Mission 89 is a research, education, and advocacy organisation working to prevent the exploitation of children and young athletes through stronger safeguards, credible evidence, and accountable sport systems.
Co-funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.
To combat the exploitation of young athletes by generating independent research, advancing education initiatives, and advocating for stronger international safeguards in sport.
A global sports system where every child is protected, informed, and able to pursue opportunities free from trafficking, abuse, and exploitation.
Child protection. Accountability. Integrity in sport. Evidence-based action. International collaboration.
Mission 89 is a leading non-profit association based in Geneva, Switzerland, dedicated to protecting young sportsmen and women from exploitation and trafficking. The organisation aims to mitigate these risks by advocating for mandatory regulations within legal frameworks in accordance with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and international standards. A key focus is ensuring accountability frameworks exist with proper regulations, protocols, and guidelines to hold stakeholders responsible for the safety and wellbeing of children in their care.
Mission 89 also serves as an observatory monitoring the initiatives and activities of key stakeholders engaged in the fight against trafficking and exploitation of children and adults in sports. We bring together researchers, policymakers, child protection specialists, sports federations, educators, media partners, and advocacy networks across more than fourteen countries to combine independent evidence, public education, campaign work, and practical tools that help institutions act earlier and more effectively.
We produce evidence-based analysis on trafficking in sport, deceptive recruitment, and the systems that leave young athletes vulnerable. Our flagship publication — the Global Thematic Report on Sport Trafficking (2024), produced in partnership with Loughborough University and CPA UK — established the world’s first comprehensive definition and typology of sport trafficking. Our research helps decision-makers understand the scale of the issue and respond with better policy, better regulation, and better prevention.
We translate complex safeguarding issues into clear, practical information for athletes, families, educators, sports bodies, and community partners. Through workshops, toolkits, campaigns, and the SafeSport Academy, we make trustworthy information accessible before harm occurs. Our educational materials are available in multiple languages and have been used to train over 156 safeguarding officers across international sports organisations.
We work to influence policy, strengthen accountability, and encourage sport stakeholders to adopt safeguards that protect minors and young migrant athletes. We believe that ethical governance must be a non-negotiable part of sport development. Mission 89 engages with the United Nations, the European Parliament, the Council of Europe, INTERPOL, FIFA, IOM, and national governments to ensure sport and athlete trafficking are treated as a child rights issue.
Mission 89 exists to confront one of the most overlooked harms in global sport: the trafficking and exploitation of young athletes through false recruitment, unsafe migration, and unregulated training pathways. Our work is rooted in child rights, athlete safeguarding, and the belief that opportunity in sport must never come at the cost of dignity, safety, or freedom. The organisation’s guiding principles reflect the protection standards set out in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and the need for stronger enforcement of regulations designed to protect minors in sport, including FIFA’s rules on the international transfer of young players under Article 19.
Too many families are told that sport is the fastest route out of economic uncertainty. In that environment, false promises can spread quickly. Young athletes may be moved across borders, pressured into unsafe arrangements, or abandoned after fake trials and fraudulent contracts. Mission 89 works to challenge those conditions and to promote pathways that are safe, transparent, and rights-based.
Chemin Jean-Baptiste Vandelle 3A, Lakeside Geneva Building, 1290 Versoix, Switzerland | No réf. 18863/2017 | IDE CHE-420.194.027
Avenue Victor Hugo 80, Etterbeek, Bruxelles, Belgium
1629 K ST NW Suite 300, Washington DC 20006, United States of America
Our three legal entities strengthen our global reach and ensure compliance with international regulations in our fight against trafficking in sport.