Human Sexual
Trafficking in
Canada
The Salvation Army's
Response
3/12/2016
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Outline of Presentation
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The Reality
Why The Existence of Human Trafficking
The Big Picture – Sex Trafficking and its
connection to Prostitution = the Commercial Sex
Trade
Those Involved (Buyers & those being sold)
Canada’s Legislation and Where It Can Improve
What we can all do to get involved
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The Reality
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Sources cite anywhere from 700,000 and
up per year are trafficked world wide.
It is estimated that about 2500 foreign
women & girls are coerced into joining the
Canadian sex trade each year. This is
considered a very conservative number.
Another 2200 people are coming to
Canada, in transit to the United States, for
work in brothels, sweat shops, domestic
jobs and construction.
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…Cont’d
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As of 2004, it appears most of the
trafficking activity in Canada was occurring
in Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver, and
Halifax.
“Mail Order Bride” programs being used by
Eastern European crime groups to bring
women into Canada to exploit them.
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Asian women being trafficked to work in
brothels in Vancouver
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…Cont’d
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In addition, Canadian girls are
coerced/kidnapped, fraudulently entering
into the United States, and forced into
the Sex Trade.
Criminal Organizations operating in
Canada can move 30 to 40 people in a
month’s time into the United States.
Trafficking in Persons became an offense
in Canada in June of 2002.
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There are also
many Canadian
women and girls
being trafficked
within Canada.
Aboriginal women and girls are
being trafficked at horrifying, and
disproportionate rates.
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Why the Existence of Trafficking?
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Poverty in the Country of origin
It is very lucrative ($$) for the trafficker
People are displaced due to war
There are people who are willing to exploit
others to make $
Ultimately, trafficking exists because
there is a demand for it!
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The Big Picture – Sex Trafficking &
Its Relation to The Commercial Sex
Trade
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When local demand for women/children in
prostitution exceeds the supply, trafficking
is the mechanism for meeting the supply
needs.
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The Demand/The Consumers
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The consumers (the johns) are individuals who
have bought into the commercial sex trade in a
number of ways and trafficked persons are
present in all areas:
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Pornography – progressing from soft core to hard
core which comes in all forms in the media and the
internet.
Strip Clubs/Bars –Entertainment Industry
Escort Services and Brothels
Street Prostitution
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Stats on “the demand”
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He is in his 30’s (35%)
He is married (60%)
He works as a laborer or professional (55%)
He is caucasian (65%)
He lives in upper socio-economic
neighbourhoods or out of town. (26% or
21%)
The Exploitation of Persons is less about sex
and more about power.
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Characteristics of the Demand
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Generally want younger women/girls.
Self Centered
Sex addictions are present
New Canadians seem to be over-represented
 Conflicting cultural beliefs
Internet Pornography plays significant role
Think they are entitled to purchase sex
Want particular act to fulfill their fantasy
Often Looking for “girlfriend experience”
Often Reaching out for help – don’t know how
to get it
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The Survivors - Supply
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Victims of trafficking and the sex trade
experience damage in all areas of the self:
physically, emotionally, socially, and spiritually.
All of these areas overlap, and all need to be
addressed simultaneously in order for
restoration and wholeness to be achieved.
It is essential that all care be taken to ensure
that trafficked persons are not re-victimised
through carelessness in the social
service/helping system.
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Identifying a Trafficked Person
A victim of trafficking may look like many
of the people you help every day. You
can help trafficking victims get the
assistance they need by looking beneath
the surface for the following clues. Many
of the indicators for trafficked persons
are similar to those identifying women
who are being abused by their partners.
 Evidence of being controlled
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Identifying a Trafficked Person –
cont’d
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Evidence of an inability to move or leave
job
Bruises or other signs of battering (both
physical and non-physical)
Fear or depression
Newcomer to Canada/Non-English
speaking
Lack of passport, immigration or
identification documentation
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Questions To Ask
If you suspect that someone may have been
trafficked, in a respectful, non-suspicious way,
try to speak with the person privately and
confidentially. The person they came with could
be a trafficker posing as a spouse, family
member or interpreter.
 Interpreters must be screened carefully to
ensure they do not know the victim or the
traffickers and do not otherwise have a conflict
of interest. Preference is to use an interpreter
hired by the centre.
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Questions To Ask – cont’d
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Has your identification or documentation been
taken from you?
Can you leave your job or situation if you want?
Can you come and go as you please?
Have you been threatened if you try to leave?
Have you been physically harmed in any way?
What are your working or living conditions like?
Where do you sleep and eat?
Do you sleep in a bed, on a cot or on the floor?
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Questions to Ask cont.
Is anyone forcing you to do anything that
you do not want to do?
Have you ever been deprived of food,
water, sleep or medical care?
 Do you have to ask permission to eat,
sleep or go to the bathroom?
 Are there locks on your doors and
windows so you cannot get out?
 Has anyone threatened your family?
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Statistics on The Supply
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The average age of recruitment into
commercial sexual exploitation is 14 – 15
years of age.
90% of people sexually trafficked or
prostituted are women and girls
Things that make women/girls more
vulnerable to trafficking are: poverty, loss
of parents, and histories of (sexual) abuse
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Case Study
This case study is similar to a case that took place
here in Canada. Names and identifying
characteristics are fictional.
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Three women from rural Asia:
Wendy – 21 years old and an only child who
supports her parents and extended family
Lilian – 28 years old living with extended family
and her 2 year old son. Husband died.
Joan – in her 20’s, married and husband is a
teacher who works 12 hour days seven days per
week and makes $100 per month.
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Cont’d
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All these families live in poverty and answered an add
for a job in Canada offering $2000 per month
waitressing - plus tips.
All that was necessary was that the women pay back the
cost of the air ticket and fee to the organization that
made the arrangements, but that should be easily done
in the first month or so.
The women made their way a city in their country and
met each other and being away from their families,
found comfort in each other.
The trip organizers equipped the women with false travel
documents such as passports, student or travel visas,
and new identities and briefed them on what to say to
immigration authorities etc.
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Cont’d
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The women knew they were breaking the law,
but they were told that otherwise the process
was worth the risk because it was foolproof and
that the legal route took a very long time and
might not work out.
Within the week they were on a plane and met
at the airport by the owner of the restaurant
who took them to his home.
He suggested they get a good night’s sleep and
would go to the restaurant the next day.
He should also hold on to their passports for
safe keeping.
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Cont’d
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The next day they were taken to an apartment on the
west side of the city and met by an older Chinese lady
who said that the restaurant was closed and they would
instead be working as prostitutes.
The three women said they would not do so, but the
woman reminded them that they knowingly broke the
law coming into Canada and so the only alternative was
to do as they were told, work to pay back the money. If
they did not, the police would be contacted and they
would go to jail (keep in mind their perception of law
enforcement in their country).
The women did not speak any English, and were
frightened, isolated, embarrassed, trapped, did not have
passports, and the older Chinese woman never left them
alone.
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Cont’d
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The monthly quota was $10,000.00 each doing 12 – 16
hour days and they were told they could keep the extra
above that, but if they did not make the quota, violence
would follow.
The women were constantly reminded that they were
only prostitutes and were moved every few months
being advertised in chat rooms and the Buy and Sell.
A raid was conducted by the police on the apartment
because they had information it was a “common bawdy
house” and the owners were jailed for “keeping a
common bawdy house”.
The three women being charged as “inmates of a
common bawdy house” were taken to jail that night, but
as interviews were conducted with them in their own
language, the police began to realize they were
trafficked.
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Cont’d
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Once a positive relationship was developed, the lack of
trust, embarrassment, and fear of the unknown slowly
was overcome and a flood of information followed.
The women needed a huge spectrum of services ranging
from housing, funding for personal needs, emotional and
mental health supports, safety, and medical attention.
In addition, if they were to testify against the traffickers,
they would need to continue in Canada for another 2 – 3
years.
Since the enactment of Canada’s new TRP – Temporary
Residence Permit for Human Trafficked person, much of
the requirements for the women are able to be
addressed, but NGO’s are still needed to fill in the gaps.
The TRP is a permit that is issued by Citizenship and
Immigration Canada in cases where it is required to
override a person being in Canada illegally. It is valid for
180 days and can be given an extension.
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The Salvation Army AntiTrafficking Response in Canada
Mission
 In May 2004, at the International Leaders’ Conference,
General Larsson declared trafficking as a priority for The
Salvation Army.
 Since then, throughout The Salvation Army world,
programs and initiatives have been organized and
implemented to combat this evil that strikes at the heart
of families and communities.
 In this territory, we joyfully and determinedly accept the
General’s challenge to combat the evil and injustice of
human trafficking for sexual exploitation. We are
motivated by love for a particular group of our
neighbours, and out of respect for the inherent dignity of
our brothers and sisters involved in human sexual
trafficking.
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To Date – In Canada
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The Canadian Anti-Trafficking Network is made up
of representatives from each of the divisions, and has
been active for some time.
Most divisional representatives have brought around
them a committee consisting of Salvation Army and
likeminded Community representatives working in areas
that (potentially) come in contact with trafficked persons
Various written works have come out of discussions with
the network and committees
A subcommittee has been formed from the main
network that addresses The Salvation Army’s position on
current government legislation and what improvements
The Salvation Army should lobby for.
International Weekend of Prayer – each September
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Goals
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To eliminate or reduce sexual trafficking.
To raise awareness of the evil and injustice of
sexual trafficking.
To engage Christians in prayer about sexual
trafficking.
To care for and assist those who have been
trafficked into Canada for the purposes of sexual
exploitation.
To lobby the Canadian Government to alter and
enhance legislations applicable to trafficking.
To financially support people at-risk of sexual
trafficking in developing countries.
To prevent at-risk Canadian youth from being
trafficked into the commercial sex trade.
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Guiding Principles
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The Salvation Army, in partnership with other likeminded organizations, seeks to educate ourselves
internally so that we might take an active, informed
approach to this crisis. The Salvation Army also seeks to
make others in the general public more aware of this
issue and to offer them meaningful ways to combat
sexual trafficking.
Trafficked persons are human beings with inherent
human dignity and worth that must always be upheld
and respected.
Building relationships of unconditional love with survivors
of commercial sexual exploitation is essential to
understanding where they are coming from.
Trafficked persons escaping the sex trade need real,
meaningful and positive alternatives made available to
them so that restoration is possible.
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Guiding Principles cont’d
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Efforts could be made to reduce the stigma of
those who are sexually exploited, upholding the
dignity and worth of all.
Work could be done towards the
decriminalization of the survivors of trafficking,
as well as regularizing their immigration status
in Canada.
The Salvation Army maintains that there is a
direct connection between sexual trafficking and
commercial sexual exploitation (prostitution,
pornography, etc.) and that reducing/eliminating
one will directly influence the other.
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Guiding Principles cont’d
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Education is needed around the harm of
trafficking as well as the harm of commercial
sexual exploitation, in general.
Redemption and restoration for consumers
(johns) is possible and achievable.
Perpetrators (Traffickers and Pimps) should be
brought to justice.
Redemption and restoration for
traffickers/perpetrators is possible.
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We Want You to get Involved
Become more informed and educate others!
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Awareness materials have been prepared by the
Network and are available online at
www.salvationist.ca/trafficking
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These include: fact sheet, brochures, resource list
(including links to the IHQ anti-trafficking site and
other Salvation Army sites), contact list of regional
network members, powerpoint presentations, action
steps and prayer materials
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Information is available online so that any officer,
Salvationist, friend of The Salvation Army, etc. can
access the information, become aware of the issue,
download it, and use it to teach and make others
aware.
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Other Resources
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The issue is highlighted for youth on
www.sendthefire.ca
Salvation Army publications/sites have highlighted, and
will continue to highlight, the issue.
Anti- Trafficking Network Divisional Representatives
are familiar with the awareness materials and available
to make presentations on human sexual trafficking
using them to present at DHQs/corps/divisional events,
etc.
Please promote the issue and pray about it in corps, at
women’s rallies, through men’s ministry, to youth, to
Ministry units, etc.
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Other Resources
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A Best Practices Handbook is being created by
the Network and will soon be available on
www.salvationist.ca/trafficking.
The Handbook is for ministry units who may
be coming into contact with trafficked
persons, and includes tips on looking for
identifying signs of trafficked persons, and
best practices for serving trafficked persons.
Encourage ministry units to adapt these
materials to their particular location
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Take Action!
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Support fair trade initiatives. Fair trade
items (like coffee and handicrafts) often cost
more than if you buy them at Wal-Mart, and
yet they ensure that those who are making
them are given living wages and treated fairly
with respect. Pay the extra – it makes a big
difference!
The Salvation Army operates a fair trade shop
(www.sallyann.no) with handicrafts made by
former prostituted persons in Bangladesh.
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Action Cont’d
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Encourage Salvationists to give to Partners in
Mission and to support Salvation Army
overseas development programs working with
vulnerable women and children.
As poverty is such a large push factor for
sexual trafficking, join the Make Poverty
History Campaign wholeheartedly, advocating
for the poor on behalf of The Salvation Army.
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Take Action Politically
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The Anti-Trafficking Network has developed 2
submissions to federal Government and
presented them in 2005 and 2006. In 2006 this
was accompanied by a letter-writing campaign
from Salvationists across the Territory. Requests
that we made – in partnership with other NGOs
– were granted, although there is still much to
be done.
Feel free to contact your Member of Parliament,
expressing your commitment to this issue.
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Also related to Government
 Build
partnerships with other likeminded organizations bringing a
united voice and further credibility.
 Build relationships with influential
women who can champion for the
victims and issues.
 Oppose the legalization of
Prostitution.
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International Weekend of Prayer
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This territory’s Anti-Trafficking Network
initiated a weekend of prayer and fasting
in 2006. It has since become an
international, annual weekend endorsed
and supported by the General.
Last weekend of every September
New materials are available each year at
www.salvationist.ca/trafficking.
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A coordinated range of
programming/services for trafficked
persons
Sensitization and awareness raising within
existing Salvation Army programs.
 Street Outreach programs
 (potential) Repatriation – reintegration
programs
 Cooperation procedure with government,
immigration, and law enforcement.
 Programs to address the demand for
commercial sex.
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