Mission 89’s Lerina Bright Addresses Interpol Global Conference, Advocates Defining ‘Sports Trafficking’ to Combat Human Exploitation

Lerina Bright, the founder and executive director of Mission 89, was one of the distinguished speakers at the 11th Global Conference on Human Trafficking and Migrant Smuggling organised by INTERPOL, where she emphasised the urgent need to define ‘Sports Trafficking’ for effective policy development and law enforcement actions.

The conference is focused on the Human Trafficking Experts Group (HTEG) and the INTERPOL Specialized Operational Network against migrant smuggling (ISON), which includes leading investigators, team leaders, prosecutors, academics, technology companies, stakeholders and relevant actors to enhance protection and identify new methods and types for exploration, trends and threats.

In her address, Ms. Bright shed light on the complex issue of sports trafficking, drawing attention to the challenges faced and potential solutions through Mission 89’s strategic pillars: Research, Education, and Advocacy (REA).

“Clearly, there is a lack of a definition, but we realise that in the absence of a definition, the term sports trafficking conflates two different processes: human trafficking through sports and human trafficking in sports,” she said. “It is necessary to have common terminologies and definitions because it provides a basis for a mutual understanding. Furthermore, through the development of model legislation and guidelines a framework will be developed that empowers legislators, law enforcement, and the judiciary also to combat the problem effectively.”

On the importance of ‘Sports Trafficking’ definition, she also explained that it will raise awareness, create tailored prevention and protection strategies, and “foster international cooperation and collaboration to develop coordinated responses at the national and international levels”.

Acknowledging the absence of concrete data, Ms Bright underscored the ongoing research collaboration between Mission 89, CPA UK, and Loughborough University, an initiative that aims to establish a clear definition of sports trafficking, vital for law enforcement engagement and intervention. 

“Sports trafficking remains a hidden yet critical challenge affecting thousands globally. Our mission is to bridge this knowledge gap, protect vulnerable youths, and empower stakeholders through education and advocacy,” stated Ms. Bright.

The session highlighted alarming statistics, notably that an estimated 15,000 youths from Western Africa are trafficked into Western Europe annually under false promises of professional sports careers. Ms. Bright emphasised that this statistic, while significant, merely scratches the surface of the pervasive issue.

“The lack of a standardised definition restricts our ability to address this problem comprehensively. We need common terminology for accurate identification and effective counteraction,” she added. Ms Bright’s proactive approach aims to align efforts with Sustainable Development Goal 8.7: ‘Eradicate forced labour, modern slavery, and human trafficking’, as she promised that Mission 89 would endeavour to produce model legislation, guidelines, and law enforcement capacity-building initiatives by mid-2024.

The presentation concluded with a call to action, underscoring the pivotal role of law enforcement in combating sports trafficking. Ms. Bright emphasised the need to equip law enforcement agencies with enhanced skills and knowledge to effectively detect, investigate, and counteract cases of sports trafficking.