▲ (Left) Ms. Lerina Brgith, who is Founder of Mission89 (Right) Ms. Julia Govinden, who is CEO of UTS at the "High-Level Side Event on Technological Solutions to Tackling Exploitation & Human Trafficking" of the 78th Session United Nations General Assembly. [Source from UTS]

 In order to tackle human trafficking and exploitation in sports, international organizations such as the United Nations, United Through Sports, and Mission 89 have joined forces.

On 25^th Monday September, the 78^th Session United Nations General Assembly held a "High-Level Side Event on Technological Solutions to Tackling Exploitation & Human Trafficking" at Conference Room 5 of the United Nations(Secretary-General Antóni Guterres, UN) headquarters in New York, USA.

This event was sponsored by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime(UNODC), Mission89, Generation Amazing, State of Qatar, Principality of Monaco, Gabonese Republic.

The role of sports is explicitly stressed in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals(SDGs), adopted in 2015, which recognizes it as an important enabler of sustainable development. It acknowledged that sports are contributing to the realization of SDGs goals that are ▲development and peace ▲promotion of tolerance and respect ▲empowerment of women and young people, individuals, and communities, ▲health ▲education ▲social inclusion, by taking on an important function of sustainable development.

▲ The Official Poster of "High-Level Side Event on Technological Solutions to Tackling Exploitation & Human Trafficking" of the 78th Session United Nations General Assembly. [Source from UTS]

In particular, Mission 89(Founder Lerina Bright), which participated in the event, is a research, education, and advocacy organization to tackle human trafficking in sports, and is fully focused on realizing the Target 8.7 of SDG. 

The event was attended by 13 speakers, 6 organisers and moderator from ▲Ambassador Alya bint Ahmed Al Thani(Permanent Representative of Qatar to UN) ▲Ambassador Isabelle F. Picco(Permanent Representative of Monaco to UN) ▲Ambassador Michel Xavier Biang(Permanent Representative of Gabon to UN) ▲Ms. Delphine Schantz(Director of the UNODC) ▲Mr. Nasser Al-Khori(Executive Director of Generation Amazing) ▲Ms. Lerina Bright(Founder Mission89) etc.

Ms. Julia Govinden, who is the Chief Executive Officer(CEO) of United Through Sports(UTS) formed by the Alliance of Recognised Members of Sport(President Dr. Stephan Fox, AIMS) in 2017, the fourth umbrella body recognized by the International Olympic Committee(President Thomas Bach, IOC), also attended at this event.

CEO Ms. Govinden had a mention for this event, “Every child deserves a fair chance on the playing field of life. Youth should not just survive but thrive, and it is our responsibility to give them our best united effort.”