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