Involves the recruitment, transportation or harbouring of unwilling people through the use of force, coercion or other means, for the purpose of sexual exploitation. MODERN DAY SLAVERYSex

Many people think human trafficking only occurs in places like Thailand, Cambodia and India.

News Local Enslaved in our own backyard Tanya Hvilivitzky and Carolyn MullinTuesday, May 29, 201217-year-old “Eve” escaped her captor and called police after 2 ½ years of sexual slavery.She led them to a 14-year-old, also a sexual slave.Led to Canada’s first human trafficking conviction—a 26-year-old Niagara Falls man.

16-year-old girl escaped from a motel in Niagara FallsShe had been FORCED to work as a prostitute.

SHE WAS FORCED to have sex with strangersSHE WAS FORCED to give her earnings to her captors, a 23-year-old woman from St. Catharines and her boyfriend

INTERNATIONAL PORNOGRAPHY RING400 children were rescued 348 adults arrested for child pornographyToronto Police Service Child Exploitation Unit identified an entire child movie production and distribution company in Torontosold and distributed hundreds of thousands of images and videos of “horrific sexual acts against very young children”, to over 50 countries.50 arrested were from Ontario

Jessie FosterCanadian missing since 2006The RCMP estimate that 2,000 victims are trafficked into the United States each year

1,000s

INTERNATIONAL RECRUITSThe RCMP estimates that 600-800 persons are trafficked into Canada annually

75 – 80% are

Shae Invidiata, founder of Free-Them, an anti-human trafficking advocacy group, says, “The Golden Horseshoe of Ontario is notorious for trafficking in Canada. “Southwestern Ontario accounts for 75%

Niagara Falls a major link12 million people visit per yearMore strip clubs per capita than TorontoCasino Border town

“Niagara is part of an established circuit between the East Coast, Montreal, the GTA and beyond,” says Niagara Region Police Supt. Cliff Sexton.

Criminal Intelligence Service Canada estimates280,000 annually from each victim A woman can be bought for only $2,0001 victim will bring in between $2,000-$5,000/day

SUPPLY and DEMANDNiagara listings on Backpage, Craigslist and other review boards selling girls to 100s, if not 1,000s of men daily.

Recruitment: Schools, malls, bus stops, train stations, airports, fast food restaurants, youth facilities, the internet, ads for foreign jobs

VICTIMS: Poor, broken homes, middle-class, daughters of lawyers, doctors & police officersMissing childrenAboriginalsAs young as 12 years old2008 brief by Criminal Intelligence Service Canada

The process involves:Compliments, attention, “love” gifts, promise of job, isolation, Coercion, ‘you owe me’ , forced labour, transport, violence, abuse……

FactsNo voiceSTDForced abortionsAddictionsBeaten, rapedThreatened loved onesDepressionPost traumatic stressNightmares

What Can

WHAT WILL WE DO TODAY to Stop IT1. Raise Awareness/Speak Up2. Call for Change (Free Them)3. Help the Heroes4. Let Your Dollars Talk

WHAT WILL WE DO TODAY TOSTOP HUMAN TRAFFICKINGSponsor a child in a high-risk areaReach out to migrant workers in the areaCommit to a 5 week prayer, study or book club groupPray

Signs to look for: Bruises, age, don’t know area, no ID, watched, afraid, communal living, distrust police, older boyfriend9. Report Concerns: Crime Stoppers Police Victim Services