You could never be a victim of human trafficking, right? Random people showing up with white panel vans and kidnapping people in parking lots only happens in big cities. We’re safe here.

Human Trafficking is NOT what it seems. THIS is what domestic human trafficking ACTUALLY can look like (click link to view video).

The example above is ONE type of human trafficking – but the broader definition of human trafficking, and the type that is far more prevalent occurs when a person controls, manipulates and intimidates another person into providing sexual services where the money earned goes back to the trafficker (source: Greater Sudbury Police Service)

Human trafficking is a criminal offence that involves recruiting, transporting, or holding victims to exploit them or to help someone else exploit them, generally for sexual purposes or work. Traffickers get their victims to comply through different forms of force, coercion, threat, fraud or deception for the financial gain of the exploiter. (source: Government of Canada)

Domestic Sex Trafficking occurs when a person controls, manipulates and intimidates another person into providing sexual services where the money earned goes back to the trafficker.

It’s not just happening in foreign countries and sweat shops. In Greater Sudbury and much of Ontario, domestic sex trafficking is very common. Officers work around the clock to help victims escape these violent crimes and to bring offenders to justice. (source: Greater Sudbury Police)

Angels of Hope Against Human Trafficking (AOH) is a registered charity, providing long-term, bilingual support to Survivors of human trafficking and sexual exploitation of all ages and backgrounds. Founded in 2015, we strive to walk hand-in-hand with Survivors along the road to recovery, while additionally providing support, guidance, education, and counselling to their loved ones.

AOH offers counselling, case management, resources and community referrals, education, and peer support groups for Survivors in Northern Ontario, in a safe and inclusive environment, free of judgement.

All of their services are free and confidential. 

Did you know?

  • Traffickers can maintain control over a victim through physical or psychological, through manipulation, threats, and the abuse of trust and power.
  • Victims may be trafficked by someone they know: a former or current partner, family member, friend, co-worker, or boss
  • Many victims believe that they are in a relationship with their trafficker
  • Traffickers prey on people who demonstrate a lack of confidence as they believe these people can be more easily manipulated. More information on this below
  • In 2019, there was a marked increase in police-reported incidents and represented the highest number of cases since they started collecting this data in 2009, notably 511 police-reported incidents (a 44% increase over the previous year). Click link for source

  • 95% per cent of human trafficking victims are girls and women. (Stats Canada). Of those victims, 89 per cent are under the age of 35. Over 20 per cent are under the age of 18 and 43 per cent are between the ages of 18 to 24. One in three victims reported some kind of physical injury related to the incident. (click link for source)

  • Only 11% of victims were trafficked by a stranger, most are trafficked by someone they know (click link for source)
  • For 29% of victims, their trafficker was a friend or acquaintance (click link for source)
  • For 25% of victims, their trafficker was a current or former boyfriend or girlfriend (click link for source)Men make up 83% of the suspects in human trafficking cases and 65% are between the ages of 18 and 34 (click link for source)

How they do it:

Victims are often recruited through social media apps (i.e. Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat), fake job offers (modelling, acting), word of mouth, bars and clubs, restaurants, parties, malls and many other public places. In many cases, the trafficker will compliment the victim (i.e. “you are the most beautiful girl I’ve ever seen”); buy them expensive gifts; take them to parties; give them a lot of loving attention and initiate a sort of romantic relationship with the victim.

Once the victim is lured, the trafficker will:

  • Begin isolating the victim from their family and friends
  • Start putting the victim down and calling them names (psychological and emotional abuse)
  • Make the victim feel they need to repay all the gifts/money they were given
  • Begin asking the victim to do things they are not comfortable doing (i.e. sexual acts)
  • Threaten the victim and/or their family and friends if the victim does not concede
  • Confiscate the victim’s money, credit cards and identification
  • Force them to perform sexual acts on other people

Once the victim is trapped, the trafficker will begin arranging appointments for the victim to be sold for sex.

Click here for the signs that someone is being trafficked and to access additional resources from the Greater Sudbury Police.

AOH will operate with flexible hours, assisting clients during their time of need. Families of survivors will also be offered access to counselling services and resources available through Angels of Hope. Services will include workshops, mental health (trauma) and addictions counselling services, peer support, mentorship and support groups.

Angels of Hope strives to provide support to survivors of human trafficking and sexual exploitation of all backgrounds including 2SLGBTQ, in a safe and supportive environment.

Support Services Available through Angels of Hope Against Human Trafficking:

  • Ongoing long-term support to survivors of human trafficking and sexual exploitation;
  • Establishes and utilizes resources appropriately to best serve survivors;
  • To the best of its abilities, provides clients with support and guidance;
  • Provides comprehensive mental health (trauma) and addictions counselling services;
  • Provides a safe and secure environment for survivors of all backgrounds;
  • Acts as a referral service and connects survivors to the appropriate resources;
  • Promotes and encourages social inclusion;
  • Walks alongside survivors to help them find peace and healing

 

Know the signs. Be aware. Ask for help if you or someone you know is in trouble.

Resources:
Angels of Hope Against Human Trafficking

Greater Sudbury Police

Public Safety Canada

Filed under: KiSS Cares