Switzerland Signs Human Rights Declaration for Women's Euro 2025

In a landmark move demonstrating Switzerland's dedication to human rights in sports, Sports Minister Viola Amherd has signed a crucial human rights declaration for the upcoming Women's Euro 2025. The signing ceremony included key stakeholders from UEFA, Women's Euro 2025 organizers, the Swiss Football Association, and representatives from the host cities. This declaration emphasizes Switzerland's commitment to respecting human rights, social sustainability, and environmental responsibility in major sporting events. The initiative aims to promote diversity, equal opportunities, and inclusion both in and through sport, setting a new standard for international sporting events.

The 2025 European Women's Football Championship will transform Switzerland into a continental sporting hub from July 2-27, 2025. The tournament will showcase matches across eight prominent Swiss cities: Basel, Bern, Zurich, Geneva, Lucerne, St Gallen, Thun, and Sion. This widespread distribution of venues ensures that the championship's impact and excitement will reach across different regions of Switzerland, making it truly a national event. Each host city has committed to upholding the principles outlined in the human rights declaration, ensuring that the tournament's values are consistently maintained throughout all venues.

The Swiss federal government has demonstrated its strong support for the tournament by allocating CHF15 million (approximately $17 million) in funding. This substantial investment reflects Switzerland's commitment to promoting women's sports and ensuring the success of this prestigious event. The financial backing will contribute to various aspects of the tournament, including infrastructure improvements, security measures, and initiatives supporting the human rights and sustainability goals outlined in the declaration.

The signing of this human rights declaration represents more than just a commitment to a single tournament. As emphasized by Sports Minister Amherd, 'Our aim is for this European Championship to become a model for future major sporting events in Switzerland.' This pioneering approach combines sporting excellence with social responsibility, setting a new benchmark for international sporting events. The declaration's focus on human rights, sustainability, and inclusion is expected to influence how future sporting events are organized and managed, not only in Switzerland but potentially across Europe and beyond.