From October 22–24, 2025, the University of Connecticut hosted the second bi-annual Dodd Human Rights Summit, bringing together athletes, journalists, scholars, policymakers, business leaders, activists, and students to examine a central question:
How can sport both advance and protect human rights around the world?
Throughout the Summit, approximately 400 participants considered the dual role of sport: as a powerful force for community, inclusion, and positive social change, and as a space where systemic inequities often persist. Conversations acknowledged how sport can reflect broader social issues, including discrimination, financial exploitation, and barriers in accessibility, participation, and representation.
The 2025 Summit, Sport & Human Rights, featured keynote dialogues, fireside conversations, and panel discussions examining themes such as:
- Gender, Race, and Disability in Sport
- Athlete Activism and Protest Movements
- Sportswashing & Global Politics
- Corporate Power, Sponsorship, and Labor Rights
- Youth, Access, and Equity in Sport
- UConn’s legacy of athlete advocacy and leadership
The Summit highlighted UConn’s ongoing commitment to human rights education, community engagement, and global impact – a commitment aligned with the mission of the MSSRIB program.
As part of the Summit, Professor Rachel Chambers, Director of the Business and Human Rights Initiative and MSSRIB faculty member, moderated the panel Business, Sport, and Human Rights in the Dodd Center’s Konover Auditorium. Panelists examined the responsibilities of corporations and sports organizations in protecting workers’ rights, ensuring ethical supply chains, and promoting equitable labor standards. The discussion highlighted both the complexity and the urgency of aligning commercial activity in sport with meaningful human rights commitments.
Reflecting on the experience, Professor Chambers shared:
“One of the strengths of our MSSRIB program, beyond the brilliant School of Business, is all the amazing things happening across the wider university in human rights and sustainability. This Summit shows how deeply UConn is connected to global conversations about equity, accountability, and the power of sport to create change.”
Learn more about this event on UConn Today
