The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) was adopted by the UN General Assembly in 2006. It is reaffirms that anybody with any type of disability must enjoy all human rights while also identifying where specific actions or protections need to be taken to make sure that persons with disabilities can enjoy their human rights and what to do in cases where their rights have been violated.

Article 30.5 of the Convention specifies that States must ensure that persons with disabilities are able to participate in leisure and sporting activities on an equal basis. The Convention also contains articles through which the right to sport can be realised (such as the right to education), rights which access to sport can help to realise (such as the rights to health and to habiliation and rehabilitation), and rights which ensure that people with disabilities are safe while they participate in sports (such as the right to freedom from exploitation, violence and abuse).

The Convention on the Elimination all Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) was adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1979. It lays out the human rights of women and girls and measures states need to take to end gender-based discrimination.

Through Article 13, the Convention specifically recognises that women and girls have the same rights as men and boys to participate in recreational activities, sports and all aspects of cultural life. The Convention also contains articles through which the right to sport can be realised (such as the right to education) and rights which access to sport can help to realise (such as the right to health).

The Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) was adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1989. It lays out the human rights of children and measures states need to take to ensure the rights of the child are protected. It is guided by four core principles: non-discrimination; the best interests of the child; the right to survival and development; and respect for the views of the child. It is the most ratified international human rights treaty in history with 195 countries having ratified it to date.

Article 31 recognises that children have the right to rest and leisure, to engage in play and recreational activities. This includes sport. The Convention also contains articles through which the right to sport can be realised (such as the right to education), rights which access to sport can help to realise (such as the right to health), and rights relating to child protection while participating in sports (such as the right to freedom from exploitation, violence and abuse).

The International Covenant on Economic Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) was adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1966. Together with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights it forms the International Bill of Rights. It lays out human rights relating to the workplace, social security, family life, participation in cultural life, and access to housing, food, water, health care and education.

Through Article 15 on the right to participate in cultural life, ICESCR recognises the right to sport. The Covenant also contains articles through which the right to sport can be realised (such as the right to education) and rights which access to sport can help to realise (such as the right to health).

The Universal Periodic Review (UPR) is a unique tool of the UN Human Rights Council under which the human rights record of each UN member state is reviewed by their fellow member states every four and a half years. The UPR is an opportunity for states to explain what actions they have taken to improve the human rights situation in their countries and to fulfil their human rights obligations and for the international community of states to raise any concerns they have with regards to human rights in each country.