WHO WE ARE
ITS A PENALTY
It’s a Penalty collaboratively combats human trafficking, exploitation, and abuse using sport’s unifying power to drive local and global educational campaigns during significant sporting events. We customise these campaigns for each host location, achieving worldwide reach averaging 180 million people.
Our multifaceted approach includes collaboration with sectors like sports, travel, tourism, law enforcement, and NGOs. Having so far campaigned during 17 Major Sporting Events and the Liam Neeson ‘What is Human Trafficking’ campaign, It’s a Penalty, together with partners, has facilitated the protection of over 17,000 survivors of abuse, exploitation and trafficking, and prevented thousands more from being victimised.
Parallel to our campaigns, It’s a Penalty runs three core programmes: CommonProtect advocates for legal reform in Commonwealth countries, the Student Ambassador Programme empowers UK university students to combat exploitation, and Safe to Compete, co-led with NCMEC, educates sports coaches and parents in the USA on abuse prevention.
Through education, awareness, and intervention, It’s a Penalty aims for a world free from exploitation and abuse.
Our multifaceted approach includes collaboration with sectors like sports, travel, tourism, law enforcement, and NGOs. Having so far campaigned during 17 Major Sporting Events and the Liam Neeson ‘What is Human Trafficking’ campaign, It’s a Penalty, together with partners, has facilitated the protection of over 17,000 survivors of abuse, exploitation and trafficking, and prevented thousands more from being victimised.
Parallel to our campaigns, It’s a Penalty runs three core programmes: CommonProtect advocates for legal reform in Commonwealth countries, the Student Ambassador Programme empowers UK university students to combat exploitation, and Safe to Compete, co-led with NCMEC, educates sports coaches and parents in the USA on abuse prevention.
Through education, awareness, and intervention, It’s a Penalty aims for a world free from exploitation and abuse.
WHO WE ARE
OUR AMBASSADORS
Usain Bolt
Olympic and World Champion
Mary Earps
England Football Player
Maxx Crosby
American Football Defense End for the Las Vegas Raiders
Sandra Douglass Morgan
President of the Las Vegas Raiders
Josh Jacobs
American Football Running Back for the Las Vegas Raiders
Liam Neeson
Actor
WHAT WE DO
OUR PROGRAMS
Student Activists
Our Student Ambassador Programme works with UK university students. We provide training on the different types, vulnerabilities and complexities of modern slavery and support students to carry out projects that make a difference.
Advocating for legal reform
Through our programme Commonprotect, we advocate for legal reform in order to protect children from sexual exploitation and abuse (CSEA) throughout the Commonwealth.
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WHAT WE DO
OUR IMPACT
2024 Las Vegas
Las Vegas ranks in the top 10 states for trafficked and exploited youth. On January 29, 2024, It's a Penalty hosted its 7th Super Bowl campaign launch and press event at Caesars Palace, Las Vegas.
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13 juvenile victims of sex trafficking recovered week of February 11 by the LVMPD
15 missing children from the Las Vegas area recovered thanks to everyones efforts
153.8 M We reached a total combined audience of over 153.8 million people with campaign media coverage
Women's World Cup Campaign
1 in 8 children globally are sexually abused or exploited before the age of 18. On 6th July 2023 in Sydney, we launched our Keep Kids Safe Campaign ahead of the Women’s World Cup.
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149,000 people were reached through our campaign in communities in 6 Pacific countries
3.7 million people were reached via airports
93% of people reported an increased awareness of abuse and exploitation of children, particularly in sports due to the campaign
2022 Qatar World Cup Digital Campaign Impact Report
It's a Penalty and STOP THE TRAFFIK came together to run a digital campaign geotargeting football fans attending the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
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158,656 unique link clicks to the digital campaign
1,044,357 reach
68% confirmed they will start taking preventative action as a result of the campaign
CommonProtect
A review of the legal systems protecting children from sexual exploitation and abuse across the Commonwealth.
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It is estimated that one in eight children are sexually abused worldwide, which amounts to 12.7% of the world’s children - many of whom live in the Commonwealth.
Only 6 countries have criminalised child marriage sufficiently.
18 out of the 21 countries analysed have not sufficiently addressed all forms of human trafficking.
LATEST NEWS
WHAT WE DO
OUR EVENTS
EVENT ENDED
Las Vegas: It's a Penalty Launch & Press Event
Mon 29th Jan, 2024
9:30 - 11:30am PST
Caesars, Las Vegas
EVENT ENDED
Las Vegas: Volunteering with It's a Penalty
Mon 29th Jan, 2024
January 29 · 1:30pm - February 1 · 3:30pm PST
EVENT ENDED
Rosen College of Hospitality & It's a Penalty Fundraising Gala, u-Knighting against Human Trafficking
Fri 26th Jan, 2024
7pm • EST
UCF, Central Florida Blvd, Orlando, FL, USA
PARTNERS
