Human trafficking for sexual exploitation is a prevalent form of modern slavery in Canada, reaching a critical level within the country. This criminal activity is highly profitable for perpetrators and pimps, while inflicting severe trauma and abuse on the victims who endure lasting consequences, even if they manage to break free.
In the documentary “Trafficked Voices,” three survivors born in Canada share their harrowing experiences. Human trafficking operates as a sophisticated criminal network, targeting individuals across various demographics. According to Kelly Beale, managing a pro bono program under Ontario’s Ministry of the Attorney General, victims can be anyone in vulnerable situations, such as university students, teenagers in foster care, or residents in local neighborhoods.
Trafficking is a rapidly growing crime in Canada, affecting individuals as young as their early teens up to their mid-twenties and beyond. The recruitment process is insidious, manipulative, and predatory, exploiting vulnerabilities like relationship issues or family conflicts. Traffickers establish a significant presence in victims’ lives during moments of vulnerability, gradually coercing them into exploitative relationships.
Social media serves as a key tool for traffickers, offering a platform for anonymity and direct access to potential targets. Victims unknowingly expose personal details online, which traffickers exploit to lure them. One mother recounted how her 16-year-old daughter fell prey to trafficking after meeting a seemingly harmless friend on Facebook during a trip to Toronto, leading to a tragic ordeal of forced sex work.
Traffickers employ various tactics, such as building romantic relationships or instilling fear and intimidation, to control and exploit their victims. The grooming process can extend over weeks or months, often happening right under the noses of unsuspecting parents.
Escaping the clutches of trafficking is immensely challenging, as many victims become emotionally and physically dependent on their captors. Survivors like Jeannie, an Indigenous victim kidnapped at 14, faced a lack of official response to her disappearance, highlighting systemic injustices within the justice system. Additionally, survivors often find themselves burdened with debt accrued during their exploitation, hindering their ability to rebuild their lives.
Efforts have been made to support survivors, including financial advocacy to alleviate coercive debts and initiatives like the Canadian Human Trafficking Hotline (1-833-900-1010) providing crucial assistance and resources. By shedding light on these stories through platforms like “Trafficked Voices,” awareness is raised and support is extended to combat human trafficking in Canada effectively.