PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 19, 2026

LA28 No-Show Draws Criticism During Ad Hoc Olympics Committee Discussion on Human Rights Strategy

Los Angeles — Community organizations, survivor advocates, labor advocates, and immigrant rights organizations raised serious concerns yesterday regarding LA28’s Human Rights Strategy after LA28 representatives failed to attend a public hearing before the Los Angeles City Council Ad Hoc Committee on the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The discussion had already been continued from the Committee’s April 14 meeting, further delaying public discussion regarding the Human Rights Strategy ahead of the upcoming mega-events.

Despite releasing a Human Rights Strategy intended to address risks connected to the 2028 Olympics, LA28 did not appear publicly to answer questions from Councilmembers or community organizations regarding the report.

Instead, organizations including Coalition to Abolish Slavery and Trafficking (CAST), Thai Community Development Center, Saving Innocence, CARECEN, and Los Angeles Workers Center Network were left responding to concerns regarding trafficking prevention, labor exploitation, worker protections, immigrant protections, and the lack of accountability measures within the strategy.

Throughout the hearing, organizations emphasized that the Human Rights Strategy lacks dedicated funding, clear accountability mechanisms, and concrete implementation plans to prevent trafficking, protect workers, and support vulnerable communities ahead of the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Imelda Padilla questioned whether the strategy represented a true prevention plan or simply “a compilation of what’s already going on in the Los Angeles region.” Councilmembers also raised concerns regarding transparency, operational planning, and how the City and LA28 intend to respond to increased vulnerabilities tied to mega-events.

Organizations repeatedly warned that Los Angeles already experiences labor and sex trafficking year-round and that large-scale sporting events can worsen vulnerabilities tied to temporary workforces, housing instability, economic pressures, and worker exploitation if meaningful prevention measures are not put in place.

Community organizations also stressed that much of the current prevention and outreach work connected to the World Cup and Olympics is already being carried out by nonprofits and service providers without dedicated funding or long-term support from LA28.

During public comment, Sunita Jain Anti-Trafficking Initiative Policy Associate Paloma Bustos stated:
“Without dedicated investments, the burden will once again fall on City systems and community-based organizations that are already struggling to meet current needs.”

Nick Stewart-Bloch of LAANE also emphasized that worker protections must be treated as a core human rights issue tied to the Olympics and World Cup, warning that economic benefits tied to the Games cannot come “out of the pockets of workers.”

Organizations further raised concerns regarding:

• overreliance on law enforcement approaches;
• lack of coordinated response protocols;
• weak labor enforcement and contractor accountability;
• risks of displacement and immigrant targeting;
• and the absence of dedicated investments in prevention and survivor support.

“You cannot call something a human rights strategy if there’s no funding or accountability behind it,” Bustos added during public comment.

Community organizations are continuing to call for meaningful investments in prevention efforts, including worker protections, outreach, survivor services, independent oversight, and evaluation ahead of the upcoming mega-events.

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