Human Trafficking and the Political Sphere

by Emma Elshaw

At this year’s annual Freedom Fighter’s Conference in April, we heard from Jesus Bondo on the intersectionality of human trafficking and the political world. He stated that 71% of victims of human trafficking say they were forced to have sex with doctors, 60% with judges and 80% with police. Those are some staggering numbers, particularly as they are from professions that we might assume would be fighting against human trafficking, and not engaging in it. The reality that traffickers and purchasers of sex are already part of the political sphere in one form or another is clear. 

We may feel that there is nothing that can be done to fight human trafficking if those who are in some of the most powerful professions are engaging in its continuance. However, there is still a lot that can be done. There are still those in the political sphere who desire to see an end to human trafficking, like Jesus Bondo and Joy Smith. There are MPs who are fighting to pass bills in an effort to slowly see the discontinuation of sex trafficking.

Unfortunatley, sex trafficking is still a reality today, and it will continue to be an issue as long as demand exists. If purchasers still desire to purchase sex, trafficking will continue as a by-product of the sex industry. However, there are still things that can be done in the political sphere to combat sex trafficking on a daily, weekly, and even monthly basis. At the conference, Jesus Bondo provided listeners with 5 things that can be done in 5 minutes, 5 hours and 5 days in an effort to combat human trafficking within the political sphere. 

Here is what he said:

In 5 minutes, you can:

• Pray - For those from any faith background, seeking help from a higher power is a common practice. There is a sense of peace in knowing that we are not alone in this fight. 
  
• Start a conversation - Talk to someone who you think doesn’t know much about human trafficking.
  
• Learn who your MP, mayor, councillor, MPP, or MLA is - This will allow you to know who in politics you can talk to in your community.
  
• Sign up for the All-Party group newsletter - This is a group of MPs from all parties that are dedicated to fighting against human trafficking. Staying in the loop with them will give you insights as to what is going on politically concerning human trafficking. They also host events. Email Arnold.Viersen.A2@parl.go.ca to request to be added to the list. 
  
• Memorize the human trafficking hotline number - If you see something, say something...to the human trafficking hotline. 1-833-900-1010.
  

In 5 hours, you can:

• Keep praying - Continually seeking help can not only bring us peace when facing a daunting task, it can help us feel empowered to keep fighting for what is right. 
  
• Deepen your understanding of human trafficking - What are the signs, what are the causes, who are the victims. For more information, check out this blog. 
  
• Reach out to your representative - This should really be “keep reaching out” because it's going to take more than one attempt. 
  
• Attend a councillor meeting - If reaching out doesn't work, show up at their workplace. 
  
• Learn each party's stance on human trafficking/ slave labour - Look for their stance beyond them just saying they are against it. What will they do to help fight it? What laws might inadvertently lead to more trafficking? How seriously do they take the problem?
  

In 5 days, you can:  

• Pray and fast - Maybe not for the full 5 days, depending on any health concerns you may have (please speak to your doctor before beginning any fast). Doing this may help you focus on the cause and to continue the fight for justice. You can also try using this prayer guide. 
  
• Deepen your understanding of politics: municipal, provincial and federal - If you have children, it might be worth looking through their civics homework.
  
• Research companies who have slave labour in their supply chains - This is a consistent practice that you can do. There is a lot to unpack on this one, so it may extend past 5 days, but you can definitely get a good start in 5 days.  
  
• Look into other countries’, cities’, provinces’ approaches to dealing with human trafficking - So when your representative is worn down by all your inquiries, you have ideas you can pitch.
  
• Engage with parties - It is important to be an active voice and participate in the process with political parties. 
  

There is something that each of us can do to engage in the fight against human trafficking when it comes to politics and the law. Whether you do one or all of these things, each little bit will help to bring more awareness to the reality of sex trafficking that is happening in so many communities around us. Remember, awareness is prevention. So, which one of these will you do today? Which one will you do tomorrow? Together, we can make a difference and begin to see an end to sex trafficking.

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