The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has joined forces with Mission 89 to launch a campaign tackling the use of sport as a cover for child trafficking. Mission 89, a research and advocacy organization focused on protecting young athletes, has highlighted how traffickers exploit children’s aspirations for athletic success, luring them into abuse and exploitation. The campaign, titled “The Line We Don’t Cross” – The United Declaration on the Elimination of Child Exploitation in Sport, aims to raise awareness, strengthen safeguards in recruitment systems, and ensure that children are safe both on and off the field.
This initiative responds to alarming data from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), which shows that children make up 38 per cent of identified trafficking victims worldwide. Many are deceived by false promises of sports academy placements or professional contracts, only to face exploitation, forced labour, or abandonment. The Counter Trafficking Data Collaborative further reports that 11 per cent of child victims globally were trafficked through such deceptive offers.
The sports industry, valued between USD 471 billion and 1.4 trillion, is vulnerable to unethical recruitment practices and weak safeguarding systems, creating opportunities for traffickers to target children, especially from disadvantaged backgrounds. Mission 89’s Executive Director, Lerina Bright, stressed the importance of ensuring every child in sport is safe, supported, and protected from exploitation.
The campaign promotes an evidence-based approach to safeguarding, advocating for fair recruitment practices, stronger child protection measures, and the integration of safeguarding frameworks into sports governance. It also provides practical tools, including training materials, educational content, and prevention guides, to help institutions and stakeholders identify risks and protect children more effectively.
With over 25 years of experience combating human trafficking and assisting nearly 100,000 victims worldwide, IOM’s collaboration with Mission 89 reinforces its commitment to protecting vulnerable children and promoting safe, rights-based migration pathways. As part of the campaign, stakeholders—from sports federations to sponsors—are encouraged to sign an integrity commitment pledging zero tolerance for child trafficking in sport.
Through policy advocacy, community engagement, and institutional partnerships, IOM and Mission 89 aim to create a global movement ensuring that no child is trafficked in the name of sport and that every young athlete can pursue their dreams in safety, dignity, and with full respect for their rights.
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