With less than a month until the FIFA World Cup arrives in Atlanta, city leaders and national partners gathered Wednesday at the world’s busiest airport to launch a new anti-human trafficking awareness campaign tied to the global event.
Mayor Andre Dickens joined First Lady Marty Kemp, the Atlanta Police Department, hospitality leaders, and survivor advocates inside the Domestic Atrium at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport to introduce the global campaign “It’s A Penalty.”
The initiative uses sports platforms and major international events to raise awareness about human trafficking and exploitation while helping the public recognize warning signs, report concerns, and connect people to help.
“Trafficking is a crime that is said to hide in plain sight,” Mayor Dickens said during remarks at the event. “Especially in places like this airport, where tens of thousands of travelers pass through every day.”
The campaign launch comes as Atlanta continues preparing to host the FIFA World Cup in 2026, one of the largest international sporting events in the world. City officials say major global events can increase vulnerabilities for trafficking and exploitation, making awareness and prevention efforts critical.
Ahead of the tournament, the Mayor’s Office of Violence Reduction created the Atlanta Alliance Against Trafficking Task Force to coordinate a unified anti-trafficking strategy across agencies and community organizations.
According to city officials, the task force is already:
- Providing survivor-centered outreach materials
- Running public awareness campaigns
- Training hotel staff and contract security teams
- Working with shelter providers
- Supporting organizations serving youth and vulnerable populations
The effort also includes partnerships with major travel and hospitality companies including Airbnb, Booking.com, and IHG Hotels & Resorts.
Mayor Dickens said the goal is to ensure residents, workers, and visitors know how to respond if they witness suspicious activity.
“Traffickers count on silence and people looking the other way,” he said. “We are asking people to say something if they see something.”
More than 30 partner organizations participated in Wednesday’s launch event, including members of the Atlanta Alliance Against Trafficking Task Force and nonprofits supporting survivors and vulnerable youth.
Organizations recognized during the event included Tapestri, YouthSpark, Wellspring Living, and Women at the Well.
The campaign will continue rolling out across Atlanta ahead of FIFA World Cup activities through awareness materials, hospitality training, and public-facing education efforts designed to help people identify signs of trafficking and understand how to safely report concerns.
For more information about the campaign, visit It’s A Penalty.
