World Sport for All Signs The United Declaration on the Elimination of Child Trafficking in, Through and Around Sport
World Sport for All has signed The United Declaration on the Elimination of Child Trafficking in, through and around Sport, joining a growing international movement committed to protecting children and young athletes from trafficking, exploitation and abuse.
By signing the Declaration, World Sport for All confirms its commitment to promoting safe, ethical and inclusive sporting environments and to ensuring that sport remains a positive force for the development, dignity and well-being of every child.
World Sport for All is now calling on its members, partners, affiliated organizations and stakeholders worldwide to join this commitment and sign the Declaration.
“Sport must be a place of opportunity, inclusion and personal development—not a pathway to exploitation. By signing this Declaration, World Sport for All is taking a clear position in favor of child protection, ethical recruitment and responsible sport governance. We invite all our members and partners to stand with us and sign the Declaration, because safeguarding children is a shared responsibility.” — Marco Tomasini, CEO, World Sport for All
Sport can transform lives, build confidence and create opportunities. However, the aspiration to become a successful athlete can also be exploited by individuals and criminal networks that use false promises of trials, scholarships, academy placements or professional contracts to recruit children and young athletes. World Sport for All signed alongside 40+ national and international federations at the SportAccord Forum in Lausanne.
The Declaration recognizes that children are particularly vulnerable to trafficking and exploitation. It reflects the principles of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, including the obligation to protect children from trafficking, sale, abduction and all other forms of exploitation.
In accordance with international standards, the Declaration emphasizes that the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harboring or receiving of a child for the purpose of exploitation constitutes trafficking even when force, coercion or deception is not present.
The Declaration applies to trafficking across three key dimensions:
In sport: When athletes or aspiring athletes are exploited within the sports industry or sporting activities.
Through sport: When athletes, aspiring athletes or retired athletes are used to facilitate exploitation outside the sports industry.
Around sport: When trafficking is connected to the sports industry, but the exploitation does not take place within sporting activities.
The forms of exploitation may include forced labor or services, sexual exploitation, slavery, servitude and other forms of abuse.
The Declaration calls on sports organizations and other stakeholders to take practical action through five key areas:
Area | Key Objectives & Actions |
1. Institutional Responsibility | Sports bodies, governments, authorities, companies, social media platforms, and other relevant institutions should establish comprehensive safeguarding policies and procedures to prevent and respond to trafficking. |
2. Education & Awareness | Children, parents, caregivers, coaches, officials, and people in positions of responsibility should be informed about trafficking risks and the necessary prevention measures. |
3. Support Systems | Children affected by trafficking should have access to accessible, inclusive, and child-friendly reporting and protection systems. |
4. Ethical Recruitment | The recruitment of children in sport must be transparent, responsible, and guided by the best interests of the child, supported by appropriate safeguarding measures. |
5. Recovery & Support | Victims and survivors should have access to protective, recovery, and support services, including dedicated child-protection assistance. |
World Sport for All invites all its members and partners to sign the Declaration and demonstrate their commitment to eliminating child trafficking in, through and around sport.
The call is addressed to:
National and international sport organizations
Federations, clubs and associations
Coaches, academies, schools and athlete-development programmes
Athletes, former athletes and athlete representatives
Governments, public authorities and intergovernmental organizations
Sponsors, commercial partners and media organizations
Civil-society organizations and child-protection specialists
Signing the Declaration represents a public commitment to strengthen safeguarding, promote ethical recruitment and contribute to a sporting culture based on respect, dignity, transparency and the best interests of the child.
World Sport for All encourages its members and partners to:
Review their existing safeguarding and recruitment policies.
Establish clear procedures for preventing, reporting and responding to suspected trafficking.
Educate athletes, families, coaches and officials about the risks of deceptive recruitment.
Ensure that children and young athletes are never recruited without appropriate protection and oversight.
Promote the Declaration through their networks and encourage other organizations to sign it.
Organizations wishing to support this initiative are invited to complete and sign the Declaration, including the organization’s name, authorized representative, title, signature, date and place.
Mission 89 is a Geneva-based non-profit organization dedicated to preventing the exploitation and trafficking of children and young athletes in, through and around sport. It works at the intersection of sport, migration and human rights through research, education, advocacy and the development of stronger safeguarding systems.
Mission 89 collaborates with sports organizations, governments, international institutions, researchers, child-protection specialists and other stakeholders to improve regulations, promote accountability and protect young athletes from deceptive recruitment and exploitation. Its work includes evidence-based research, awareness campaigns, educational resources, training and practical tools for sports bodies and safeguarding professionals.
The Declaration is part of Mission 89’s wider campaign, “The Line We Don’t Cross,” which seeks to unite sports federations, clubs, agents, governments and corporate partners behind a shared commitment to zero tolerance for child trafficking, exploitation and abuse in sport.
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