Human Trafficking
What is it?
How do you recognize it?
What can you do?
By B.C.’s Office to Combat Trafficking in Persons, Ministry of Justice
Funding provided by the Department of Justice Victim’s Fund
What is Human Trafficking?

Human trafficking is the recruiting, harbouring
and / or controlling of a person for the purpose of
exploitation.

Exploitation can include sexual exploitation,
labour exploitation, or the forced removal of
organs.

Domestic trafficking vs. international trafficking.
UN Definition of Human Trafficking
ACT
MEANS
• Recruit
May Include:
• Transport
• Threats/violence
• Transfer
• Coercion
• Harbour
• Deception/fraud
• Receive
• Abduction
• Abuse of power
PURPOSE
• Forced labour or
services
• Sexual
exploitation
• Slavery/servitude
• Forced organ
removal
• Exploitation
Forms of Exploitation
Sexual
Exploitation
Labour
Exploitation
Crime and
Petty
Crime
Forced
Organ
Removal
Smuggling vs. Trafficking
Smuggling
Once at their
destination,
smuggled persons
are free to do as
they please.
Trafficking
Once at their
destination,
trafficked persons
are exploited.
Human Trafficking is a
Serious Human Rights Violation
Universal Declaration of Human Rights
Article 1:
All human beings are born free and equal in
dignity and rights.
Article 4:
No one shall be held in slavery or servitude.
Laws in Canada
2002
2005
2010
• Immigration & Refugee
Protection Act
sections 117 – 123
• Criminal Code of Canada
sections 279.01 – .04
• Minimum Sentencing for
Child Trafficking
Temporary Resident Permits
for Trafficked Persons
• 180 days of legal status in Canada
• Access to health and counselling services
• Work permit
• Social assistance benefits (BC)
Who is Trafficked in Canada
Traffickers
Prey on
People who
are Vulnerable!
Factors that create
vulnerabilities
to sexual exploitation:
• Being poor
• Being female
• A history of violence or neglect
• A history of child sexual abuse
• A low level of education
Unique Vulnerabilities of
Aboriginal Communities
• Impact of colonization and residential school abuse
• Racism and discrimination
• Moving from a reserve/Aboriginal community to an urban centre
• Extreme poverty
• Exposure to physical and sexual violence
• Families experiencing trauma that carries over from one
generation to the next
Vulnerable Workers in Canada
Nannies / Live in Caregivers
Temporary Foreign Workers
How does it happen?
LURING AND GROOMING
Vulnerable people
are lured and
groomed for
exploitation by:

the promise of a good job

the promise of a modelling
career

affection and love offered by
trafficker

gifts, money, drugs, or other
items of value missing in
their lives
Who are the traffickers?
• Men, women and youth can be traffickers.
• A 17 year old girl was recently convicted of human
trafficking charges in Ottawa.
• A 7-member family in Hamilton, Ontario was convicted in the
trafficking of 19 Hungarian men exploited for their labour.
• A woman was convicted in Gatineau, Quebec for the
trafficking of 3 girls prostituted by force.
• Anyone can be a trafficker.
The Internet, Social Media and Human
Trafficking
Traffickers use
Cell phones are
Compromising
internet and
used to control
images are
social media to
victims of
posted and
lure and recruit
human
circulated via
vulnerable
trafficking.
social media as a
people.
means of
exploiting victims.
Human Trafficking in the News*
“Human-trafficking trial hears woman forced to
work long hours for no pay”
“Nanny was ‘virtual slave,’ Crown says at sentencing”
“Man charged with human trafficking exploited
victims as young as 14: Crown”
*From
stories appearing in the Canadian Press, The National Post, CTV News, and The Globe and Mail
Common Indicators of Human Trafficking
 Fearful or anxious, especially of police
 Movements restricted or controlled
 Allows trafficker to speak for them
 Has no control over their identity documents/passport
 No control over earnings or money; paid very little if at all
 Punished through fines/owe money to trafficker
Indicators of
Child / Youth
Trafficking:
• New older friends who provide
gifts, drugs, expensive clothing
and jewelry
• Loss of connection to family and
friends
• Drop out of school or miss
classes regularly
• Behaviour changes and mood
swings
• Reluctant to engage with
teachers, youth workers, social
workers and other adults in their
lives
Indicators of
Human Trafficking
for Domestic
Servitude:
• Lives and works with
a family
• Expected to be available
up to 24 hours a day
• No days off
• Little or no pay
• Movements controlled
Indicators of
Sexual
Exploitation
• Tattoos or branding by a
trafficker to show ownership
• Substance abuse, drug addiction
as a method of control
• Controlled by cell phone or
guard
• Scars or injuries from abuse
• Someone else speaks for the
trafficked person
• No control over their money
• May have expensive items but
no basic necessities
Indicators of
Labour
Trafficking
• Lives and works in same location
• Paid very little or nothing at all
• Works without safety equipment,
or in dangerous situations
• Depends on employer for
housing, food, transportation
• Limited contact with family
and friends
• Limited knowledge of rights and
laws in Canada
• May have limited English skills
What can you do to contribute to the
elimination of human trafficking?
Educate
Yourself
Raise
Awareness
Report
It
Use Your
Buying
Power
Learn More:
OCTIP’s Online Training
Human Trafficking, Canada is Not Immune
• Free!
• Accessible nation-wide!
• Any time!
Learn to recognize, protect and assist a person
who may have been trafficked.
www.pssg.gov.bc.ca/octip/training.htm
Respond to Trafficking Situations
• Contact local police/emergency services in cases of an
emergency.
• Learn the indicators of human trafficking.
• Identify and partner with key services in your community.
• Explore the OCTIP online Toolkit: Communities Taking Action.
• Review the OCTIP online training for service providers to
learn more about how to assist a trafficked person.
OCTIP Service Model
Emotional Support
and Counselling
Legal
Services
Health
Services
Shelter and
Housing
Government
Agencies
A Trafficked
Person
May Require
(where culturally
appropriate)
Interpretation
Services
Police, Crown,
Victim Services
Reporting a Situation of
Human Trafficking
The RCMP Human Trafficking Coordinator
pacifichumantraffickingcoordinator@rcmp-grc.gc.ca
(human trafficking situations in BC)
Crime Stoppers 1-800-222-TIPS
(any crime, anonymous)
Cybertip.ca
(child sexual exploitation)
CALL 911 or Emergency Personnel if Urgent
Services and Supports for
Trafficked Persons
Coordination of services for
trafficked persons and
referrals, call
1-888-712-7974
Temporary Resident Permits
for trafficked persons and
Work Permits contact
Citizenship and Immigration Canada
(toll-free, 24/7, interpretation available)
1-888-242-2100
Emergency Services and
referrals for all victims of crime
in BC/Yukon, call VictimLink BC
General inquiries and information on
human trafficking, contact
BC OCTIP office
1-800-563-0808
1-604-660-5199
(toll-free, 24/7, interpretation available)
(business hours)
Open Your Eyes to Human Trafficking