As the memories of the Paris Olympics 2024 begin to fade, a Christian anti-trafficking network is evaluating the impact of creative efforts to raise awareness on the risk of exploitation during the sporting event that drew thousands of people to the French capital. And they're already looking ahead at the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028: the time to start preparing is now.
Following its earlier reporting on anti-trafficking efforts ahead of the Paris Olympics, Christian Daily International reached out to the Europe Freedom Network (EFN) again to ask how they would assess the results, now that the games are over.
A spokeswoman for EFN said measuring the impact of the evangelical network’s awareness raising campaigns with its members was difficult because results “are not known immediately, if ever.”
Even so, some “impressions and reflections” about the hard work by EFN members in tackling trafficking issues allow for some positive conclusions, and identifying some areas where more work is needed in the future.
Alliance de L’Esperance and 27 Million from Mexico, both anti-trafficking organizations, alongside other EFN partners came up with new innovative ideas to raise awareness.
Specially created handheld cooling fans were etched with QR codes, which linked to national hotlines on the EFN website alongside virtual reality experiences, telling a trafficking survivor’s story.
Some EFN members volunteered with a church that hosted a mini-golf course that provided information about the importance of protecting children. An added bonus was visitors taking part in the golf challenge also got to know the church itself. The EFN spokeswoman said these initiatives had a positive response and the golf course “provided an interactive, fun way to help parents understand child protection.”
“This made a difference [in] helping those who wanted to understand more about awareness and prevention to do so,” she said, and explained the challenge was getting people to see beyond the fun interactions to the serious underlying message about human trafficking.
“With all the various projects, work was required to get people to engage, especially to engage in a meaningful way with information beyond the acceptance of an item, such as a fan.
“Some people did return after one experience and some of these people will be the ones who will continue to engage.”
The various initiatives complementing the games helped to inspire EFN members in creative thinking on how to better gauge people’s interest in the subject of human trafficking.
“For EFN members and those already engaged in the work, there is a lasting excitement about the opportunities that these new imaginative ways engaged some people,” added the EFN spokeswoman.
One of the “negative” assessments was that no new churches became involved in supporting the EFN’s anti-trafficking work at the games. Most were preoccupied with serving their own local communities, the EFN spokeswoman explained.
“The positive was finding individuals who want to become engaged more, from within churches to affect larger communities beyond the church [building] walls.”
Looking ahead to the Los Angeles Olympics 2028, the EFN spokeswoman said that preparing for these mega sporting events, which can increase human trafficking, was crucially important.
“The reflections of EFN members reminds us that engagement in preventing and addressing exploitation requires a commitment that begins before major events.
“A commitment born out of a recognition that exploitation is happening around us everyday and a desire to make a difference in our communities and the world, in order that people may flourish.
“For our churches this requires us to look beyond our four walls and the people within them to our larger communities.”
The multi-faceted challenges of human trafficking required an equally multi-pronged approach, the EFN spokeswoman opined.
“Human trafficking is a complex problem requiring approaches from many angles and, as Christians, EFN is motivated to work together as the body of Christ to make lasting change happen for individuals and within systems.
“We believe that this can only happen through a holistic approach that combats trafficking and commercial exploitation through facilitating collaboration, building capacity, engaging churches, empowering survivors, changing systems, and influencing culture.”
Although the Paris Olympics only finishing recently, the EFN spokeswoman called on interested parties to engage early on in strategizing and implementing anti-trafficking measures in time for the Los Angeles Olympics 2028.
“In looking ahead to the 2028 LA Olympics, the time is now to mobilize and engage in the work against trafficking and exploitation.
“The work has already begun as humanitarian and faith groups in Los Angeles and the state of California are already partnering with the government to meet the needs of people who the city and state are forcing to relocate from their encampments into more sustainable housing, which is only one aspect of reducing their vulnerability to trafficking and exploitation.”
Even so, more action is needed not just within Los Angeles as it prepares for the Olympics in four years time, but in dealing with trafficking generally around the world, the EFN spokeswoman said. She called on believers to become involved in Christian organizations, at local, national and international levels, working to end trafficking.
“A world free of human trafficking and commercial exploitation takes awareness raising, prevention, AND care for survivors, requiring all of us to be involved in some way!
“For churches, this can take on many different forms of involvement, so we encourage you to reach out to a local organization to learn more!”
People interested in connecting with a Christian anti-human trafficking organization can reach out to the EFN at info@europeanfreedomnetwork.org
