Human Trafficking

What is it?

How do you recognize it?

What can you do?

By B.C.’s Office to Combat Trafficking in Persons, Ministry of Justice

Funding provided by the Department of Justice Victim’s Fund

What is Human Trafficking?

Human trafficking is the recruiting, harbouring and/or controlling of a person for the purpose of exploitation.

Exploitation can include sexual exploitation, labour exploitation, or the forced removal of organs.

Domestic trafficking vs. international trafficking.

UN Definition of Human Trafficking

ACT

• Recruit

• Transport

• Transfer

• Harbour

• Receive

MEANS

May Include:

• Threats/violence

• Coercion

• Deception/fraud

• Abduction

• Abuse of power

PURPOSE

• Forced labour or services

• Sexual exploitation

• Slavery/servitude

• Forced organ removal

• Exploitation

Forms of Exploitation

Sexual Exploitatio

n

Labour Exploitatio

n

Crime and Petty Crime

Forced Organ

Removal

Smuggling vs. Trafficking

Smuggling

Once at their

destination,

smuggled

persons are free

to do as they

please.

Trafficking

Once at their

destination,

trafficked

persons are

exploited.

Article 1: All human beings are born free and equal indignity and rights.

Article 4: No one shall be held in slavery or servitude.

Human Trafficking is aSerious Human Rights Violation

Universal Declaration of Human Rights

2002

• Immigration & RefugeeProtection Act sections 117 – 123

2005

• Criminal Code of Canadasections 279.01 – .04

2010

• Minimum Sentencing forChild Trafficking

Laws in Canada

Temporary Resident Permitsfor Trafficked Persons

• 180 days of legal status in Canada

• Access to health and counselling

services

• Work permit

• Social assistance benefits (BC)

Who is Trafficked in Canada

TraffickersPrey on

People who are

Vulnerable!

Factors that create vulnerabilitiesto sexual exploitation:

• Being poor

• Being female

• A history of violence or

neglect

• A history of child sexual

abuse

• A low level of education

Unique Vulnerabilities of Aboriginal Communities

• Impact of colonization and residential school abuse

• Racism and discrimination

• Moving from a reserve/Aboriginal community to an urban centre

• Extreme poverty

• Exposure to physical and sexual violence

• Families experiencing trauma that carries over from onegeneration to the next

Nannies / Live in

Caregivers

Temporary Foreign

Workers

Vulnerable Workers in Canada

the promise of a good job

the promise of a modelling career

affection and love offered by trafficker

gifts, money, drugs, or other items of value missing intheir lives

How does it happen?LURING AND GROOMING

Vulnerable people are lured and groomed for exploitation by:

Who are the traffickers?

• Men, women and youth can be traffickers.

• A 17 year old girl was recently convicted of humantrafficking charges in Ottawa.

• A 7-member family in Hamilton, Ontario was convicted in the trafficking of 19 Hungarian men exploited for their labour.

• A woman was convicted in Gatineau, Quebec for the trafficking of 3 girls prostituted by force.

• Anyone can be a trafficker.

The Internet, Social Media and Human Trafficking

Compromising

images are

posted and

circulated via

social media as

a means of

exploiting

victims.

Traffickers use

internet and

social media

to lure and

recruit

vulnerable

people.

Cell phones

are used to

control

victims of

human

trafficking.

*From stories appearing in the Canadian Press, The National Post, CTV News, and The Globe and Mail

Human Trafficking in the News*

“Human-trafficking trial hears woman forced to work long hours for no pay”

“Nanny was ‘virtual slave,’ Crown says at sentencing”

“Man charged with human trafficking exploited victims as young as 14: Crown”

Common Indicators of Human Trafficking

Fearful or anxious, especially of police

Movements restricted or controlled

Allows trafficker to speak for them

Has no control over their identity documents/passport

No control over earnings or money; paid very little if at all

Punished through fines/owe money to trafficker

• New older friends who provide gifts, drugs, expensive clothing and jewelry

• Loss of connection to family and friends

• Drop out of school or miss classes regularly

• Behaviour changes and mood swings

• Reluctant to engage with teachers, youth workers, social workers and other adults in their lives

Indicators of Child / YouthTrafficking:

• Lives and works witha family

• Expected to be available up to 24 hours a day

• No days off

• Little or no pay

• Movements controlled

Indicators ofHuman Traffickingfor Domestic Servitude:

• Tattoos or branding by a trafficker to show ownership

• Substance abuse, drug addiction as a method of control

• Controlled by cell phone or guard

• Scars or injuries from abuse

• Someone else speaks for the trafficked person

• No control over their money

• May have expensive items but no basic necessities

Indicators of SexualExploitation

• Lives and works in same location

• Paid very little or nothing at all

• Works without safety equipment, or in dangerous situations

• Depends on employer for housing, food, transportation

• Limited contact with familyand friends

• Limited knowledge of rights and laws in Canada

• May have limited English skills

Indicators of LabourTrafficking

What can you do to contribute to the elimination of human trafficking?

EducateYourself

ReportIt

RaiseAwarenes

s

Use Your Buying Power

Learn More:OCTIP’s Online Training

Human Trafficking, Canada is Not Immune

• Free!• Accessible nation-wide!• Any time!

Learn to recognize, protect and assist a personwho may have been trafficked.

www.pssg.gov.bc.ca/octip/training.htm

Respond to Trafficking Situations

• Contact local police/emergency services in cases of an emergency.

• Learn the indicators of human trafficking.

• Identify and partner with key services in your community.

• Explore the OCTIP online Toolkit: Communities Taking Action.

• Review the OCTIP online training for service providers tolearn more about how to assist a trafficked person.

OCTIP Service Model

A Trafficked Person

May Require

Shelter and Housing

LegalServices

Health Services

Emotional Support and Counselling

Interpretation Services

Government Agencies

Police, Crown, Victim Services

(where culturally

appropriate)

Reporting a Situation ofHuman Trafficking

The RCMP Human Trafficking Coordinatorpacifichumantraffickingcoordinator@rcmp-grc.gc.ca

(human trafficking situations in BC)

Crime Stoppers 1-800-222-TIPS(any crime, anonymous)

Cybertip.ca(child sexual exploitation)

CALL 911 or Emergency Personnel if Urgent

Services and Supports for Trafficked Persons

Coordination of services fortrafficked persons andreferrals, call

1-888-712-7974 (toll-free, 24/7, interpretation available)

Temporary Resident Permitsfor trafficked persons andWork Permits contactCitizenship and Immigration Canada

1-888-242-2100

Emergency Services and referrals for all victims of crime in BC/Yukon, call VictimLink BC

1-800-563-0808(toll-free, 24/7, interpretation available)

General inquiries and information on human trafficking, contact BC OCTIP office

1-604-660-5199 (business hours)

Open Your Eyes to Human Trafficking