Human Trafficking Awareness

Do major sporting events bring higher rates of human trafficking?

Major sporting events like the World Cup come with increased demands for labor, hospitality, and in many cases, commercial sex, which leads many people to believe more human trafficking occurs during events like these. In reality, the evidence is mixed. Regardless, massive crowds from all over the globe will be attending the World Cup, providing an excellent opportunity to increase awareness on human trafficking. New Hope’s World Cup 2026 Human Trafficking Awareness Campaign aims to empower community members like you to recognize and respond to human trafficking year-round, even beyond events like the World Cup.

Human trafficking is the use of force, fraud, or coercion to obtain some type of labor (labor trafficking) or commercial sex act (sex trafficking). A person can at first “consent” to exchanging labor or commercial sex for resources, but that does not mean they are not being trafficked. Once force, fraud, or coercion is added into the situation, the victim can no longer give consent out of free will. Additionally, it can still be trafficking if someone is receiving some form of compensation but force, fraud, and coercion are involved.

One common belief about human trafficking is that it’s only a real problem in certain parts of the world, such as developing countries. This is false: human trafficking occurs in every country, including the United States. It happens in all 50 states, in our communities, and not just during major sporting events like the World Cup or entertainment events like concerts. Another common myth about human trafficking is that only specific groups of people can be victims of trafficking, such as women and girls. This is also false: in reality, anyone can experience labor or sex trafficking, regardless of their age, gender, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, socio-economic background, or ability; however, certain risk factors can make someone more vulnerable (see “Vulnerability and Entrapment” for more).

The AMP Model is a helpful way to break down human trafficking down into three key parts: Action, Means, and Purpose. Under this model, the trafficker takes an action to facilitate the trafficking and uses certain means for the purpose of getting the victim to comply.

• Action: The actions that a trafficker may take include recruiting victims, transporting them, harboring them, and/or offering their services to customers.
• Means: The means that a trafficker uses to get the victim to obey them can include force, fraud, and coercion.
• Purpose: The purposes of trafficking are to get a victim to provide labor services or commercial sex acts.

Human trafficking can occur anywhere and in any type of business setting. There are also many types of relationships that a trafficker can have with a victim.

• Sex trafficking and exploitation can occur in massage parlors, escort services, strip clubs/night clubs, hotels/the hospitality industry, online, private homes, and within families.
• Labor trafficking and exploitation can happen in agriculture, factories, hospitality, retail, private homes (often called “domestic servitude”), the drug trade, and in many more sectors.
• The relationship between a sex/labor trafficker and a victim can be anything from business acquaintances to intimate partners to family members.
  • It is rare for traffickers to randomly abduct people into trafficking situations. The trafficker is usually someone the victim already knows.

A graphic from Polaris’s visual summary of “The Typology of Modern Slavery,” an evaluation of US human trafficking hotline and textline data from 2007-2016 that categorized as many of the cases as they could into 25 types of trafficking. Note data limitations such as non-random sampling (data limited to people who sought help, which is also affected by recognition of types of trafficking and reporting factors).

Research shows that the common theme in trafficking vulnerability is need. People who are in more need of things like basic material necessities, housing, emotional stability/comfort, and/or who engage in substance use are more likely to fall victim to human trafficking. Additionally, historically marginalized groups who face oppression and discrimination can have less access to resources and opportunities and therefore be in more need. This is why groups such as immigrants, People of Color, LGBTQ+-identified people, and people living with disabilities can be more vulnerable to human trafficking.

Traffickers lure victims in with promises to fulfill missing basic or emotional needs, offering things like food, shelter, clothing, money, substances, educational/financial opportunities, secruity, and/or intimacy. People who are experiencing poverty, foster care, unstable housing, substance use disorder, trauma, or some other significant need are especially vulnerable.

After luring a victim in, traffickers make sure they can’t find support elsewhere through means of control, coercion, force, and/or fraud.

Below are some examples of how traffickers exploit someone’s vulnerability to recruit and entrap them in a trafficking situation:

• Recruitment: The trafficker offers to meet the otherwise unmet needs of the target. Traffickers will also groom their victims to establish closeness, trust, and a relationship of dependence with the goal of trapping them in the trafficking situation.
• Means of control and entrapment: In order to get a victim to comply and to keep them under their control, the trafficker may:
  • Take their identification documents
  • Create emotional/physical reliance
  • Isolate the victim from social support and resources
  • Threaten immigration consequences
  • Facilitate/manipulate substance use
  • Worsen the victim’s debt
  • Threaten or enact physical harm
    Use emotional/psychological manipulation tactics, such as:
    • Blackmail
    • Encouraging feelings of hopelessness and mistrust in others
    • Creating/taking advantage of trauma bonds

The trafficking victim might face other challenges in leaving the trafficking situation, such as:

• Stigma and discrimination
• Lack of knowledge on resources for human trafficking survivors
• Shame
• Past trauma
• Fear that they won’t be believed
• Fear/mistrust of law enforcement
• Fear/mistrust of the legal system

Traffickers use predatory recruitment strategies to facilitate someone’s entry into a trafficking situation. Entrapment and barriers to help then make it incredibly difficult for the victim to leave, even if they recognize the situation as unsafe.

Talking about the signs of trafficking can be tricky: trafficking situations are often complicated and hard to immediately spot. There is often no visible sign that someone is being trafficked, especially in a passing encounter. Additionally, the presence or absence of signs do not prove or disprove that trafficking is happening. When you rely too much on spotting signs of trafficking without context, you risk misidentifying the situation, even when you have good intentions. Worse, calling a situation “human trafficking” when the victim isn’t ready to label it that way can push them away from you, strengthen their relationship with the trafficker, and deepen their entrapment, especially when reporting is done without the victim’s knowledge and consent.

You will be far better at spotting potential trafficking when the situation involves people you know and regularly interact with. For example, you might focus on looking out for trafficking within your workplace or community. However, it’s important to remember that trafficking may be happening without any signs, and signs of potential trafficking can have many other explanations. With that being said, below are some things that might raise red flags when it comes to trafficking:

• Signs at school, the workplace, or other social situations:
  • The individual is isolated in their job or living circumstances and/or is disconnected from family, friends, and other forms of community
  • A child who:
    • Has inconsistent school attendance or is no longer attending school
    • Is engaged in commercial sex acts
    • Is a frequent runaway
    • Relies on a non-guardian for shelter
    • Is picked up and dropped off in different vehicles
    • Is dependent on a caretaker who is abusive or has a substance use issue
  • The individual seems indebted, blackmailed (including via reputation or immigration status), or otherwise unable to leave a job or commercial sex situation even if they want to; they disclose being pressured to enter the situation and/or falsely promised compensation or opportunities
  • The individual works in an industry where it’s more common to be pressured into commercial sex acts, such as illicit massage businesses (though trafficking can happen in any employment context!)
  • The individual is in a sudden and imbalanced relationship (e.g., financial or age imbalance, they are being given many gifts, etc.) or in a relationship that occurs exclusively online
• Physical signs:
  • The individual is showing signs of physical harm
  • The individual seems to be deprived of food, sleep, or medical care
  • The individual seems to be living and/or working in unstable or unsuitable circumstances
  • The individual appears to be working under dangerous conditions, such as without protective equipment, training, or breaks
• Interpersonal indicators:
  • The individual is disoriented, anxious, fearful, showing signs of trauma and abuse, etc.
    • Remember, these characteristics in particular can be signs of many other situations or influenced by factors such as fear of law enforcement, etc.
  • The individual is accompanied/monitored by a secondary person who is overbearing or controlling; they defer to this figure and/or seem uncomfortable speaking freely
    • This person may hold onto identity documents, may attempt to capitalize on a language barrier, control communications or finances, etc.

These signs don’t indicate with certainty that trafficking is occurring, especially without context. However, observing several of them in combination or even just having a gut feeling that something isn’t right can leave you wondering how to help. Our “If You Suspect Trafficking” section discusses how you might respond to a potential trafficking situation.

If you suspect that someone may be involved in a trafficking situation, it’s important to remember that your job as a community member is not to investigate or determine for sure whether trafficking is happening. Instead, try to connect the person who you think is being trafficked to useful resources in a trauma-informed and consent-driven way.

Connecting a victim to resources:

• Prioritize safety and privacy. Try to speak with the victim privately (as long as they’re comfortable with doing so) to avoid raising the trafficker’s suspicion. If there is a language barrier, avoid relying on a companion for translation/interpretation and do your best to find an expert translator/interpreter.
• Offer information neutrally and with consent. You can give information or materials (such as a business card) with resources and offer to help them contact these places (you can find local and national resources in the “Who Can Offer Support” section). Avoid making any assumptions about the victim, the trafficker, or the situation beyond what you have observed. If they are uninterested, respect their decision and do not push them to take any sort of action. This might look like:
  • “This is a card with some information about local resources that help people working or living in unsafe or unfair conditions. I try to share these resources with as much of my community as I can, since I know these situations can affect all of us. Can I leave one with you, in case it could be helpful for you or someone you know?”
  • “I noticed [potential sign of harm]. You don’t have to share anything with me, but I was wondering if I could give you the information for this resource? I would be happy to call them with you if you want support or to borrow a phone.”
  • “I saw a banner put up by New Hope, an organization that helps people experiencing harm in relationships. Would you want to call them together?”
• Respect their choices and agency. It can be frustrating to feel like you could or should help someone, but they are unwilling or in denial of any harm occuring. It is still important to honor their agency and decisions with respect, because a survivor knows best their situation and what is safe for them to do. Reporting a situation without someone’s consent can put them in harm’s way. Remember, taking the time to build rapport and offer information is meaningful, even if no action is immediately taken; you are making it clear that your community cares for each other and that there are resources out there to help. If they decline help, you might say something like:
  • “I understand. Do you want the contact information in case it could help you or someone you know in the future?”

You can find resources for human trafficking-related support in the list below, which includes the national hotline as well as resources located in Massachusetts and nearby Rhode Island. 

National Resource:

→ The National Human Trafficking Hotline
National resource that can be used by you to report a potential trafficking situation or can be used by a potential victim to receive assistance. Contact information:

• By phone (24/7): 1-888-373-7888, bilingual hotline with tele-interpretation services
• By text (24/7): 233733 (BEFREE)
• Online: humantraffickinghotline.org/chat

Massachusetts Resources:

→ New Hope, Inc.
Resource providing domestic and sexual violence (including sex trafficking) services to SE and SC Massachusetts. The hotline serves as the entry point for all our services, and advocates can help survivors with crisis intervention, safety planning, risk assessment, and outside referrals. Survivor services are free and confidential.

• By phone (24/7): 1-800-323-HOPE (4673)

→ Ready Inspire Act (RIA)
Resource based out of Central and the MetroWest region of Massachusetts offering services for MA residents who are survivors of sexual exploitation in the commercial sex trade.

• By phone (M-F, 9am-5pm): 774-245-9153

→ Safe Exit Initiative (Worcester)
Several programs based out of Worcester support exits from sexual exploitation and trade, including The Harbor Resource Center and Day Shelter (providing crisis intervention and case management), Jana’s Place (residential treatment program for women leaving the sex trade who are also experiencing substance use and mental health disorders), and the Advocacy Project pro bono legal clinic (offering support for survivors of the sex trade facing legal barriers). 

• Inquiries and referrals can be made via email: JanasPlace@SafeExits.org, hello@SafeExits.org 

→ My Life My Choice
Massachusetts-based resource providing survivor mentorship, empowerment, and support for youth experiencing commercial sexual exploitation.

• Inquiries and referrals can be made via email: mlmcinfo@jri.org 

→ Eva Center
Boston-based, survivor-led organization providing exit services for people affected by the sex trade, including a safe house program.

• By phone: 617-521-0120
• By email: info@evacenter.org

Rhode Island Resources:

→ Day One
Sexual assault and abuse service provider for Rhode Island with a multi-disciplinary team and survivor mentorship program serving children affected by sex trafficking.

• By phone (M-F, 8am-5pm): 401-421-4100
• By phone (24/7): 1-800-494-8100

→ Sojourner House
Rhode Island resource offering services to survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking, with a confidential hotline offering information, support, referrals, and crisis intervention.

• By phone (24/7): 401-765-3232

• Polaris Project (https://polarisproject.org/), leaders in the anti-human trafficking movement and former operators of the US National Human Trafficking Hotline offering data and research, direct assistance through the Resilience Fund, and education and prevention campaigns.

• • Free, introductory training course “Human Trafficking 101”

• It’s a Penalty (https://itsapenalty.org/), international sports anti-trafficking organization that runs global awareness campaigns in response to major sporting events such as the World Cup.
• HEAL Trafficking (https://www.healtrafficking.org/), providers of education and training that approaches human trafficking as a public health issue and focuses particularly on equipping healthcare professionals with prevention, recognition, and response skills

The list of works used throughout the Human Trafficking Awareness Webpage can be found below, separated by section and in order of use.

Intro/World Cup Blurb:

Lapchick, Richard. “The State of Human Trafficking and Sports.” ESPN, January 29, 2019. https://www.espn.com/espn/story/_/id/25876477/the-rise-exposure-human-trafficking-sports-world.

Cawley, Gayla. “Boston Preparing for Human Trafficking Surge with FIFA World Cup Crowds.” Boston Herald, March 16, 2026. https://www.bostonherald.com/2026/03/16/boston-preparing-for-human-trafficking-surge-with-fifa-world-cup-crowds/.

Martin, Lauren, and Annie Hill. “Debunking the Myth of ‘Super Bowl Sex Trafficking’: Media Hype or Evidenced-Based Coverage.” Anti-Trafficking Review, no. 13 (September 2019): 13–29. https://doi.org/10.14197/atr.201219132.

Oliver, Benton J., and Amanda De Lisio. “Rights, Not Rescue: Trafficking (in)Securities at the Sport Mega-Event.” Frontiers in Sports and Active Living 5 (September 2023): 1207595. https://doi.org/10.3389/fspor.2023.1207595.

New Jersey Coalition Against Human Trafficking. “PRESS RELEASE: It’s a Penalty World Cup Partnership.” https://www.safernj.org/news/press-release-its-a-penalty-world-cup-partnership.

Defining Human Trafficking:

Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons. “Understanding Human Trafficking.” United States Department of State, January 20, 2025. https://www.state.gov/what-is-trafficking-in-persons/.

National Human Trafficking Hotline. “Myths & Facts.” https://humantraffickinghotline.org/en/human-trafficking/myths-facts.

The AMP Model of Human Trafficking:

Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons. “Understanding Human Trafficking.” United States Department of State, January 20, 2025. https://www.state.gov/what-is-trafficking-in-persons/.

Polaris. “Understanding Human Trafficking.” https://polarisproject.org/understanding-human-trafficking/.

Where Does Trafficking Happen?:

Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons. “Understanding Human Trafficking.” United States Department of State, January 20, 2025. https://www.state.gov/what-is-trafficking-in-persons/.

Polaris. “Understanding Human Trafficking.” https://polarisproject.org/understanding-human-trafficking/.

Polaris. “The Typology of Modern Slavery: Visual Summary.” March 1, 2017. https://polarisproject.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Typology-of-Modern-Slavery-Summary.pdf.

Vulnerability and Entrapment:

Polaris. “Human Trafficking 101.” https://polarisproject.org/human-trafficking-101/.

Kelly, Mara Vanderslice, and Catherine Chen. “Human Trafficking Does Not Happen in a Vacuum.” Polaris Blog, January 11, 2021. https://polarisproject.org/blog/2021/01/human-trafficking-does-not-happen-in-a-vacuum/.

Polaris. “Vulnerabilities & Recruitment.” https://polarisproject.org/vulnerabilities-and-recruitment/.

Polaris. “Understanding Human Trafficking.” https://polarisproject.org/understanding-human-trafficking/.

Meshelemiah, Jacquelyn C. A., and Raven E. Lynch. “Chapter 3: Theories and Human Trafficking.” In The Cause and Consequence of Human Trafficking: Human Rights Violations, 2025 Update. The Ohio State University Pressbook, 2025. https://ohiostate.pressbooks.pub/humantrafficking2025/chapter/chapter-3-theories-and-human-trafficking/.

Polaris. “Typical Trafficking Patterns.” https://polarisproject.org/telling-the-real-story-of-human-trafficking/typical-trafficking-patterns/.

Noble, Amanda, Isaac Coplan, Jaime Neal, Amanda Suleiman, and Susan McIntyre. “Getting out: A National Framework for Exiting Human Trafficking for Sexual Exploitation in Canada.” Covenant House Toronto & The Hindsight Group, 2020. https://covenanthousetoronto.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Covenant_House_Research_Report_FINAL.pdf.

Covenant House Toronto. “Why Victims Can’t Leave.” https://covenanthousetoronto.ca/traffick-stop/why-victims-cant-leave/.

Nikkel, Mary. “Why Don’t People Being Trafficked Just Leave?” The Exodus Road, June 24, 2022. https://theexodusroad.com/why-dont-they-leave/.

Signs of Trafficking:

Polaris. “Human Trafficking 101.” https://polarisproject.org/human-trafficking-101/.

U.S. Department of Homeland Security. “How to Identify and Report Human Trafficking.” https://www.dhs.gov/blue-campaign/identify-victim.

National Human Trafficking Hotline. “Recognizing the Signs.” https://humantraffickinghotline.org/en/human-trafficking/recognizing-signs.

Facilitating Connections:

CommonSpirit Health, HEAL Trafficking, and Pacific Survivor Center. “PEARR Tool: Advancing Trauma-Informed Care for Survivors of Human Trafficking.” https://www.healtrafficking.org/resources/pearr-tool.