When I tell people what I do, I usually keep it simple: I advocate for children.  

But the reality is heavier than that. I work with kids who have survived things no child should ever have to understand: abuse, exploitation, trafficking. As the Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children (CSEC) advocate at Mosaic Georgia, I’ve learned that exploitation doesn’t happen in isolation. 

It follows opportunity.  It follows vulnerability. And it follows demand. 

That’s why, as our city prepares to welcome the FIFA World Cup this summer, I feel both excitement and concern. 

Atlanta will be on a global stage. Millions of visitors will travel through our city, fill our hotels, and celebrate together. It’s fun, exciting, and a great opportunity for Atlanta, but large-scale events also create conditions that traffickers are quick to exploit. 

Research and advocacy organizations have long pointed out that major sporting events can increase the risk of human trafficking, particularly when large crowds and increased anonymity make it easier for exploitation to go unnoticed. At the same time, it’s important to be honest and nuanced: not every spike is clearly measurable, and some experts caution against oversimplifying the issue (Human Trafficking Search, 2025).

But what remains constant is this: as demand rises, vulnerabilities are exposed, and those willing to exploit them inevitably step in to meet the need. 

And minors are always among the most vulnerable. Human Rights Watch has warned that global sporting events like the World Cup can heighten risks for children and teens, including trafficking and sexual exploitation (Human Rights Watch, 2025). That’s not theoretical. That’s something those of us in child welfare see reflected in real lives, in real cases, long after the crowds leave.

The City Prepares 

Here in Atlanta, leaders are already preparing, recognizing that more visitors also means more opportunities for traffickers to operate (U.S. House Homeland Security Committee, 2025). Community organizations, airport staff and law enforcement are increasing training and awareness ahead of the World Cup. Sexual Assault and Children’s Advocacy Centers are preparing their 24/7 crisis response teams to provide coordinated and timely support. The Georgia Statewide Human Trafficking Task Force has made an effort to educate hotel staff, rideshare drivers, airport personnel and community members on what trafficking actually looks like, not just the stereotypes we see in movies and TV shows.
 

What Does Trafficking Actually Look Like?

It is often very different from what people expect and rarely begins with kidnapping or physical force. CSEC often starts with relationship building and grooming. Traffickers identify vulnerabilities like insecurities, instability at home, unmet emotional needs, financial stress, or a desire for connection and belonging. Grooming can look like attention, gifts, promises of love, or opportunities that seem legitimate at first. Over time, that trust is leveraged into exploitation through coercion, threats, or psychological pressure. Many young people do not immediately identify themselves as victims because the exploitation is intertwined with relationships, or even dependence. The threats, fear, and violence become a means of controlling victims. 
 

Understanding this reality is critical because if we only look for extreme or dramatic scenarios, we will miss the far more common situations happening in plain sight.

How We Show Up 

So as Atlanta prepares to welcome the crowds, my hope is that we also strengthen the systems that protect our children and our communities. We need to continue investing in prevention, education, and survivor-centered care. I hope we choose to see exploitation for what it is and respond with urgency, empathy, and accountability. 

For youth experiencing commercial sexual exploitation, events like this don’t create the problem, but they can intensify it. Because this isn’t just about a “spike” during a sporting event. It’s about a system that allows exploitation to exist in the first place. 

The World Cup simply shines a brighter light on what has always been there. 

When I say I advocate for children, this is what I mean. It means paying attention when it would be easier not to. It means preparing before harm happens, not just responding after.

And it means recognizing that behind every statistic is a child whose safety depends on what we choose to do next.
 

To report concerns or to get help, call the Georgia statewide human trafficking hotline- 
1-866-ENDHTGA (1-866-363-4842). The hotline provides 24/7 confidential support, reporting options, resources for victims, and to assistance in reporting suspected human trafficking. 

If you are in the metro Atlanta area and in need of confidential support and services as a result of rape, sexual assault, exploitation, or abuse please call the 24/7 Mosaic Georgia hotline at 866-900-6019. 

Human Rights Watch. “World Cup 2026: FIFA Needs to Act on Human Rights.”
https://www.hrw.org/news/2025/12/03/world-cup-2026-fifa-needs-to-act-on-human-rights  

Human Trafficking Search. “One-Third of Trafficking Victims Overlooked in Atlanta’s World Cup Plan.”
https://humantraffickingsearch.org/one-third-of-trafficking-victims-overlooked-in-the-atlantas-world-cup-plan/  

U.S. House Homeland Security Committee. “Preventing Human Trafficking Ahead of Major International Events.”
https://homeland.house.gov/2025/12/17/task-force-chairman-mccaul-delivers-opening-statement-in-hearing-on-preventing-human-trafficking-ahead-of-world-cup-olympics/