State highlights human trafficking prevention, awareness campaign

As Massachusetts welcomes visitors from around the country and the world for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, local, state, federal and community partners are working to strengthen the state’s response to human trafficking before, during and after the tournament, the Healey-Driscoll administration announced on June 4.

The coordinated plan focuses on sex and labor trafficking involving adults and youth, with an emphasis on identifying risks, strengthening prevention, supporting frontline responders, expanding public awareness and improving access to help.

The state has partnered with the nonprofit It’s a Penalty to launch a human trafficking awareness campaign, training workers and educating the public. The initiative aims to protect vulnerable populations by providing resources and recognizing warning signs.

The Executive Office of Public Safety and Security is making a range of public awareness materials available online to ensure that victims and survivors know that help is available and the public knows what to do in case they encounter suspicious activity.

The resources include:
• Public awareness posters and flyers for download, sharing and printing, co-branded by It’s A Penalty, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and Boston 26
• Multilingual versions of posters and flyers
• A short public service announcement from It’s A Penalty
• A copy of the press release announcing this work

The Executive Office of Public Safety and Security has convened a multi-agency Human Trafficking Working Group that brings together expertise from public safety, public health, transportation, labor, victim services, law enforcement and community-based response. The collaboration also draws on the expertise of the Governor’s Council on Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence and Human Trafficking, the Human Trafficking Subcommittee’s Sex Trafficking Branch and consultation with people with lived experience.

More resources are available at Mass.gov/WorldCup.