With two years until the FIFA World Cup arrives in the Garden State, lawmakers are starting to take steps to prepare for issues that might arise as visitors from around the globe descend on the region.
During a hearing held by the Assembly Judiciary Committee on Thursday morning, experts and advocates highlighted what can be done to prevent human trafficking, including during the 2026 tournament.
“We want to make sure that we are doing everything possible to prevent a spike in human trafficking and to protect vulnerable populations,” said Assemblymember Ellen Park, the committee’s chairperson.
Gina Cavallo and Stephen DeLuca, members of the board of trustees for the New Jersey Coalition Against Human Trafficking, told the committee that trafficking can be related to forced labor or sex and that it is because of “abuse and exploitation.”
DeLuca said New Jersey sees significant human trafficking because it is one of the most densely populated states and major transportation centers and noted there was concern on a global scale when FIFA announced Qatar as a host for the 2022 tournament.
Workers have since filed lawsuits in the United States against contractors regarding the construction of the stadiums for that tournament, he said.
Cavallo said the “demand for sex and labor spikes when major events take place” but it can be “curbed with effective messaging and a robust law enforcement presence.”
She spoke of her own experience as a trafficking victim and said that resources need to be made available so that victims feel safe speaking up and getting help.
Cavallo also stressed the importance of having survivors be part of the council and part of the solution because they can see and relate more to the people they are helping.
Committee members asked about services and education for victims and Cavallo explained she does outreach to all age groups while DeLuca spoke of the collaboration with national affiliates.
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Stephan Finkel, Theresa Hilton and Patricia Teffenhart from the state’s Commission on Human Trafficking were also on hand.
Finkel opened the panel by pointing out that the World Cup is not just coming but is for all intents and purposes already here, and so filling the vacancies on the commission and “having a full complement of people is important.”
“There’s so much work. We need the expertise,” he said. “Anybody who has a recommendation for someone who would be good on the commission, anybody who has influence with the assembly speaker who has two recommendations or the senate president who has two recommendations, that would be welcomed.”
Teffenhart told the committee the commission’s work focuses on best practices and helping victims in a way that won’t re-traumatize them.
Hilton said that the commission has already been in communication with the World Cup Host Committee and outlined the policies that are already in place in the state to combat human trafficking and domestic violence.
The committee ultimately passed a package of bills geared to raising awareness and education about human trafficking as well as creating further protections for victims. Among the bills was one to create a Governor’s Survivor Leader Advisory Council to provide a report to the governor and Legislature related to anti-trafficking efforts in the state as a host of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
According to the bill, the members of the council will by trafficking survivors who have experience with providing assistance and services to victims of human trafficking.
Katie Sobko covers the New Jersey Statehouse. Email: sobko@northjersey.com
