At the recent AIMS General Assembly 2025 in Lausanne, United Through Sports (UTS) and Mission 89 presented a new joint initiative aimed at addressing one of the most urgent issues facing the international sporting community — the trafficking and exploitation of children through sport.
During her address to the Assembly, Julia Govinden, Chief Executive Officer of UTS, called on the global sports community to take collective action to protect young athletes and children from exploitation. She announced the launch of “The Line We Don’t Cross”, a global campaign designed to eliminate child trafficking in, through, and around sport.
Central to this campaign is the United Declaration on the Elimination of Child Trafficking in Sport, a document that defines the shared responsibility of the sporting movement to uphold human rights and ensure the protection and welfare of young athletes. The campaign aims to secure 300 signatories worldwide, representing a unified stand that exploitation has no place in sport. Lerina Bright, Executive Director of Mission 89, highlighted the scale and urgency of the problem, noting that children account for 38% of identified trafficking victims globally, with 11% exploited through false promises related to sport.
“These are not just statistics,” Lerina said. “They represent children whose dreams of success are turned into instruments of abuse. Every signature is a commitment to accountability, action, and lasting change.”
A consultation process is now underway, with international sports federations among the first invited to contribute. Over the coming months, this dialogue will expand to include young athletes, intergovernmental organisations, governments, professional clubs, agent associations, and civil society partners, creating a broad coalition of stakeholders united by a single purpose — to ensure every child can pursue sport safely and with dignity.
AIMS President Stephan Fox addressed the unique realities faced by AIMS Members in implementing safeguarding measures:
“With many of our federations operating outside the Olympic programme, resources can be limited — but our commitment must remain resolute. Safeguarding cannot stay on paper; it must be lived, implemented, and enforced. Mission 89, together with UTS, is leading by example, and it is our shared duty to support this work as we build a safer, more inclusive sporting world.”
Participation in this initiative represents both leadership and accountability, strengthening trust and credibility across the global sporting community.
AIMS encourages all Member Federations, partners, and stakeholders to join the consultation process and sign the United Declaration on the Elimination of Child Trafficking in Sport. Together, we can ensure that every athlete, everywhere, can pursue their dreams in safety, equality, and dignity.
