Listening and learning more about what can be done to combat human trafficking locally was the focus of a webinar hosted by the Hastings Prince Edward United Way.
United Way HPE Executive Director Brandi Hodge says human trafficking was first discussed a couple of years ago by their Women United group as a priority issue but they needed to learn more about the topic.
Hodge says their first step is to listen and learn which is where the webinar held this morning (Thursday) came in.
Keynote speaker Simone Bell, support specialist with the Ottawa Police Service is a survivor herself.
While Bell didn’t share many details of her own story, she says it is quite simple for a trafficker to get a hold of their victim after finding out a few basic things about their victim.
She said victims suffer from emotional, sexual, and physical abuse while being trafficked. Traffickers also limit family contact and control the victim’s finances creating an environment of dependency.
Bell says victims are not freed from human trafficking once they get out of that life because they have anxiety, substance abuse, depression, suicidal behaviors and other forms of post-traumatic responses.
Detective Cst. Tracy Tucker of the OPP Anti-Human Trafficking Unit provided some statistics during the webinar and said Ontario is the hub for trafficking.
A screenshot taken from the presentation by Dectective Cst. Tracy Tucker of the OPP Anti-Human Trafficking Unit during the United Way HPE’s Human Trafficking webinar on July 30, 2021.
She says human trafficking has exploded and of those trafficked, 1.2 million are children with the average age being between 13 and 25. She noted the 400 series highways are called corridors and are a major focal point for police investigation.
Tucker stressed that social media is a huge part of human trafficking and parents need to know who their kids are talking to.
“Youth find it very easy to talk about things when they are not face to face,” she said.
Some other statistics Tucker provided include:
- there were 551 people trafficked in Ontario between January 1, 2011 and December 31, 2013 (Tucker stated that number is much higher now)
- the average age is 17 with most victims being female
- the average annual financial gain is $280,000 for traffickers (higher if the victim is under 18)
- 50% of women are Indigenous and at a higher risk of being trafficked
The OPP Anti-Human Trafficking Unit says a social media campaign reached 180,000 people and was viewed over 97,000 times in 10 days.
Tucker says their unit focuses on sexual trafficking, labour trafficking and organ trafficking.
Hodge says says while the data in Canada is old and outdated they know it is a problem that is increasing.
“The information we received today is overwhelming and just goes to show how little we know about this issue,” she said in closing.
Hodge says they will use the expertise provided at the webinar to determine their role and responsibilities to strategize as a group to identify how Women United will move forward to advance the work against human trafficking in the region.
