What is Sex Trafficking

Defining Human Trafficking

Human trafficking according to Public Safety Canada is "the recruitment, transportation, harbouring and/or exercising control, direction or influence over the movements of a person in order to exploit that person, typically through sexual exploitation or forced labour" (2019). It's commonly thought that the buying and selling of people is something of the past. It is also perceived that it is happening in other countries, in other places – not in our own backyard. But in fact, there are more people trafficked today than anytime in human history.

The International Labour Organization and Walk Free Foundation indicate that there may be up to 40.3 million people trafficked globally, 70% of whom are women and children (2017). The Canadian Women's Foundation estimates that 90% of people who are trafficked in Canada for sexual exploitation are from within Canada's borders (2014). Both developing and developed countries are impacted by human trafficking: this is a global issue. "95% of trafficking cases in Canada between 2012 and 2016 were domestic cases of sexual exploitation (Public Safety Canada).

At Fight4Freedom, we specifically fight sex trafficking and sexual exploitation, though all forms of human trafficking and exploitation are unethical.
Approximately two-thirds of cases of human trafficking in Canada take place in Ontario, most of which involve sex trafficking(www.mcss.gov.on.ca, 2019). Sexual exploitation is known to take place in hotels/motels, strip clubs, massage parlours, AirBnBs, streets, and homes (Barrett, Shaw).

Global efforts against sex trafficking

In 2000, the United Nations adopted the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress, and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children. The Trafficking in Persons Protocol establishes the most widely accepted international framework to fight human trafficking, especially of women and children (Kaye, Hastie, 2015).

Canada ratified the Trafficking Protocol in 2002 and is committed to developing laws and programs to implement it. The Trafficking Protocol requires countries that have ratified it to focus on three main areas, referred to as the three P’s:

Protection — Protecting and assisting those who have been trafficked.
Prevention — Preventing and combating human trafficking.
Prosecution — Prosecuting the traffickers.

In addition, Canada’s National Action Plan to Combat Human Trafficking recognizes a fourth P – partnerships.

Partnerships — Partnership is the promotion of cooperation among countries in order to effectively meet the goals of Protection, Prevention and Prosecution.

Additionally, many governments are taking action to protect high-risk persons from trafficking predators. Human trafficking is a serious criminal offense in Canada. Both the Criminal Code of Canada and the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act criminalize all aspects of human trafficking.

Canada's National Action Plan to Combat Human Trafficking consolidates ongoing efforts of the federal government to combat human trafficking and introduces aggressive new initiatives to prevent human trafficking, identify survivors, protect the most vulnerable, and prosecute perpetrators. The National Action Plan aims to better support organizations providing assistance to survivors, and it builds on our current responses and commitment to work together with our partners to prevent and combat this crime.

Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and community based anti-trafficking groups are working hard to prevent sex trafficking, protect vulnerable populations, lobby for policy reformation, and even rehabilitate survivors both at local and global levels. Fight4Freedom is an active part of this community who hopes to raise awareness of sex trafficking and to see the end of this issue.

How you can help fight sex trafficking?

You can join us in our fight to stop sex trafficking by VOLUNTEERING in our ongoing outreach or administration ministry areas, committing to PRAY for survivors, PARTNERING with us in raising awareness and advocating for policy reform, and/or DONATING to Fight4Freedom.