Sports human trafficking

A High-level event on 25th September at United Nations Headquarters brought together key sports stakeholders such as the President of the Football Federation of Cameroon, former FC Barcelona player Samuel Eto’o, and technology leaders to address the existing gaps and threats of trafficking in sports and how technology can be utilized to find lasting solutions.

The Director of UNODC New York Office said that there is increasing concern about human trafficking in sports and highlighted that the transnational organized criminal groups infiltrate the transfer markets of athletes to exploit for illicit profits. It is estimated that more than 15,000 children are trafficked from West Africa into Europe every year with false hopes of making it as professional footballers.