The International Organization for Migration will support the campaign against the exploitation of children in sports.

Sports are increasingly being used as a cover for child trafficking. The International Organization for Migration (IOM), together with Mission 89, is launching a new campaign aimed at combating this phenomenon, the UN press service reports.

Mission 89 is a research and advocacy organization that campaigns against the exploitation of young athletes. According to recent data, human traffickers are increasingly using sports to lure children, turning dreams of athletic success into a tool for abuse and exploitation. Children from disadvantaged backgrounds are particularly vulnerable.

"Sport should be a source of joy and achievement, not a gateway to exploitation," said IOM Deputy Director General Ugochi Daniels.

“Through this campaign, we aim to strengthen protection measures, integrate safety mechanisms into [athlete] recruitment systems and ensure that children are safe on and off the field,” she added.

According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), children account for 38 percent of human trafficking victims worldwide. Young people are increasingly becoming victims, lured into joining sports teams or being offered professional contracts.

According to the Counter Trafficking Data Collaborative's global database, 11 percent of child victims of human trafficking were lured into exploitative and forced labor situations through false promises.

The IOM and Mission 89 campaign will highlight structural weaknesses in the sports industry and help strengthen child protection systems.

“We cannot ignore the risks young athletes face,” said Mission 89 founder and executive director Lerina Bright.

"This campaign aims to ensure that every child with sporting dreams is safe, supported and never exploited," she added.

The initiative takes a comprehensive approach. It promotes fair and responsible recruitment of athletes and the protection of children's rights. The campaign calls on sports organizations, governments, and regional structures to integrate safety mechanisms into their work. It also provides them with practical tools—training materials and guidelines—to identify risks and more effectively protect children.

Over more than 25 years of work, IOM has provided direct assistance to nearly 100,000 victims of human trafficking worldwide. Collaboration with Mission 89 aligns with the organization's goal of protecting the most vulnerable populations and promoting safe migration routes for children and young people.