Human Trafficking Modern Day Slavery in Canada
Maria’s Story (“Happening”) • “My name is Maria and I am 24 years old. I have been raped, beaten, sold, cut with knives and threatened. I have scars and I am depressed.”
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United Nations Definition • “the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harboring or receipt of persons […] for the purpose of exploitation” (“Human Trafficking”) • exploitation includes: prostitution, labor, and removal of organs (“Human Trafficking”)
Human Smuggling vs. Human Trafficking • Important to distinguish difference between two terms • Smuggling: “illegal migration” (“I’m Not for Sale”), “voluntary business transaction” (“I’m Not for Sale”) • Trafficking: exploitation, threat, “relationship between trafficker and victim does not end upon arrival at destination” (“I’m Not for Sale”)
Modern Day Slavery • Slavery was abolished in 1807 (“Re-abolish”) • More people are trapped in modern day slavery than there were in 400 years of the Transatlantic Slave Trade (“Happening”) • Today there are around 27 million slaves • 250,000 of these slaves live in North America (“Re-abolish”) • Sometimes the victim is unaware that they are being exploited (“I’m Not for Sale”) • 80% of victims are women and 15-20% are children (“Blue Heart”) • 80% of victims are forced into the sex trade (“Blue Heart”)
An Expanding Crime • Human Trafficking is the third largest crime industry worldwide (“Happening”) • Growing at a faster rate than both the drug industry (1st largest crime) and the illegal weapons industry (2nd largest crime) (“Happening”) • UN estimates the slave trade to be worth $32 billion US (“Blue Heart”) • Every country is affected by human trafficking: as a country of origin, country of transportation, or a final destination (“Blue Heart”)
Human Trafficking in Canada • SLAVERY EXISTS IN CANADA • Due to a lack of proper punishment for traffickers, Canada is a popular spot for importing slaves • 800 people shipped annually to Canada to be sold as slaves (Perrin par.18) • 600 of these will become sex slaves (Perrin par.18) • 2,200 slaves transported through Canada to United States per year (“I’m Not for Sale”) • Advertising on Craigslist (Perrin 73) • Recently RCMP have been arresting traffickers in Red Deer (Drummond)
Where are victims found? • Bars/clubs • Modeling studios • Massage parlors • Escort services • Shelters • Internet • Restaurants • Factories • Commercial agriculture • Criminal organizations (ex. marijuana industry) • Construction
How does someone become a slave? • Deceived by promises of: • An education • A better job • Lots of money • Freedom from their current situation • Help bringing money to their family • Hope for the future • Tricked by boyfriend, friend, etc.
How can you recognize a victim? • Is the money earned going into their own bank account? • Do they want to do the work? • Are they in control of their travel/identification documents? • Do they have the freedom to go where they want? • Do they speak only a foreign language? • Are they unaware of their local surroundings despite having been in the area for a long time? • Are they afraid? • Do they have signs of abuse or malnourishment? • Are they often accompanied by the trafficker?
Escape • Escaping is difficult due to: • Not is possession of passport • Speak foreign language • Family is threatened • Not willing to admit they are being trafficked • Taught to distrust other people, especially police • Illegal immigrants • Do not want to return to country of origin • Unaware of their rights
How can it be stopped? • Summary of Joy Smith’s Recommendations (Bill C-268) • I-Change immigration regulations • II- Address trafficking of First Nations people • III- Promote regional and international programs to fight human trafficking • V- Regulate the international travel of convicted Canadian child sex offenders • VI- Awareness campaigns • VII- Fund NGOs to provide guidance and shelter for victims • XII- Educate judges, prosecutors, and law enforcement about human trafficking • Benjamin Perrin’s Research (Perrin 179-196) • John Schools • Awareness • Educate target communities ex. First Nations • More legal action • Prevent child sex offenders from travelling abroad
Current Laws in Canada • Bill C-49- An Act to amend the Criminal Code November 25, 2005. • Three offenses: • 279.01- Trafficking in Persons • 279.02- Material Benefit • 279.03- Withholding or Destroying Documents • Other related crimes: kidnapping, assault, forcible confinement, etc. • Immigration and Refugee Protection Act Trafficking Offence (Section 118) • Joy Smith- Bill C-268 June 29,2010. • First reading January 29,2009. Remarkable amount of time for a bill to become approved • Changed the minimum sentence from two years to five years for trafficking a minor in Canada
Magdalene House- Red Deer • Magdalene House Society- established May 22, 2009. • Became Charitable Non-profit Society March 3, 2010. • Dedicated to creating a shelter for trafficked persons in Red Deer • Supported by Earl Dreeshen, brought up society at House of Commons • House will offer shelter, medical, legal, and psychological help • Also help illegal immigrants apply for temporary residence and teach them about Canadian culture • (Bouchard)
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world.® Indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” • -Margaret Mead
Recent Action on Craigslist • http://www.canadianwomen.org/EN/section12/1_12_12-craigslist.html • Check the newspaper for constant updates on the fight against human trafficking
How I became involved with the abolitionist movement How my religion affects my involvement How my involvement affects my religion
Works Cited • “Blue Heart Campaign.” UNODC, 2010. Web. 16 November 2010. • Bouchard, David. “Magdalene House Society: Annual Meeting.” Magdalene House Society, Red Deer. 3 Nov. 2010. Lecture. • Drummond, Gary. “Re: Human Trafficking Awareness.” Message to the author. 3 Nov. 2010. E-mail. • Smith, Joy. “Human Trafficking: Bill C-268.” Joysmith.ca. 2010. Web. 16 November 2010. • “Human Trafficking: I’m Not for Sale.” Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Government of Canada, 22 February 2010. Web. 16 November 2010. • “It’s happening here.” Blue Blindfold. Crime Stoppers, n.d. Web. 16 November 2010. • “Not for Sale: Re-abolish Slavery.” Not for Sale. N.d. Web. 16 November 2010. • Perrin, Benjamin. Invisible Chains: Canada’s Underground World of Human Trafficking. Toronto: Penguin Group, 2010. Print. • “What is human trafficking?.” UN Gift. UNODC, 2010. Web. 16 November 2010. • Perrin, Benjamin. “The Slave Trade is Back: Confronting Human Trafficking in Canada and Beyond.” C2C. 4.2 (2010). Canada’s Journal of Ideas. Web. 26 October 2010.
