PRESS STATEMENTS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

Sunita Jain Anti-Trafficking Initiative and Arnold & Porter Release Joint Report Urging LA28, FIFA, City and County of Los Angeles to Invest in Robust Anti-Trafficking Measures Ahead of Upcoming Games

Los Angeles, CA — The Sunita Jain Anti-Trafficking Initiative at Loyola Law School, in partnership with Arnold & Porter, today released a report to LA28, FIFA, the City of Los Angeles, and Los Angeles County outlining what a true investment in anti-trafficking policy must look like as the region prepares to host the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the 2028 Olympic Games.

The report, Preventing and Addressing Human Trafficking Related to Major Sporting Events, emphasizes that while the proposed human rights action plans for FIFA and the 2028 Olympics must for the first time include specific Anti-Trafficking measures, any plan will remain insufficient unless funding is specifically allocated to anti-trafficking measures. Against the backdrop of billions in projected revenues, the report recommends a dedicated investment of $2.75–$3.1 million per organizing body—a minimal cost representing far less than one percent of FIFA and Olympic revenues.

This recommendation is particularly urgent given that LA28 is currently predicting a surplus/profit from the Olympic Games, making it both feasible and responsible to allocate funds toward protecting workers, immigrants, and survivors of trafficking.

Key Findings

• Labor Trafficking Risks: Accelerated construction and reliance on migrant labor create conditions ripe for exploitation.
• Misplaced Focus: Decades of enforcement campaigns have sensationalized sex trafficking myths, diverting resources from labor trafficking prevention.
• Global Deficiencies: IOC and FIFA frameworks remain insufficient without specific funding investments and binding mechanisms to prevent trafficking.
• California’s Opportunity: Los Angeles can leverage existing City, County, and State laws to establish a first-of-its-kind comprehensive anti-trafficking framework for mega-events.
• LA28 & FIFA: With billions already budgeted for the Games, major sporting events can lead globally by earmarking $2.75–$3.1 million per organizing body for anti-trafficking enforcement, survivor services, and independent evaluations.

Joint Recommendations

The Sunita Jain Initiative and Arnold & Porter urge LA28, FIFA, and local governments to incorporate the following measures into their draft human rights reports, due at the end of this month:

• Enforce posting and training requirements across all mandated businesses.
• Strengthen procurement standards for contractors tied to sporting events.
• Coordinate across agencies and service providers to expand survivor access to services, while avoiding harmful immigration enforcement practices.
• Establish a specialized victim fund to meet increased hotline and service demand.
• Commit to long-term funding for systemic change beyond the events.
• Fund independent evaluations of human rights and anti-trafficking efforts.

Statements from the Initiative

“Los Angeles, FIFA and LA28 has a human rights mandate  to prevent trafficking ahead of and during these major sporting events—and can  lead globally,” said Stephanie Richard, Director of the Sunita Jain Anti-Trafficking Initiative at Loyola Law School. “With strong existing Anti-Trafficking measures already in place in the City and County and billions in projected revenues,  dedicating just $2.75–$3.1 million per organizing body is a minimal cost that could transform protections for survivors and workers. True safety means investing directly in Anti-Trafficking measures—not offering paper plans with no funding for implementation.”

“Hosting major sporting events like the World Cup and Olympics is obviously an important and exciting thing for Los Angeles”, said Sean Morris, Partner, Arnold & Porter. “But it’s important to host in a responsible manner that recognizes the potential impact on some of the most vulnerable members of our community.  Arnold & Porter is very pleased to partner with the Sunita Jain Anti-Trafficking Initiative to outline concrete and measurable steps that can be taken to provide protections for those who help make the games possible.”

➡️ Read the Full Report:

Preventing and Addressing Human Trafficking Related to Major Sporting Events

About the Sunita Jain Anti-Trafficking Initiative

The Sunita Jain Anti-Trafficking Initiative at Loyola Law School is a survivor-centered advocacy and policy reform project dedicated to advancing systemic change, strengthening protections, and reframing public understanding of justice and safety.

About Arnold & Porter

Arnold & Porter is an international law firm recognized for its work in advancing human rights and public interest advocacy. The firm partners with organizations worldwide to strengthen legal frameworks and accountability mechanisms addressing systemic abuses.

➡️ Call to Action: Sign the Coalition Support Letter

Organizations across Los Angeles are invited to sign a coalition support letter urging LA28, FIFA, the City of Los Angeles, and Los Angeles County to implement and fund the report’s anti-trafficking recommendations.

Signing on demonstrates collective support for survivor-centered, evidence-based protections for workers and communities ahead of the 2026 World Cup and 2028 Olympic Games.

 Sign Support Letter

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