FACTS
What is trafficking?
By definition it is "the recruitment, transportation, transfer or harboring or receipt of persons for the purpose of exploitation by 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 a position of vulnerability or the giving or receiving of payments or benefits to achieve the consent of a person having control over another for the purpose of exploitation."
The defining feature of trafficking is not travel, but control. No borders or even city lines have to be crossed in order for it to be considered trafficking.
MORE THAN
45 MILLION PEOPLE ARE
VICTIMS OF
HUMAN
TRAFFICKING
WORLDWIDE
2 out of 3
OCCURRENCES
OF TRAFFICKING ARE SEX TRAFFICKING
APPROXIMATELY
1/2 of
HUMAN TRAFFICKING
CASES IN CANADA OCCUR
IN THE GTA
Commercial sexual exploitation in Canada
Vulnerability
Anyone can be trafficked regardless of class, education, gender or age because VULNERABILITY is the underlying key and this takes many forms. A history of abuse, poverty, racial discrimination, addictions, family breakdown, mental health issues and even simply low self esteem, are some of the issues that can make a person vulnerable.
Grooming
This is another word for the method traffickers use to lure and control their victims . Many women and girls are betrayed by a man who they believe to be their boyfriend.
Traffickers look for those they can groom at bus stations, malls, shelters, group homes, and schools. Today many are lured through social media or dating websites.
Some girls are even lured by other girls who say it will be fun and easy and give them some instant money.
Traffickers move people in and out of a variety of public and private locations, such as hotels, Air Bnb's, massage parlors and strip clubs.
A trafficker can make approximately $280,000 per year off of one victim who keeps little or nothing.
IT CAN HAPPEN ANYWHERE
BECAUSE THERE ARE
VULNERABLE PEOPLE EVERYWHERE!
IN CANADA,
app 50%
OF TRAFFICKED PEOPLE ARE
INDIGENOUS
THE
AVERAGE AGE of
EXPLOITATION IN
CANADA IS
12-14
IN CANADA,
app 93%
OF VICTIMS
ARE
CANADIAN BORN
Indicators of Grooming
Here are some indicators that someone may be being "groomed" to be sexually exploited:
-
A boyfriend that may be much older than them, and he doesn't spend time around the family
-
Their boyfriend seems to have a lot of money, yet questions about what he does for a living are met with ambiguous answers
-
They have excessive amounts of cash, or expensive material possessions you know they didn't have the money to purchase
-
New group of friends
-
There are inconsistencies when telling you where they've been or what they've been up to
-
Changes in behavior, sleeping or eating patterns
-
Changes in demeanor - they may be exhibiting fear, anxiety, depression, tenseness or nervousnesness
-
Has withdrawn from family, friends or previous interests
-
Unexplained absences from school or late nights
-
Secretive about where they've been and about internet activity
-
They have a new cell phone with private or blocked numbers
-
When they get a text or call on their phone, they suddenly need to go out
-
You find hotel key cards or false I.D.'s in their possessions
-
They may have unexplained injuries
-
There may be new drug/alcohol use
-
May have a new tattoo - particularly a name on neck, arms or legs
Here are some OTHER warning signs that someone may be a victim of trafficking:
-
Appear to be under the control or constant surveillance of someone else
-
Contact with family, friends and professionals is closely monitored
-
The person is rarely alone - even when getting hair cut or going to the doctor
-
Not allowed to speak for themselves
-
Avoids eye contact
-
Their money is largely controlled by someone else
-
May owe a large debt that they are not able to pay off
-
They are not in control of their own identification or travel documents
-
Lives with their employer
-
High security measures around their place of residence or work
-
Have no English language skills or exhibit lack of knowledge about their whereabouts
-
Claim they are just visiting but are unable to provide any details
-
Loss of sense of time
-
Appear malnourished
-
Has visible injuries or scars, such as cuts, bruises or burns
-
Has a tattoo of their trafficker's name on their back or back of neck
-
Has little in the way of possessions OR have expensive possessions inconsistent with their pay grade.
-
Has an untreated illness or infection
-
Has poor general health
-
Exhibits submissive or fearful behaviour in the presence of others - especially around law enforcement
-
Exhibist emotional distress such as depression, anxiety, manifestations of trauma, self-inflicted injuries or suicide attempts
-
You know they engage in prostitution or work in a strip club, massage parlor or pornography industry