Justice and Peace Issues
NORTH AMERICA HOSTS 2026 WORLD CUPFrom June 13-July 9, Gillette Stadium in Foxboro will host 7 World Cup matches. While sports fans in our area are looking forward to this, members of law enforcement and advocates for human trafficking victims are preparing for a surge in the number of sex and labor trafficking incidents. Human traffickers and organized crime groups see this event as an opportunity to make quick money because the massive influx of visitors, temporary workers, and strained infrastructure creates perfect conditions for traffickers to operate while being largely undetected.The Alliance to End Human Trafficking notes that it is important to recognize that trafficking is not limited to the duration of an event. Labor and sexual exploitation can occur before, during, and continue long after the matches conclude, often embedded within local systems and industries. The Alliance is working to raise awareness about how this and other events that will affect human trafficking.
AWARENESSAwareness enables us to identify the hidden mechanisms of exploitation in our neighborhoods and in digital spaces. Ultimately, the violence of human trafficking can be overcome only through a renewed vision that beholds every individual as a beloved child of God.Message of Pope Leo XIV for the World Day of Prayer and Awareness Against Human Trafficking, January 29, 2026.
WHY SPORTING EVENTS MATTERLABOR TRAFFICKINGSporting events increase demand for labor and services, temporary housing and informal economies, population density and anonymity. Traffickers may exploit workers in hospitality, construction, cleaning, and event services, migrant and temporary laborers, women, girls, men, and boys, particularly those in vulnerable or unstable situations.SEX TRAFFICKINGHow it happens:Manipulation, deception, grooming, and coercive relationships, economic pressure and unmet basic needs, use of online platforms to recruit and control.Who is most at risk?Women and girls, disproportionately affected, boys and young men, often under-identifiedIndividuals facing instability, poverty, or lack of support.
Stop Trafficking NewsletterThe May Issue, available in English and Spanish, examines the role of sports in human trafficking. Click here 2026_5-Stop-Trafficking-EN to download the English Newsletter.Click here to download the Spanish Newsletter 2026_5-Stop-Trafficking-spanish
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