Canada's Anti-Human Trafficking Newsletter - Issue 3, July 2013

Canada's Anti-Human Trafficking Newsletter - Issue 3, July 2013 PDF Version (438 KB)

Feature Organization

Comité d'action contre la traite humaine interne et internationale (CATHII)

Since 2004, the Comité d'action contre la traite humaine interne et internationale (CATHII) has been working against human trafficking for the purposes of sexual exploitation and forced labour. Since its creation by Quebec religious communities, CATHII has become a key player in combating this exploitation and violation of basic human rights.

Action by members of CATHII is carried out in three components: conducting research into the extent of human trafficking and on Canadian and international laws dealing with human trafficking; providing training for action/ awareness sessions; and giving priority to building housing and integration resources for victims of human trafficking.

CATHII recently established the Quebec Coalition against Human Trafficking, made up of more than 20 Quebec organizations that work with victims of human trafficking.

CATHII publishes a bi-monthly newsletter available at www.cathii.org [French only].  Information is also posted on their Blog [French only] and their social media, including Facebook and Twitter.

Training & Events

Online Training to Combat Human Trafficking Now More Accessible

'Human Trafficking: Canada is not Immune', an innovative, online training developed in British Columbia (BC) to help front-line service providers recognize and respond to suspected human trafficking is now available in French, increasing access to this important tool.

The training curriculum was originally launched in June 2011 by the BC government to help identify trafficked persons, support them and provide appropriate referral services for help and protection. It has now been translated to make it available nationally through a funding agreement between Public Safety Canada and the British Columbia Office to Combat Trafficking in Persons (BC OCTIP).

For more information about BC OCTIP and to access the English online training curriculum, please visit: http://www.pssg.gov.bc.ca/octip/training.htm .

For the French version, please visit: http://www.pssg.gov.bc.ca/octipfrancais/.

National Survey to Identify the Incidence of Women and Girls in Canada who are Survivors of Human Trafficking or who are Sexually Exploited

The Canadian Women's Foundation recently undertook a National Survey to identify the incidence of women and girls in Canada who are survivors of human trafficking or who are sexually exploited.  It is also being used to identify existing services, gaps, and opportunities for change.  The survey period officially closed on July 5th, 2013 but responses can still be submitted from those who were unable to complete the survey in time.

Your contribution is extremely valuable and will assist the Foundations' National Task Force on Trafficking of Women and Girls in Canadato gather an important national snapshot.

Please click here to access the survey in English and click here in French.  If you experience any difficulty with this link, please contact Wanda Goodwin at wgoodwin@canadianwomen.org.

4th Annual [free-them] Walk for Freedom (Toronto)

Anti-human trafficking organization [free-them] invites individuals and organizations to attend the 4th Annual [free-them] Walk for Freedom hosted by OMNI TV's, Veronica Chail. [free-them] is an initiative dedicated to raising awareness and funds to abolish human trafficking for purposes of forced labour and sexual exploitation in Canada and internationally.

The walk brings out hundreds of concerned citizens, politicians, human trafficking survivors and law enforcement for a ceremony featuring the country's leading voices fighting human trafficking.  The ceremony is followed by a peaceful 5 kilometer walk through Toronto's downtown streets.

Honoured guests this year include Kate Moore, CityLine Producer; Joy Smith, Member of Parliament; Lepa Jankovic and Husam Farrah, Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Constables; Timea Nagy, human trafficking survivor and founder of Walk With Me and Katarina MacLeod, sex trade survivor and frontline worker.

[free-them] is please to invite to you to attend:

What: '4th Annual [free-them] Freedom Walk' presented by the Fairmont Royal York
When: Sept. 14th, 2013 (9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m)
Where: The Fairmont Royal York Hotel, 100 Front Street West in downtown Toronto

For more information, please visit, www.freethem.ca.

Stop the Traffik Canada

Stop the traffik Canada is a new movement of volunteers that is equipping communities and organizations with campaigns and resources to tackle human trafficking. We organized successful Freedom Relays across the country last year, and this year's will be on September 21st.

Go to www.freedomrelaycanada.com for more details.

Do you eat chocolate?  Thousands of children are trafficked into forced labour on cocoa farms in West Africa to produce the chocolate that we eat here in Canada.  You can contact the major chocolate manufacturers asking them to certify that their products have not been made using child slaves.  You can also host a Traffik Free Chocolate Fondue to raise awareness about this issue.

Do you travel by taxi? Taxis are sometimes used to transport human trafficking victims.  Drivers need to know what human trafficking is, what the signs are, and who to relay concerns to.  You can distribute stickers and posters that drivers and companies can use to raise awareness among staff and customers.

Do you stay in hotels?  Hotels can be where human trafficking victims are exchanged and exploited.  Staff and guests need to know what human trafficking is, what the signs are, and who to relay concerns to.  You can distribute door hangers and posters that hotels can use to raise awareness.

To find out more about us and our campaigns, go to www.stopthetraffik.org/canada.

To download our free Canadian resources, go to www.stopthetraffik.org/canada/resources.

To contact us with your comments and questions, email canada@stopthetraffik.org.

10th Annual Ride for Refuge

ACT Alberta is looking forward to participating in the 10th Annual Ride for Refuge.  This national event raises funds and awareness to help displaced, vulnerable and exploited people. Please join us in Edmonton, Calgary and Lethbridge for a great event on October 5th, 2013.

For more information, please go to: www.rideforrefuge.com/partner/actalberta.

Human Trafficking Forum – Moncton, New Brunswick

Defend Dignity, along with the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada, will be presenting a Forum event in Moncton, New Brunswick (NB) on Friday, October 18th, 2013 at 6:30 p.m.  This event is free and open to the public.  It will take place at Lutes Mountain Church of the Nazarene, 2 Briggs Cross Rd, Lutes Mountain, NB.

The featured speaker at this event is Katarina MacLeod, a woman who has suffered the same traumas that human trafficking victims suffer.  A survivor of exploitation, sexual abuse, drug addiction, kidnapping, physical abuse and domestic trafficking, she was trapped in prostitution for over 15 years.

Networking opportunities with area organizations that work for/with sexually exploited women will be available at this event. For more information, go to our website, www.defenddignity.ca.

World Vision Awareness Initiative on the Worst Forms of Child Labour

In June-July, World Vision Canada is running a country-wide public awareness initiative on the worst forms of child labour, including child trafficking.  Messages will be shared through a wide range of different channels, including television, radio, newspapers, a dedicated website, email, and social media. This initiative is in support of World Vision's work on child protection including the 'Help Wanted: End Child Slavery' campaign aimed at helping Canadians contribute to ending child trafficking and the worst forms of child labour.

More information on the public awareness initiative and the 'Help Wanted' campaign are available online at: www.endchildslavery.ca.

Government of Canada News

Stakeholder Consultations – Nunavut (Spring 2013)

In March 2013, officials from Public Safety Canada (PS) had the opportunity to continue the human trafficking stakeholder consultations started in the fall by meeting with stakeholders and community members in a small, fly-in community in southern Nunavut.  Given that knowledge of how human trafficking may manifest in the North is limited, travelling to Nunavut provided the opportunity to learn more about how this crime may occur in a particular northern community.  PS would like to extend its thanks and appreciation to those who assisted in facilitating the trip and to all who took time out of busy schedules to share their stories and knowledge of the issue.

'National Summary Report – Human Trafficking Stakeholder Consultations' Coming Soon!

Following the human trafficking stakeholder consultations that took place in fall 2012 and Spring 2013, PS has prepared a National Summary Report outlining the national and regional key themes and findings related to current and emerging trends; efforts and initiatives, challenges, barriers and gaps; and, future areas of focus. The information flowing out of these consultations is being used to inform government priorities as Canada seeks to build on current efforts to address and combat human trafficking in all its forms.

The report will be available publically soon. Please keep a look out!

Canada Participates in UN General Assembly High-Level Meeting to Assess the Implementation of the Global Plan of Action to Combat Human Trafficking

As part of the Global Plan of Action to Combat Trafficking in Persons, which was adopted by the United Nations (UN) General Assembly in 2010, a commitment was made to evaluate progress on its implementation three years in, with a high-level meeting of Member States taking place at the UN in New York on May 13th-14th, 2013.

The Canadian delegation to this event, which was made up of officials from PS and the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT), highlighted Canada's National Action Plan to Combat Human Trafficking and emphasized the important and integral role played by civil society organizations in anti-human trafficking efforts.

To see Canada read its official country statement, please go to:  http://webtv.un.org/meetings-events/watch/77th-plenary-meeting-general-assembly/2379086269001 (starting at the 3hr. 33m. mark).

To read a press release about this meeting, please go to: http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs//2013/ga11369.doc.htm.

Canada's National Action Plan to Combat Human Trafficking - One Year In!

Canada launched the National Action Plan to Combat Human Trafficking on June 6th, 2012. One year in, progress has been made in the implementation of federal commitments under the '4Ps' – prevention, protection, prosecution and partnerships. Keep a look out for the Annual Report on Progress, which is soon to be released!

If you would like to learn more about the National Action Plan, please go to: http://www.publicsafety.gc.ca/cnt/rsrcs/pblctns/ntnl-ctn-pln-cmbt/index-eng.aspx.

Canada Participates in High-Level Conference 'Strengthening the Organization of Security and Cooperation in Europe Response to Trafficking in Human Beings'

On June 10th-11th, 2013, Member of Parliament (MP) Joy Smith led the Canadian delegation to a high-level conference on 'Strengthening the Organization of Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Response to Trafficking in Human Beings', which was hosted by the government of Ukraine in Kiyv.

Mrs. Smith, as the representative for Canada, had the privilege of being invited to speak at the opening ceremonies and to present a keynote address to the 57 countries that were in attendance. 

Canadian anti-human trafficking efforts at home and abroad were highlighted.  This includes Canada's National Action Plan to Combat Human Trafficking and Canada's work internationally through DFAIT's Global Peace and Security Fund, which support projects to promote international norms and country capacities to prevent and respond to human trafficking of women and girls who are forced into the sex trade in fragile states and those plagued by armed conflict.   Working directly with partner countries and organizations in parts of the world most affected by human trafficking contributes to Canada's leadership on the issue internationally.

Also highlighted were recent legislative efforts, including the adoption of Mrs. Smith's Private Member's Bills C-268 and C-310, which amended Canada's Criminal Code to create a child trafficking offence, expand the definition of human trafficking and extend territorial jurisdiction to Canada's human trafficking offences.

Finally, Canada emphasized that through concerted international cooperation, the OSCE would make progress towards ending the buying and selling of human beings for the purposes of exploitation.

RCMP Participates in International Visitor Leadership Program Focusing on Human Trafficking

The RCMP recently participated in the United States (US) State Department supported International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP), focusing on the theme, 'Working Together to Support Victims of Human Trafficking and Gender-based Violence' (April 14th-May 4th, 2013) along with other Canadian participants who work on the issue of human trafficking.  Launched in 1940, the IVLP helps strengthen US engagement with countries around the globe. Participants in the Program meet with professional counterparts, visit US public and private sector organizations related to the project theme and participate in cultural and social activities.

For more information, please contact Corporal Robin Churchill at robin.churchill@rcmp-grc.gc.ca.

'Preventing and Reducing the Trafficking of Women and Girls through Community Planning' Project Funding Awarded!

On June 24th, 2013, the Honourable Rona Ambrose, former Minister for Status of Women, announced Government of Canada support for a new project to combat the trafficking of women and girls. PACT-Ottawa is receiving funding for a 24-month project in Ottawa that will target girls and young women in high-risk neighbourhoods who are, or may be vulnerable to human trafficking for the purpose of sexual exploitation.

This project is being supported under Status of Women's recent Call for Proposals entitled, 'Working Together: Engaging Communities to End Violence Against Women and Girls'

To read the news release, please go to: http://www.swc-cfc.gc.ca/med/news-nouvelles/2013/0624-eng.html.

In the Regions

Northern Canada

Human Trafficking in Nunavut Project (Phase One)

Roos-Remillard Consulting Services, in partnership with Pauktuutit Inuit Women's Organization of Canada and key frontline organization in Nunavut, is delivering a research and victim services inventory project on human trafficking. This project, which is running from May 6th-August 30th, 2013, was funded through the Victims Fund at Justice Canada and will develop a picture of the current state-of-play regarding human trafficking for the Territory.  The project will work with key frontline workers including the RCMP, Public Prosecution Service Canada, Nunavut Justice, Nunavut Corrections and several social service organizations to review the Ottawa Coalition to end Human Trafficking (Ottawa Coalition) training toolkit to identify particular socio-cultural elements that reflect the unique geographic, social and cultural drivers that influence the vulnerabilities of youth and women to exploitation, particularly sexual exploitation once in southern urban centres such as Montreal, Ottawa and Western Canada.   The project will also identify the range of current programs and services, and gaps, for inclusion in the Justice Victims Service Directory and provide a networking opportunity with the Ottawa Coalition response team and victim support organizations.

This project aims to raise professional awareness of the crime of human trafficking occurring both in the North and in southern centres, and build on current training tools for future roll-out across the Territory and Inuit communities across the North.

For information please contact Helen Roos at:
(819) 208-8561 or helen@roosremillardconsulting.ca.

Western Canada

'Human Trafficking: Canada is Not Immune' Online Training Program being Updated!

BC OCTIP is in the process of updating 'Human Trafficking: Canada is Not Immune', an online course for Canadian service providers on how to recognize, protect and assist a person who may have been trafficked.

Funded by PS, the purpose of the update is to make the training more current, accessible and relevant to all Canadians, including the addition of resource and service information from all regions of the country.

For more information on the update please contact Kirsten.Hunter@gov.bc.ca.

BC's Action Plan to Combat Trafficking in Persons

In March, Minister of Justice and Attorney General Shirley Bond announced BC's Action Plan to Combat Human Trafficking.  The plan was developed by BC OCTIP and sets out priority focus and action areas for the next three years (2013-2016).  The five priority action areas are awareness raising, training and education, community-led responses, service coordination, and policy and legislation. The Plan was informed by stakeholder consultations, BC OCTIP's ten guiding principles (as outlined in the Plan), and BC OCTIP's five years of experience coordinating BC's response to human trafficking.   A link to the Action Plan and News Release can be found here: http://www.pssg.gov.bc.ca/octip/about.htm.

Second Train the Trainer workshop in BC

The Prince George and District Elizabeth Fry Society, in partnership with RCMP Victim Services and Carrier Sekani Family Services, organized BC's second human trafficking 'Train-the-Trainer' workshop.  There were 38 participants from more than eight surrounding communities representing First Nations, the Prince  George Chamber of Commerce, the University of NorthernBC, victim services police and a variety of other social and community services. The event was co-planned and co-facilitated with BC OCTIP.

Developed by BC OCTIP and informed by community stakeholders across BC, the Train-the-Trainer model is a 2-day event designed to build local capacity to address human trafficking at the community level.  Along with learning about what human trafficking is, participants map the resources available in their community, develop a local  service model, identify gaps in their networks of support,  and design next steps to educate their community on human trafficking and establish prevention measures.

Prairies

Thank You for Recognizing National Victims of Crime Awareness Week!

ACT Alberta would like to extend a big thank you to our community members and supporters in Edmonton and Calgary for joining us at events recognizing National Victims of Crime Awareness Week.  There was a great turnout in Calgary for the film screening and panel discussion of the documentary 'Not My Life'.  ACT Alberta would like to thank Mount Royal University for being a partner on this event.

In Edmonton, eight impassioned individuals attended our Community Educator training.  These volunteers are now equipped to deliver 'Human Trafficking 101' – a workshop explaining what ACT does and what human trafficking looks like in Canada, emphasizing a human rights perspective.  We are proud to have these volunteers as part of our team and look forward to the great work they will do on ACT's behalf.

Our gratitude to all our followers on Facebook and Twitter for helping us spread our thank you message for our partners

that assist us in our work to identify and respond to human trafficking in Alberta.

We All Have a Role: Ending Sexual Exploitation in Edmonton

As a member of the Sexual Exploitation Working Group of Edmonton (SEWG),  ACT Alberta was pleased to help organize a 2-day professional conference (April 25th-26th, 2013) which covered a variety of topics related to sexual exploitation in Edmonton.  Four key topics covered were youth involvement in sexual exploitation, the invisibility of boys/men involved in sexual exploitation, the use of the internet as an exploitation vehicle and the underlying historical context of the Aboriginal peoples.

ACT Alberta Partnership with PACT Ottawa

ACT Alberta is proud to be partnering with PACT Ottawa to roll out their TruckSTOP Project, a national awareness initiative that provides frequent travellers with the knowledge they need to identify suspected cases of human trafficking and alert law enforcement.

For more information on the TruckSTOP campaign, please go to: http://www.pact-ottawa.org/truckstop.html.

To get involved in Alberta, please contact intern@actalberta.org.

Canadian Women's Foundation Supports the Ndinawe Transitions Program at Ndinawemaaganag Endaawaad (Winnipeg, Manitoba)

The Canadian Women's Foundation is committed to ending human trafficking of women and girls for the purpose of sexual exploitation in Canada, and in the last year, has invested $130,500 in programs that will help to address this extreme form of violence against women.  This funding is part of a broader $2 million strategy the Canadian Women's Foundation is rolling out over the next year.  The money will be used to fund programs that help women and girls escape sexual exploitation and rebuild their lives, conduct research, and bring together experts, survivors and community leaders in a Task Force on Trafficking of Women and Girls in Canada.

In Winnipeg, Manitoba, the Foundation is funding the Ndinawe Transitions Program at Ndinawemaaganag Endaawaad (Ndinawe). Ndinawe operates an 'alumni' program for survivors of trafficking and sex exploitation, who have participated in and graduated from an accredited diploma program in child and youth care.

This program addresses the personal and systemic barriers that survivors of sexual exploitation can experience, and offers support and counselling so that women can retain employment, get back on their feet, and rebuild their lives.

To learn more about how the Canadian Women's Foundation is working to address human trafficking, please visit: www.canadianwomen.org/trafficking.

Ontario

Online Training Initiative to Address Human Trafficking for Ontario

MCIS Language Services is currently developing a series of training materials for service providers working with victims of human trafficking.  The project is funded by the Province of Ontario, through Ontario Victim Services.  It involves the development of an online training component and handbook, which will offer service providers across Ontario resources, tools and tips to assist them in meeting the unique needs of victims of human trafficking.  It will include content on human trafficking indicators, victimscenarios, first response practices, safety planning, victim stabilization and service linkages and referrals, among others.  The project is currently in the planning and research phase, and the online training is expected to become available to all service providers across Ontario by December 1st, 2013.

If you would like to receive additional information and updates on this project or to share your organization's experience in working with victims and survivors of human trafficking, please contact the project manager, Veronica Costea, at 416-426-7051 ext. 721 or veronica@mcis.on.ca.

Walk With Me Hosts 'What's My Role?' Advanced Human Trafficking Seminar

together participants from across Ontario as we discussed our unique roles in preventing human trafficking and supporting victims.  The participants from law enforcement agencies received Walk With Me's manual 'The Game: Domestic Sex Trafficking' and participants from social services/health care agencies received the'The Mindset of a Human Trafficked Victim' manual.

These resources can also be purchased from Walk With Me's website at: http://www.walk-with-me.org/.

[free-them] Works with the City of Toronto to Combat Human Trafficking

With [free-them]'s ongoing efforts to combat human trafficking in Toronto, the early part of 2013 meant a series of meetings with the City of Toronto as a stakeholder, and deputations before council. 

While the City of Toronto works on strategies and implementation, [free-them] will be consulting with key Councilors to discuss publications and their effect on human trafficking in Toronto.

For more information about [free-them] please visit: www.freethem.ca.

FJC Refugee Centre Hosts 2nd Annual Human Trafficking Forum - Forced Labour

On April 23rd, 2013, the FCJ Refugee Centre held its 2nd annual forum on human trafficking, 'We All Have a Role', as part of the National Victims of Crime Awareness Week 2013, with funding from Justice Canada.  The focus of the forum was human trafficking for the purposes of forced labour, a gravely overlooked crime and violation of human rights.

The day provided an overview of the related issues and work of various organizations at the international, national and local levels.  Presentations focused on the international protocols that exist for human trafficking and the work of the major international bodies on the issue; challenges faced addressing the crime at the national level including concerns about the vulnerability of temporary foreign workers to human trafficking; the work of theCanada Border Services Agency to combat human trafficking in Canada and abroad; and finally specific cases were shared as well as some of the challenges encountered when working on these issues in Ontario.

Participants were encouraged to make recommendations incorporating their own work and experiences, and the discussions of the day.

Presentations can be found on the FCJ Refugee Centre website: www.fcjrefugeecentre.org.

Toronto Counter Human Trafficking Network

Stemming from the recommendations developed a year ago at the 2012 forum, the Toronto Counter Human Trafficking Network was developed to enable organizations and individuals to work together on this issue.

Since then, the network has grown to include a diverse range of members and has become increasingly active in the fight against human trafficking in Toronto.

For more information about the Toronto Counter Human Trafficking Network, or to join, please email: tchtn@fcjrefugeecentre.org.

Train-the-Trainer Program Successfully Delivered to over 250 Frontline Workers in Ottawa!

PACT-Ottawa/St. Joe's Women's CentreTrain-the-Trainer program was successfully delivered to over 250 frontline workers in Ottawa in February and March 2013. A few more sessions were also delivered in April to Inuit-servicing frontline organizations, thus strengthening the diversity of organizations within the Ottawa Coalition to respond to incidents of human trafficking, and share information from a broad range of individuals and organizations.

The toolkit was very well received and includes video clips from the RCMP, Ottawa Police Service, Walk With Me on frontline victim service care, and an Inuk woman on the socio-cultural vulnerabilities and issues facing Aboriginal youth and women with this crime.  The toolkit is currently under review and will be translated into French in the coming months for delivery to French-lanugage frontline workers.

For information contact Helen Roos, Chair Ottawa Coalition to End Human Trafficking at helen@pact-ottawa.org.

PACT-Ottawa's 'TruckSTOP' Awareness Campaign

The human trafficking awareness campaign, TruckSTOP, rolled out its national French launch in April at ExpoCam 2013 in Montreal. PACT-Ottawa volunteers were on hand at the conference to give out over 300 CDs and other materials to drivers and trucking enthusiasts.  The TruckSTOP campaign is now fully bilingual with the successful creation of a French language CD and posters.

With the generous support of our partners ACT-Alberta, Defend Dignity, and the Owner-Operator's Business Association of Canada, TruckSTOP materials are now available across Canada.

The TruckSTOP campaign is an awareness initiative aimed at providing truck drivers and frequent travellers with the ability to identify potential cases of human trafficking and the resources to notify law enforcement in both Canada and the United States.  We believe truck drivers are the “eyes of the road” and are an invaluable resource in the fight against human trafficking.  The materials used in the campaign are excellent educational tools for training purposes but can also be used by the general public.   Materials are free of charge and are also available for download.

For more information on the TruckSTOP campaign, to download materials, or to become a partner and join in the fight against human trafficking, please visit: pact-truckstop.org.  To learn about the many other activities of PACT-Ottawa, please read our 2012 Annual Report, available for download at pact-ottawa.org.

Quebec

Launch of Quebec Coalition against Human Trafficking During Human Trafficking Symposium

The Quebec Coalition Against Human Trafficking was officially launched during the symposium 'Responding to Human Trafficking: Towards Integrated Action!' held in Montreal on April 11th -12th, 2013.

The Coalition is made up of some 20 public agencies and parastatals, as well as community and non-governmental organizations, whose mission includes improving protection and identification of human trafficking victims; raising public awareness of this issue; and providing victims with adequate support.

Organized by the Comité d'action contre la traite humaine interne et internationale (CATHII), the symposium brought together 150 stakeholders from the community, justice, health and social services sectors. Guest speakers from Quebec and the rest of Canada delivered presentations on their experiences with partnerships and concerted action in combating human trafficking, and on providing human trafficking victims with services, assistance and protection.

The event was an opportunity to pool expertise in order to develop a series of recommendations for government to encourage Quebec to commit to the adoption of a human trafficking strategy, as some Canadian provinces have done.

The speakers' presentations and the report on the symposium are available on CATHII's website: http://www.cathii.org/.

CCR Hosts Webinar, 'Legal Training on Temporary Resident Permits for Trafficked Persons'

In June 2013, the Canadian Council of Refugees (CCR) held a webinar entitled, 'Legal Training on Temporary Residents Permits for Trafficked Persons' providing legal training on the temporary resident permit (TRP) for trafficked non-citizens. The webinar was intended for lawyers, service providers, and others working on or interested in trafficking issues. To stay informed about upcoming webinars please visit: http://ccrweb.ca/en/webinar.

Les Affranchies '911' Awareness Campaign

Following a 2012 community consultation and a 3-month effort to educate elected officials, Les Affranchies (formerly Half the Sky Quebec), with the generous support of Groupe BCP and Astral Media, launched '911', a province-wide radio and social media campaign to raise public awareness and encourage action against human trafficking in Quebec.

For more information, please go to: http://stopsexploitation.ca/english/what-were-doing/.

Maritimes

Human Trafficking Response Guide released by PEI Inter-ministerial Women's Secretariat

The Inter-ministerial Women's Secretariat in partnership with the Prince Edward Island (PEI) Provincial Human Trafficking Committee has prepared a new guide with information for individuals who are victims of human trafficking or who are in a position to assist such victims. It provides information on how to recognize a trafficked person, what steps to take and what services are available to help.

The Guide (English Only) is available at:
http://www.gov.pe.ca/photos/sites/sss_htdocs/file/HumanTrafficking-Web_1(1).pdf.

Legislative Updates

Private Member's Bill C-517, An Act to Amend the Criminal Code (trafficking in persons)

Private Member's Bill C-517, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (trafficking in persons), was introduced on June 3rd, 2013 by Conservative MP, Kelly Block (Saskatoon – Rosetown – Biggar).  Bill C-517 seeks to impose mandatory minimum penalties on those convicted of the main Criminal Code trafficking offence (section 279.01).

For more information on this Bill, please go to: http://www.parl.gc.ca/LegisInfo/BillDetails.aspx?Language=E&Mode=1&billId=6184480&View=0.

Private Member's Bill C-452, An Act to Amend the Criminal Code (exploitation and trafficking in persons)

Private Member's Bill C-452, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (exploitation and trafficking in persons), was introduced on October 16, 2012 by Bloc Quebecois MP, Maria Mourani (Ahuntsic).  It is currently at Third Reading Stage in the House of Commons on June 18th, 2013.

Bill C-452, as amended by the House of Commons Committee on Justice and Human Rights, would: create an evidentiary presumption allowing prosecutors to prove an element of the trafficking in persons offence by introducing evidence that a person lived with or was habitually in the company of an exploited person; require that sentences imposed for any of the Criminal Code trafficking offences (sections 279.01 – 279.03) be served consecutively to any other punishment imposed for an offence arising out of the same event or series of events; and, amend the provision that imposes a reverse onus for forfeiture of proceeds of crime for certain criminal organization and drug offences to apply to the Criminal Code trafficking offences.

For more information on this Bill, please go to: http://www.parl.gc.ca/LEGISinfo/BillDetails.aspx?Mode=1&Language=E&billId=5733493&View=0.

Funding Opportunities

The Victims Fund at Justice Canada provides funding through grants and contributions to individuals, organizations, and provincial/territorial governments to support projects and activities that encourage the development of new approaches to victim services, enhance existing services, promote access to justice, improve the capacity of service providers, foster the establishment of referral networks, and increase awareness of services available to victims of crime and their families, including victims of human trafficking. There is an open call for proposals to access these funds and applications may be submitted at any time.

For more information about the Victims Fund and how to apply, please visit: http://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/pi/pcvi-cpcv/over-pres.html.

Research & Publications

Trafficking in Human Beings – 2013 Report

This European Commission publication presents the first report at the European Union (EU) level on statistics on trafficking in human beings.  It includes data for the years2008, 2009 and 2010.  The EU and its Member States have selected trafficking in human beings as one of the priority areas in the fight against organized crime.

For more information or to access the report, please go to: http://tdh-childprotection.org/documents/trafficking-in-human-beings-2013.

Avenue Zero – Human Trafficking Documentary

Avenue Zero, a documentary film focusing on human trafficking was released in 2010. This documentary explores the crime of human trafficking in Canada – from Asian girls who are enslaved in a suburban massage parlour; domestic workers who toil like slaves in suburban homes; young girls in a Montreal subway station who are lured into prostitution; to Vancouver gangs that recruit Honduran boys to sell drugs. Human trafficking is still a reality today, and it's happening closer to home than you might think.

Featuring candid interviews with witnesses and perpetrators, Avenue Zero weaves a spellbinding portrait of a dark and sinister trade flourishing in the shadows of the law.

To learn more about the film, please go to the National Film Board website: http://onf-nfb.gc.ca/en/our-collection/?idfilm=57641.

US Trafficking in Persons Report (2013)

On June 19th, the US Department of State launched the 2013 US Trafficking in Persons Report (US TIP Report). The US TIP Report is the US Government's principal diplomatic tool to engage foreign governments on human trafficking. It is also a comprehensive resource of governmental anti-human trafficking efforts and represents an annually updated global look and the nature and scope of trafficking in persons and the broad range of government actions to confront and eliminate this crime.

To access the report (in English) and/or to view Canada's country report, please go to: http://www.state.gov/j/tip/rls/tiprpt/2013/index.htm.

New Laws but Few Cases: Understanding the Challenges to the Investigation and Prosecution of Human Trafficking Cases (Amy Farrell)

All fifty states and the federal government have passed laws to combat human trafficking, but little is known about their effectiveness.  Using data from investigative case records and court files for 140 human trafficking cases in 12 US counties and qualitative interviews with law enforcement, prosecutors, and victim service providers, the characteristics of and challenges to investigation and prosecution of human trafficking cases under new state and federal laws were examined.

It was found that few human trafficking cases are identified by local law enforcement, most cases forwarded to state prosecution are sex trafficking cases involving US citizens, and state prosecutors overwhelmingly charge human trafficking offenders with other, lesser crimes.  The legal, institutional, and attitudinal challenges that constrain prosecution of human trafficking are similar across study sites despite varying types of state anti-trafficking legislation.

Study results suggest prosecution of human trafficking cases is challenging. If new laws are to be effective, then local law enforcement and prosecutors should work collaboratively and adopt proactive human trafficking investigative strategies to identify both labor and sex trafficking cases.  There is social benefit to holding traffickers accountable, but more emphasis should be placed on policies that identify and serve victims.

For more information, or to access the article, please go to:
http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs10611-013-9442-1#.

Date modified:

2022-08-09