Responding to the Phenomenon
of Global Human Trafficking
on Canada’s West Coast
What is Human Trafficking?
• The transport of human beings for exploitation
and profit
• Global phenomenon that transcends
international borders
• Extreme violation of an individual’s human rights
• 2nd most lucrative source of income for
organized crime internationally
UN Definition of Human
Trafficking
• …the recruitment, transportation, transfer,
harbouring or receipt of persons...
• using force, coercion, abduction, fraud,
deception, abuse of power
• …for the purpose of exploitation.
UN Protocol to Prevent, Suppress, and Punish Trafficking in
Persons, especially Women and Children. 2000
Definition of Child Trafficking
• UNICEF states that:
In keeping with the Palermo Protocol, there is no
requirement for coercion, force, deception,
abuse of power or a position of vulnerability in
order for child trafficking to have occurred.
Combating Child Trafficking, UNICEF 2005
Exploitation is...
• prostitution of others
• forced labour
• slavery or practices similar to slavery
• the removal and sale of organs
UN Protocol to Prevent…Trafficking in Persons
Three P’s of Human Trafficking
• to Prevent and combat trafficking in persons
• to Protect and assist victims respecting full
human rights
• to Prosecute those who engage in trafficking in
human beings
Global Efforts to Address
Modern Day Slavery
• Most European countries, US and Australia have antitrafficking legislation.
• Numerous International NGOs have developed antitrafficking campaigns:
UNICEF/UNHCR
International Organization for Migration
International Red Cross
International Labour Organization
Save the Children Alliance
World Health Organization
Trafficking vs Smuggling
• Migrant smuggling occurs with the consent
of the smuggled person
• AND the smuggled person is free to go
once the destination is reached
• Victims of Trafficking in Persons are not at
liberty in their final destination
Who are the Victims?
• They are desperate women, men and children looking to
escape poverty, war, and violence
• Traffickers prosper in poor countries
• Trafficked persons may enter a country legally as a:
Visitor
Student, or
with a valid Work Permit
• Or they may enter a country illegally using clandestine
methods and routes of travel
Identifying a Trafficked Person
• Evidence of being controlled
• Bruises or other signs of physical abuse
• Fear/depression
• No passport/identification/documentation
• KEY: Exploitation and Loss of Liberty
US Trafficking in Persons (TIP)
Report
• Annually grades all countries on efforts to
address human trafficking
• Creates 3 tiers and imposes trade
sanctions on those in Tier 3
• Canada Tier 1 for 2006 but criticized for
lack of services for TP’s
Canada’s Response to TIP
• Immigration and Refugee Protection Act
Human Smuggling &Trafficking sections
• Criminal Code
Trafficking in Persons Offences
• Citizenship and Immigration
Human Trafficking Interim Guidelines
BC’s Ministry of Children and Family
Development:
Migrant Services Program
• Established in 1999 following the arrival of
boats off BC’s west coast
• 134 ‘unaccompanied minors’ traveling
without parents or legal guardian
• Majority became legal wards of BC’s child
protection system
Migrant Services
Program
• Assumes legal and financial responsibility for all
unaccompanied minor children entering BC
• Coordinates specialized services:
legal guardianship
housing
education
health care
legal representation
Ministry of Children & Family
Development
• Mandated to ensure the safety and well being of
BC’s children and youth
• Over 9000 children in MCFD care at any one
time
• 4000 employees providing child protection,
guardianship, mental health and youth justice
services
Human Trafficking Response
Initiative
• Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General lead
• Extensive network of community agencies
• Provincial ministries
• Federal jurisdictions
• Law enforcement
Referrals in
Health Care
▪ CIC / CBSA
▪ NGOs ▪ VictimLINK ▪ Law Enforcement
▪ Provincial Government
Community Based Health
Care Providers
Safe Houses / Transition
Houses / NGOs
Vancouver Health
Authority/Bridge Clinic
Legal Assistance
Legal Aid
Advisory Group
Service Providers
Funders / VictimLINK
Law Enforcement
Housing
Lead Agency
Overall Care Coordination
Trafficked
Person
Emergency
Income
Ministry of Employment
and Income Assistance
Trauma
Counselling/
Victims Assistance
NGOs
Human Trafficking References
Guide to the New UN Trafficking Protocol
http://action.web.ca/home/catw/attach/un_protocol.pdf
WHO Ethical and Safety Recommendations for Interviewing Trafficked Women
http://www.who.int/gender/documents/en/final%20recommendations%2023%20oct.
pdf
U.S. State Department Trafficking in Persons Report – June 2005
http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/47255.pdf
Look Beneath The Surface: Community Responses to Human Trafficking in Persons: A
Gender Rights Perspective, Briefing Kit
http://www.unifem-eseasia.org/resources/others/traffkit.pdf
Independent Evaluation Unit: Evaluation of the Global Programme Against Trafficking in
Human Beings
http://www.unodc.org/pdf/Evaluation_04-Trafficking.pdf
THANK YOU
BC’s Human Trafficking
Response