Standing Up to Human Trafficking in Our Communities
Standing Up to Human Trafficking in Our Communities
Most Canadians are shocked to find out that human trafficking happens in Canada, and to Canadians. In fact, from 2009 to 2018, there was 1,708 human trafficking police reports, with 68% of cases occurring solely on Canadian soil. 97% of victims identify as women, and 92% of Survivors of trafficking knew their perpetrator, such as a friend, employer, and intimate partner (Source: Statistics Canada, 2018, Salvation Army, 2020).
In 2005, The Salvation Army saw the opportunity to stand up to trafficking and offer an innovative, life changing response. We opened the first high security safe house and rehabilitative live-in program, Deborah’s Gate. Named after Deborah, a female Hebrew judge in 1100BC, we live out her calling today in bringing healing, wholeness, and strong female leadership to our approaches. We then expanded to offer crisis outreach services in the community, registered mental health and addictions programming, life & living skills development, and specialized employment training, and are now considered the industry leader in Canada.
We also delivered 140 hours of registered curriculum and teaching for government, law enforcement, and service providers to build community awareness and skill to intervene in human trafficking at key contact points.
“Abatement is not a strategy we are interested in – only complete and total eradication of slavery in it’s modern day forms will do. We will not stop. We will not grow weary.”
Larissa Maxwell, Director, Anti-Human Trafficking Programs
July 30 is World Day Against Trafficking in Persons. What role do you have to play?
We suggest a few key ways you can join us in changing the script of the story, and stand up to trafficking;
1) Evaluate your purchases and consider becoming a more ethical consumer that can be part of preventing labour trafficking in exploitive supply chains: slaveryfootprint.com
2) Develop your growth and understanding of human trafficking by taking the Provincial Government’s free online training course: gov.bc.ca/gov/content/justice/criminal-justice/victims-of-crime/human-trafficking/human-trafficking-training
3) Share the parent toolkits with a parent you know to help them start the conversation about exploitation with their children: childrenofthestreet.com/support
4) Consider giving to our life changing anti-human trafficking programs, giving Survivors the opportunity to heal, recover, and grow, and crucial education and research for our communities to grow safer: deborahsgate.ca/ways-to-give
