Child Exploitation and the FIFA World Cup: A review of risks and protective interventions

A report published by Brunel University, London, entitled “Child Exploitation and the FIFA World Cup: A review of risks and protective interventions”. This research was commissioned by the Child Abuse Programme at Oak Foundation and forms part of its effort to win societal rejection of practices such as the sexual exploitation of children and adolescents around major sporting events (MSEs), and to embed prevention and protection from exploitation as a permanent concern for global sports-related bodies. This review is intended to inform action in countries that host MSEs and to provide some suggestions on how hosting countries can avoid past pitfalls and mistakes in relation to child exploitation, especially economic and sexual exploitation. Importantly, it also acts as a call to action by those responsible for commissioning and staging MSEs, such as FIFA and the International Olympic Committee (IOC), to anticipate, prepare for and adopt risk mitigation strategies and interventions.