 Human Trafficking is Modern-Day Slavery Human Trafficking is defined as the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring, and/or receipt of persons,
by various means of coercion, force, fraud, or the abuse of power, for the purpose of exploitation. Exploitation typically
includes sexual exploitation, forced labour, involuntary servitude, or slavery under circumstances where they fear for their
safety or that of someone known to them if they refuse to provide that service or labour. Victims suffer physical, sexual
and emotional abuse including threats of violence or actual harm, which is compounded by their living and working conditions. It is estimated that 250,000 slaves exist in North America,
27 million worldwide.
The clandestine nature of Human Trafficking makes it difficult to ascertain its
true magnitude. The United Nations, however, has estimated that over 700,000 persons are trafficked annually.
Other organizations have put the estimated totals even high than this. It is also estimated that more than half of
people who are trafficked annually are children.
Child victims of trafficking are often exploited for sexual purposes,
including prostitution, pornography, and sex tourism. They are also exploited for forced labour, including domestic servitude,
sweatshop factory work, and migrant farming.
A set of interrelated “push” and “pull” factors contribute
to trafficking in persons. “Push” factors include extreme poverty, unemployment, lack of education, inadequate
social programs, gender-based inequality, war and conflict situations, and political unrest in countries of origin. “Pull”
factors include a globalized, free-market economy that has increased the demand for cheap labour, goods and services in many
countries. Victims may also be “pulled” into trafficking through the promise of money and what is seen as a better
life.
Traffickers use many methods to control their
victims including force, sexual assault, and threats of violence. Human trafficking occurs both across and within borders,
and according to the International Labour Organization, often involves extensive organized crime networks.
New communications technologies like the Internet, which allow for instantaneous and worldwide communications, often help
facilitate trafficking in persons.
Human trafficking is often confused with human smuggling. Human smuggling involves
the procurement of an illegal entry into another country for the purpose of financial or material benefit. Persons who have
been smuggled may pay large sums of money and may enter a country clandestinely, or through deception, such as the use of
fraudulent documents. Unlike trafficking victims, the smuggled person usually consents to be smuggled. The relationship between
the smuggler and the smuggled person is a voluntary business transaction which usually ends after the border crossing. Smuggled
migrants may become victims of trafficking which may make it difficult to distinguish between a situation of trafficking and
a situation of smuggling.
The United
Nations defines human trafficking as:
The
recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or receipt of persons, by the means of the threat or use of force or other
forms of coercion, of abduction, of fraud, of deception, of the abuse of power or of a position of vulnerability or of the
giving or receiving of payments or benefits to achieve the consent of a person having control over another person, for the
purpose of exploitation.
Article 3 (a) of the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in
Persons, especially Women and Children supplementing the United Nations’ Convention Against Transnational Organized
Crime.
Passed by the House of Commons on November 25, 2005, Bill C-49 amended the Criminal
Code to specifically prohibit trafficking in persons in Canada. It is now a felony under the Criminal Code
of Canada to recruit, transport or conceal a person for the purpose of exploiting them. It is also illegal to benefit
economically from human trafficking and to destroy travel documents to facilitate the crime. (Read more about changes to the Criminal Code and Human Trafficking Offences)
Victims
of Trafficking can be found in:
► Commercial sex or prostitution
► Nannies
or servants
► Sweatshop factories
► Construction
► Farming or landscaping
► Fisheries
►
Hotel or tourism industries
► Panhandling
► Janitorial services
►
Restaurant services
Don't
close your eyes to Human Trafficking
Certainly experience has shown that Human
Trafficking occurs in our major urban centres across Canada, however it is not exclusively restricted there. Wherever there
is a demand for any of the services referred to in the previous list, it is conceivable victims can be found there as well
– perhaps in your own community! Please don’t close your eyes to Human Trafficking.
If you suspect
or know of Human Trafficking activity please contact your local Police, or if you wish to remain anonymous, call N.B.
Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477). You can also submit a tip anonymously online via our Confidential Web Tip Information System.
Root causes:
Some of the main causes for trafficking persons into Canada include: an increasing demand for low
cost labour and services across Canada and the United States, poverty, lack of education and employment opportunities, and
inequality (gender, nationality) in countries of origin.
How to recognize
a victim of Human Trafficking
► Speak neither English nor French, or may not speak on their own behalf
► Originate from a foreign country
►
Be unaware of local surroundings even though they have been in the area for an extended period of time
► Show evidence of control, intimidation or abnormal psychological fear
► Not be able to move or leave job
►
Have bruises or show signs of physical abuse
► Show signs
of malnutrition
► Be frequently accompanied by an individual
who may be their trafficker
► Be frequently moved by their trafficker
What
is the victim's mind-set:
The victim may: Not self-identify as victims of human trafficking. Victims may not
appear to need social services because they have a place to live, food to eat, medical care, and what they think is a paying
job;
► Be taught to distrust outsiders, especially law
enforcement. They have a sense of fear and distrust toward government and police because they are afraid they will be deported;
► Feel better in their current situation than where they
came from, even if they are being exploited;
► Be completely
unaware of their rights or may have been intentionally misinformed about their rights in our country;
► Fear for their families back in their home countries. Some traffickers threaten that
they will harm their families if they report their situations to, or cooperate with, law enforcement.
Open your
eyes
Quite often Human Trafficking is happening right in our own communities
and we do not notice. The reason we do not notice is often due to a lack of familiarity about Human Trafficking.
We encourage you to firstly make yourself aware of the issue of Human Trafficking, and secondly, help your friends and family
be aware. By raising awareness levels throughout all communities in Canada we believe we will be able to greatly reduce the
incidence and continuance of Human Trafficking.
Human Trafficking is human rights abuse at its worst.
Please help those victims already in our midst and prevent the importation and exploitation of more.
What
happens when you contact Crime Stoppers:
Firstly, your identity will never be known as Crime Stoppers does not subscribe
to call display, and calls, texts and web tips are never traced. Your call will be completely anonymous. The information you provide will be forwarded to law enforcement for investigation, and if proven to be accurate will help
ensure the perpetrators be arrested and charged, and you would be eligible to receive a cash award of up to $2,000 Canadian.
The victim (the person being trafficked) will be provided with assistance and if from another country, can be provided
with a temporary residency permit and a safe location while the matter is being resolved.
Government of Canada and Crime Stoppers tackle Human Trafficking
The Honourable Peter Van Loan, then Minister of Public
Safety, announced on January 15, 2009 a partnership between the Department of Public Safety, the Royal Canadian Mounted
Police, and the Canadian Crime Stoppers Association (CCSA) to better inform the public about human trafficking through
a national awareness campaign.
This campaign will serve to inform the public of the potential danger of human trafficking,
help the public identify suspected occurrences, and provide information on how to report suspected cases. Through this partnership,
the Canadian Crime Stoppers Association will use its national tipline as a central point for the public to report suspected
cases of human trafficking.
"The Government of Canada is committed to combating human trafficking, both at
home and abroad," said Minister Van Loan. "Our commitment is reflected in Canada's progress on a number of recent
initiatives, including this partnership with Canadian Crime Stoppers, an organization that has proven itself as a valuable
crime-fighting tool."
"The Canadian Crime Stoppers Association is proud to have been chosen to partner with Public Safety Canada
and the RCMP in the fight against human trafficking," said Ralph Page, Canadian Crime Stoppers Chair. "Crime Stoppers
programs across Canada are committed to supplying information to the public about human trafficking and providing a service
that allows people to anonymously report this crime in their community."
"The RCMP takes the issue of
human trafficking very seriously. This modern-day form of slavery tends to be clandestine in nature, so it can be difficult
for law enforcement to identify both the victims and traffickers," said RCMP Supt. Bill Ard, Officer in Charge, Border
Integrity Program. "This new partnership with Crime Stoppers will allow the public to provide critical assistance to
law enforcement by providing the means for anonymous reporting of suspected human trafficking activities."
The
Government of Canada recognizes that prevention and awareness are critical in combating human trafficking. As part of its
overall strategy around trafficking, this Government continues to lead, support and implement numerous initiatives, domestically
and abroad. Canada's efforts to combat human trafficking are guided by the internationally recognized framework known
as the 4P's: preventing trafficking, protecting victims, prosecuting offenders and building partnerships domestically
and internationally.
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| Honourable Peter Van Loan, Joy Smith (MP), Ralph Page (CCSA) |
On behalf of victims
For
victims of unimaginable cruelty, we are appealing for a nationwide fight against Human Trafficking. A national, collaborate,
powerful fight. We are appealing because Human Trafficking is modern day slavery. We are appealing because
these victims have no voice.
Crime Stoppers programs all across Canada have a proven record at helping solve crime
in our communities. We are very pleased to be part of what we believe is the solution to helping reduce and even eliminate
the practice of Human Trafficking in Canada and help to curtail the incidence of people being trafficked through Canada to
the United States. Please don’t close your eyes!
Please remember that in addition to being a major crime,
Human Trafficking is a serious violation of the human rights of the individuals who are being trafficked.
By participating in our Blue Blindfold Campaign, you will be helping those who are not able to help themselves. Together we can make it stop!
For more information on
Human Trafficking, please refer to the list of resources below. If you think you know someone being trafficked, or are being
trafficked yourself, we are here to help. Please call 1-800-222-8477
Related Resources:
► Canadian Crime Stoppers Association
► Department of Justice: Trafficking in Persons
► Department of Justice: Protection For Victims of Human Trafficking
► Blue Blindfold Campaign (United Kingdom)
► United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime: Blue Heart Campaign Against Human Trafficking
Canadian Crime Stoppers Association wishes to acknowledge
the assistance of the United Kingdom Human Trafficking Centre who provided us with the graphics for the Blue
Blindfold depictions, material, and permission to use the concept.
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