One group is playing no games when it comes to the potential for an increase in sex trafficking activities ahead of the NFL Draft — and D.C.-based human rights advocacy group Rights4Girls has purchased a digital billboard on I-79 North to prove it.
The billboard, located south of the city at Bridgeville and intended to catch traffic bringing in thousands of men with disposable income rotates slogans — “Buying Sex Is Not A Game,” “Buying Sex Is A Losing Play,” “Buying Sex Is A Serious Fumble,” and “Buying Sex Is Out Of Bounds” — in anticipation of what it deems an increased prevalence weekend expected to be attended by hundreds of thousands of out-of-town guests and characterized by increased tourism, hotel bookings and parties.
While major sports events aren’t proven to increase the total number of trafficking activities, they do tend to concentrate them, according to the group.
“Buying sex is far from a victimless crime,” said Rights4Girls executive director Yasmin Vafa. “Major sporting events like the NFL Draft bring a lot of fun and entertainment to town, but they also attract out-of-town visitors seeking to buy marginalized women and girls for sex. This is a disturbing issue year-round, but can take place in a particularly concentrated way during big-ticket events like the Super Bowl, World Cup, or this week’s draft. It’s crucial for people to realize that in the shadows of all the celebration, there can be a dark underbelly of trafficking and exploitation.”
That’s why the organization’s efforts are focused in part on large-scale events, putting up similarly themed billboards in close proximity to the Daytona 500, the MLB All-Star Game in Atlanta and a dozen cities hosting the NCAA Tournament. They also have plans to hit the Kentucky Derby and World Cup.
“Even though it’s illegal to buy sex virtually everywhere in this country, so many, predominantly men, are content to break the law to do it that the demand already outpaces the supply of willing adults that are in the industry and truly consenting,” said Vafa. “And so traffickers are incentivized to meet the demand that already exists with trafficking victims. And so that is the problem that we’re dealing with. When you have these big events, and that becomes part of the festivities for many men and tourists, then traffickers are incentivized to traffic more individuals and bring more vulnerable people to those locations, even though it’s something that happens all year.”
According to Rights4Girls, eight trafficking victims were rescued during Final Four weekend in San Antonio, Texas, in 2025, and about 120 misdemeanor and 50 felony sex-trafficking-related arrests were made during a crackdown during Super Bowl LVII in Phoenix in 2023 (14 being men attempting to solicit minors).
Psychology and social norms, she said, play a role in the phenomenon and often lead to business being done in plain sight.
“Any time we have large numbers of individuals, predominantly men, flock to any one city with disposable income, along with the festivities and the excitement, there is often an increase in demand for commercial sex,” said Yafa. “Anecdotally, we know from survivors and from service providers in those areas that they see an increase in victims being brought to the host cities. If you go online, you see a huge increase in the numbers of sex ads being advertised leading up to the event. Sometimes, for certain events like you’ll see Super Bowl specials, you know actual deals that are being advertised. And then you can also follow conversations that sex buyers are having online.”
She said Pittsburgh’s location could end up playing a factor in terms of the prevalence of activity seen through the week as well.
“This is something that’s literally happening everywhere, and certainly Pittsburgh being at the corridor of all of these major interstates,” Vafa said. “These truck routes and interstates bordering on all these different states is absolutely somewhere that this is definitely a major problem.”
Pittsburgh West End-based non-profit Eden’s Farm — which provides human trafficking awareness education, holistic support, services, and professional development opportunities to survivors of human trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation — is on board with the group’s message to highlight the sex buyer as culpable.
“Of course, we’re proud Pittsburgh is hosting this year’s NFL Draft, but we must still recognize how the same characteristics that make the Steel City a terrific, welcoming place can also attract traffickers and sex buyers seeking to exploit the most vulnerable among us,” said Eden’s Farm founder and executive director Annalisa Gibbs in a press release.“When it comes to sex trafficking, people far too often fail to think about the buyers driving the industry. So, we’re heartened that Rights4Girls’ billboard campaign will make people think deeper regarding the nature of sex buying and the damage these men cause to both their victims and our entire community.”
Both organizations understand that, beyond big events, sex trafficking is ever-present.
“To be clear, trafficking doesn’t simply disappear once an event skips town,” Vafa said.
Human trafficking generated $150 billion worldwide in 2025, according to a report from the U.S. State Department, with Vafa noting that “every dollar is fueled by the sex buyer.”
According to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, 78% of those trafficked for sex are women and girls and 22% are men and boys. 92% are adults and 8% are children.
According to Rights4Girls, more than 90% of sex trafficking victims, with mortality rates more than 200 times the general population, report experiencing violence at the hands of buyers.
According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, 2,329 people were referred to U.S. attorneys for human trafficking offenses in 2023. That marked a 23% increase from 1,893 in 2013. Over that same timeframe, those prosecuted for human trafficking offenses in U.S. district courts rose by 73%.
To achieve their ends, the DHS states that traffickers tend to use manipulation techniques that can include but are not limited to imposing debt, fraudulent employment opportunities, false promises of love or a better life, psychological coercion and violence or threats. They often look for those experiencing psychological or emotional vulnerability, economic hardship, those without a social safety net and those navigating natural disasters or political instability.
While signs someone is being trafficked can vary, the DHS says they often include appearing disconnected from friends, family and community; dramatic changes in behavior; showing marks from physical or behavior evident of mental abuse; behaving in a fearful, timid or submissive manner; showing signs of food, sleep or water deprivation; being accompanied by someone to whom they appear to defer to; appearing to be coached by that person in their social responses; living in unsuitable conditions; lacking possessions and being unable to move freely.
The DHS advises that one should not attempt to confront a suspected trafficker directly or alert anyone to any suspicions. Instead, they advise contacting local law enforcement and/or a tip line such as the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888 and Eden’s Farm at 412-903-7177 (locally). They can also text “BeFree” (233733).