Mission89, Generation Amazing Foundation, UNODC Partner to Host High-Level UN General Assembly Side Event

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Geneva, Switzerland                                                                                    23 September, 2023

 Mission89, Generation Amazing Foundation, UNODC Partner to Host High-Level UN General Assembly Side Event

Mission89, in collaboration with the Generation Amazing Foundation and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), is set to host a high-level side event during the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA78) to address the pressing issue of human trafficking in sports and empower the next generation to take action against modern slavery and human trafficking.

Themed “Technological Solutions to Tackling Exploitation and Human Trafficking in Sport,” the event is scheduled for September 25, 2023, at the United Nations Headquarters, New York, between 1400 – 1600 EST. It will connect several stakeholders committed to combating human trafficking and promoting youth engagement in sports, including the Permanent Mission of the Gabonese Republic to the United Nations, the Permanent Mission of The State of Qatar to the United Nations and the Permanent Mission of Monaco to the United Nations.

“Sport, often regarded as a universal language that transcends borders, has long been a source of joy and inspiration for millions of children and young adults across the globe,” said Lerina Bright, founder and executive director of Mission89. “Regrettably, it is also a troubling arena for human trafficking, particularly targeting young, aspiring athletes, with around 15,000 children subjected to trafficking from West Africa to Europe yearly. The issue is profoundly disturbing and requires the utmost attention and concern from all stakeholders involved”.

Keynote speakers at the event include Samuel Eto’o Fils, President, Federation Of Cameroon Football Football (FECAFOOT) and H.E. Mrs Melrose Karminty, Minister of Social Welfare, Republic of Sierra Leone. Other speakers are Ambassador Michel Xavier Biang, Permanent Representative of Gabon to the United Nations; Alya bint Ahmed Al Thani, UN’s Permanent Representative of Qatar and Ambassador Isabelle F. Picco, Permanent Representative of Monaco to the United Nations, and more personalities who will participate in panel discussions.

The first session, moderated by Prof. Parosha Chandran, UK’s leading anti-slavery barrister, with Dr Roberto Branco Martins, Director General, EFAA; Samuel Eto’o Fils, President, FECAFOOT; Julia Govinden, CEO, United Through Sports and Nasser Al-Khori, Executive Director, Generation Amazing, will focus on sports trafficking and its impact on social inclusion, women’s football and its vulnerabilities, while the second session with Amb. Olawale Maiyegun, North-South Consulting Services LLC; Phil Wright, CEO, Vigil Global, and Dan Sutherland, Founder, SELF, will focus on how technology can be transformed into a tool to tackle the issue.

Finally, Jaco Booyens, Founder & CEO, After Eden Pictures, will moderate a call-to-action, where speakers will assess the role and responsibility of sport, anti-trafficking stakeholders, governments and private tech companies, in mitigating trafficking. A commitment to action will be led by H.E. Mrs. Melrose Karminty, Hon. Minister of Social Welfare, Republic of Sierra Leone, and joined by UN Member States and observers.

“Through the spirit of collaboration, Generation Amazing is unwavering in its commitment to harness the transformative power of sport alongside our esteemed partners, like Mission 89, to champion lasting positive impact and reach our collective goals of tackling social issues that affect youth on a global scale,” said Nasser Al Khori, Executive Director, Generation Amazing Foundation.

The event’s alignment with the United Nations’ commitment to combating human trafficking and promoting youth engagement underscores its significance. It leverages the United Nation’s extensive experience in addressing human rights issues and complements existing efforts in raising awareness about human trafficking.

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 About Mission 89

Mission 89 is a research, education, and advocacy organization headquartered in Geneva that fights the exploitation of young athletes through social and economic transformation. Its guiding principles include the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989), both broadly and specifically, which declares that members “shall take measures to combat the illicit transfer and non-return of children abroad”.

Through grassroots and digital campaign initiatives, the organisation raises awareness of the trafficking phenomena among youth across the world, consistently engaging both local and foreign partners and organisations in over 50 countries. Mission 89 aims to mitigate child trafficking in sports through research, education, and the implementation of mandatory regulations to keep sports training academies accountable for the safety and well-being of children in their care.

 About Generation Amazing Foundation

The Generation Amazing Foundation (GA) is a human and social legacy-focused

organisation that launched in 2010 during Qatar’s successful bid for the 2022 FIFA World Cup™.

GA operates its sport for development programmes in alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and Qatar’s National Vision 2030, to promote sustainability, inclusion, and gender equality. GA’s unique methodology utilises the power of football to impart crucial life skills, including communication, leadership, teamwork and compassion , to youth and communities in need across the globe. Since its launch, GA, in collaboration with key partners, has reached and positively impacted over 1 million lives in 75 countries and counting.

Learn more at www.generationamazing.qa. Follow us @GA4Good on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.

About UNODC

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) is the leading UN agency in the fight against organised crime, illicit drugs, terrorism and corruption. Its presence around the globe and expertise allows it to support countries in developing comprehensive and effective solutions against threats to development and to achieve the SDGs.

UNODC provides technical assistance, research and normative support to Member States to help them develop and implement comprehensive, evidence-based solutions to the complex and interconnected threats they face at the national, regional and global levels.

Our efforts centre on protecting people and our planet from criminal exploitation through inclusive, sustainable, human rights-based approaches. Headquartered in Vienna with a network of over 130 offices worldwide, UNODC advances justice, health and security to build resilient societies and improve everyday life for individuals, families and communities around the globe.