The global sports industry is expected to grow from $388.28 billion in 2020 to $440.77 billion in 2021. Projected to outpace global GDP, the sports industry is a lavishly oiled, complex machine that is entirely dependent on exceptionally talented individuals with the skills, drive, and discipline to chase their dreams. Oftentimes, young, socially and financially vulnerable athletes are targets for traffickers who hold the deceptive promise of wealth, fame, and opportunity. Traffickers, regularly going by the alias “recruiter,” exploit young athletes through force, fraud, and coercion for social and economic power. There is a dearth of publications, information, and vocabulary surrounding the human trafficking of athletes despite its growing threat to human rights. Though the presenters have identified specific domestic and global legal cases surrounding the topic, they also recognize that the void of information perpetuates this growing and time-sensitive issue and seek to address it. This presentation is a much-needed examination and discourse of this emerging social and public health problem. The presenters will seek to define trafficking within the global sports industry as a human rights violation, identify and explore the push and pull migration factors, and center this call-to-action as an international human rights issue by utilizing methodologies such as case study analysis and systems thinking maps.
Trigger Warning: This presentation contains information (written, spoken, or visual) that may be triggering or (re)traumatizing to attendees.
Maura Nsonwu is a Professor in the School of Social Work at NC State University. She has practiced as a clinician, educator, and researcher in refugee resettlement, human trafficking, health care, child welfare, and social work education. She co-authored the textbook, Human Trafficking: Applying Research, Theory and Case Studies.
Drake Gomez is a BSW student at NC State University. He has interned at NC Stop Human Trafficking and completed the following certifications: DHS Human Trafficking Awareness, FEMA, Polaris Human Trafficking Training, Office for Victims of Crime Understanding Human Trafficking, and Victim Assistance Training - Crimes - Human Trafficking.
Adora Nsonwu is a global, social-behavioral scientist who studies sexual/reproductive health, human rights, global health policy, bioethics, and human trafficking. She received her Master of Public Health degree from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and is currently a research fellow for the Center for Disease Control.
Cassi Rodgers earned her Master’s in Developmental Psychology from Lancaster University and her MSW from NC State University. Cassi has worked alongside human trafficking victims within DHHS/hospital settings. She is on the Nash UNC Hospital Human Trafficking committee and holds a Polaris HT Certification.
Sarah Ascienzo (she/her/hers) is an Assistant Professor in the School of Social Work at NC State University. Dr. Ascienzo teaches practice and research courses, as well as engages in research in the areas of psychological trauma, interpersonal violence, and student and provider wellbeing.