revised Charter.

    See report on the Revision of the International Charter, CIGEPS 2015:
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Circular Letter 4081 from the Director-General of UNESCO, November 2014

  • Formal consultation by the Director-General of all 195 Member States on the Preliminary Draft of the revised Charter, including background information on the revision

    Read the Circular Letter (Preliminary Draft of the Revised International Charter of Physical Education and Sport):
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Extraordinary Session of CIGEPS and its Permanent Consultative Council, January 2015 (International Olympic Committee Headquarters, Lausanne, Switzerland)

  • Takes note of comments received from Member States and other stakeholders.
  • Discuss and finalize amendments to the Preliminary Draft of the revised Charter.
  • Approves a draft revised International Charter of Physical Education, Physical Activity and Sport, as amended by it.
  • Agrees that the 6th World Conference of Sport Ministers (MINEPS VI), to be held in  2017, should concentrate on the implementation and its monitoring of the Declaration of Berlin adopted by MINEPS V and of the revised Charter.

    Resolution CIGEPS/2015/2, See 2015 Session Report:
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196th session of the UNESCO’s Executive Board, March 2015 (UNESCO Headquarters, Paris, France)

38th session of UNESCO’s General Conference, November 2015 (UNESCO Headquarters, Paris, France)

  • Takes note of the Report on the revision.
  • Approves the (revised) International Charter for Physical Education, Physical Activity and Sport.
  • Invites Member States to implement the principles and recommendations stated in the revised Charter.
  • Supports the development of a common framework for the follow-up of both the Declaration of Berlin and the revised Charter.
  • Requests the Director-General to ensure a lead role for UNESCO in the follow-up process of the Declaration of Berlin and the revised Charter.