HUMAN TRAFFICKING:

SEX AND SLAVERY

PLP 14
Faculty of Education Post-Baccalaureate Degree Program (Year 6)
Vancouver Island University

THE EARTH CHARTER

PRINCIPLES
We want to provide educators with the resources necessary to raise awareness and
educate youth on the reality of human trafficking in Canada. We do so by following
the Earth Charter Principles below:

Build Democratic Societies that are just, participatory, sustainable, and peaceful.
Eradicate poverty as an ethical, social, and environmental imperative
Ensure that economic activities and institutions at all levels

promote human

development in an equitable and sustainable manner.

Affirm gender equality and equity as prerequisites to sustainable development and

ensure universal access to education, health care, and economic opportunity.

Uphold the rights of all, without discrimination, to a natural and social environment
supportive of human dignity, bodily health, and spiritual well being, with attention to the rights of
indigenous peoples and minorities.

Treat all living beings with respect and consideration .

DEFINITIONS
Human Trafficking:

Human Smuggling:
HUMAN TRAFFICKING involves the

exploitation of people through force,

HUMAN SMUGGLING is a form of
coercion, threat, fraud or deception and may
illegal
migration
involving
the rights
include
acts
generally defined
as human
organized
transport
of forced
persons across
abuses.
Victims
may be
into an
labour,
international border, usually in exchange
prostitution
or some other form of
for a sum of money... The relationship
servitude
. The relationship
between the smuggler
and thebetween
person trafficker
and victim does not end upon arrival at
being smuggled is a voluntary
destination, as the victim may be subjected to debt
business
transaction
bondage
(forced
labour to pay off, awhich
debt).
usually ends when the client reaches the
intended destination
Occurs both internationally and
domestically
Definitions retrieved from: Im Not for Sale, Royal Canadian Mounted Police HTNCC, Government of Canada, http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/http/publications/brochure-trafficking-traite-eng.pdf

FACTS AND FIGURES: INTERNATIONAL

(CROSS-BORDER TRAFFICKING)
International Labour Organization:
An estimated 20.9 million people
UN Office on Drugs and Crimes:
trafficked worldwide (internationally and
Most cases happen close
domestically)

$150 billion industry

The UN estimates between 20-30 million
(based on government data)

home (domestic trafficking

is the most prevalent form)

Distribution of Victims

United Nations Information Service Vienna

Forced Labour; 18%
Labor trafficking is in horticulture,
construction, textile production, catering
and restaurants, entertainment, and
domestic service.
Many experts argue that trafficking in
adult men and trafficking for forced labour
are extremely underreported. Most male
trafficking is for forced labour.
Figures retrieved from: Amber Moffett, HTC Associate, Trafficking Statistics, Human Trafficking Center, 2016,
http://humantraffickingcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Trafficking-Statistics.pdf.

Profiles of Trafficking (data from state authorities in 61 countries)

to

Boys; 9%
Girls; 13%

Men; 12%

Women; 66%

Other Forms; 3%

Sexual Exploitation; 79%

Figures retrieved from: Global Report on Trafficking in Persons, UN Office on Drugs and Crime, February 2009,
http://www.unodc.org/documents/Global_Report_on_TIP.pdf

FACTS AND FIGURES: CANADA

(INTERNATIONAL TRAFFICKING INTRODUCTION)
2002: Canadas first law that specifically criminalized
human trafficking (Focused largely on crossborder trafficking)
Additional amendments made to the Criminal
Code in 2005 to cover all forms of trafficking for
any exploitative purpose.
The RCMP established the Human Trafficking
National Coordination Center (HTNCC) with
approximately 160 members mandated to investigate
immigration and human trafficking offences.
Canada Border Service Agency also investigates
human trafficking networks crossing into Canadian
territory.

COUNTRIES OF ORIGIN
Mekong sub-region, and parts of Africa and
Eastern Europe tend to be the primary source regions for victims trafficked to

Asia, in particular the

Canada.

Organized crime networks with Eastern European links have been involved in the
organized entry of women from states formerly part of the Soviet Union into Canada for
employment in escort services in the Greater Toronto Area and possibly in
massage and escort services in the

Montreal area.

Human trafficking has also been identified in major cities with a large Asian population and
an established network of Asian organized crime. Trafficking for sexual exploitation often
occurs in private residences operated and staffed solely by Asian migrants or persons of
Asian descent.

Domestic movement is nearly unrestricted

FACTS AND FIGURES: CANADA

(INTERNATIONAL TRAFFICKING ACTIONS)
Project COMBATIVE
Law enforcement investigation targeting

a Romanian criminal

organization

involved in the smuggling and trafficking of

Romanian nationals into Canada, concluded in Spring 2014.
Results of Project COMBATIVE

29 people arrested;
20 people charged;
108 charges laid;
eight guilty pleas;
six convictions;
two outstanding arrest warrants;
three before the courts;
five people leaving Canada or deported; and
four victims of human trafficking identified and
provided with support.

Cases of human
trafficking (for sexual
exploitation and forced
labour) are being more
frequently identified,
and more charges are
being laid across the
country.

FACTS AND FIGURES: CANADA

(INTERNATIONAL TRAFFICKING ACTIONS)
Since the beginning of 2014, the RCMP Human Trafficking Unit has conducted
investigations into 16 suspected cases of human trafficking involving
foreign nationals.
Of these cases, 10 have been closed with charges filed, four are currently under
investigation, one has become a project considered among national and divisional
RCMP priorities (Project CONFIDENCE) and one ended with arrests, charges and guilty
pleas.

Project CONFIDENCE
It is alleged that the victims, who are mainly from Korea and China, received assistance
from the criminal organization to enter Canada illegally via land crossings or with visas
obtained through false pretenses. Upon entering Canada, the victims were taken over,
controlled and exploited by a prostitution ring operating Canada-wide (Halifax, Montral,
Ottawa, Toronto, Winnipeg, Calgary, Edmonton and Vancouver).
9 people have been charged under various trafficking laws

DOMESTIC TRAFFICKING IN CANADA

RCMP Statistics: Victims are female,

Canadian citizens, between the ages

of 14 and 22 years, and are typically
Caucasian.
The Most Vulnerable
Aboriginal women, youth and
children;
migrants and new immigrants;
at-risk youth, runaways, and those
who are socially or economically
disadvantaged
Figures retrieved from: https://www.publicsafety.gc.ca/cnt/rsrcs/pblctns/ntnl-ctn-pln-cmbt-prgrss-2015/index-en.aspx#s3c

Human trafficking in Canada

is as likely to be orchestrated
by organized criminal
networks as it is by individual
or family-based opportunists.
In recent years, individuals
with relatively stable
backgrounds are increasingly
becoming victims of human
trafficking.

Figures retrieved from: Global Report on Trafficking in Persons, UN Office on Drugs and Crime, February 2009, http://www.unodc.org/documents/Global_Report_on_TIP.pdf

BRITISH COLUMBIA:
HITTING CLOSE TO
HOME
3 cases
relating to domestic human
trafficking that resulted in charges.

As of April 2013, BC has had

The cases were investigated by the

Vancouver Police Department (two cases)
and the Victoria Police Department (one
case). In addition, there are many

human trafficking related

cases in British Columbia that have
not resulted in charges.

BCs unique situation: most

of the victims are exploited in hotels

or private home, with private homes
being the most common location.

Exotic dance clubs and

massage parlours in this region
for exploitation is minimal
when compared with these
establishments in Quebec and
Ontario where most
exploitation is investigated.

DOMESTIC TRAFFICKING
FIRGURES

According to the UN Office on Drugs and Crime in

2009, overall numbers on domestic
trafficking are unavailable.

Public Safety Canada has shown the following:

90 human trafficking-specific cases completed
since 2005 with human trafficking-specific and/or
related convictions, involving 208 victims and 117
accused who received convictions.
Approximately 180 human trafficking specific
cases before the courts involving approximately
285 accused and 275 victims.

As of 2014, the RCMP show 132 specific cases

before the courts.

The National Inquiry into

Missing and Murdered
Indigenous Women and
Girls will hopefully shed more
light on human trafficking
concerns in Canada and offer
a more accurate picture of
those trafficked

THE NATIONAL STRATEGY TO

COMBAT HUMAN TRAFFICKING
In 2014-2015, the RCMP HTNCC continued to deliver human trafficking training and awareness
sessions. The RCMP delivered these sessions to a wide audience including law enforcement officials,
prosecutors, government employees, non-governmental organizations and Canadian youth.
Prior to this, Canada was identified by the UN as not doing enough to combat this problem.

Education and awareness campaign of people within Canada:

Brochures, newsletter, posters, presentations, reports, toolkits, videos.
The Human Trafficking Unit, in partnership with the Montreal Police Service, also conducted awareness
interventions for sex-trade workers in massage parlours.This is continuing with other regional and
municipal police services.
Project SECLUSION continues to provide a national overview of human trafficking activities in an effort
to identify the extent of organized crime involvement, transnational associations, source countries, as
well as issues and challenges faced by law enforcement.

GOVERNMENT OF CANADA
INITIATIVES
Over the past several years the RCMP raised
awareness on human trafficking for forced labour
among labour officials, including providing
information about indicators of human trafficking
and industries at risk.
Approximately 320labour officials have benefited
from the sessions so far in Newfoundland and
Labrador, Alberta, Ontario, and Quebec since 2010,
with the latest occurring in Manitoba in April 2014.

Youth and school awareness sessions are

still less common but resources are
available.
Figures retrieved from: https://www.publicsafety.gc.ca/cnt/rsrcs/pblctns/ntnl-ctn-pln-cmbt-prgrss-2015/index-en.aspx#s3c

Images retrieved from: Im Not for Sale, Royal Canadian Mounted Police HTNCC, Government

MATERIALS FOR
INDIVIDUALS
The RCMP has several publications and
resources available for distribution. They
provide a great place to start for teachers
interested in this topic for an inquiry project or
social justice discussion.

Since 2013, approximately31,454toolkits

and977Aboriginal specific posters have been
distributed and campaigns have been created
for Canadian Aboriginals living on and off
reserve.
Posters are available in several languages.
All resources can be found at
http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/ht-tp/publications/
index-eng.htm#l1
or through email to

VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR MORE

INFORMATION AND RESOURCES

understandinghumantrafficking.weebly.com