February 22nd marks Ontario’s second annual National Human Trafficking Awareness Day.
The threat of this crime is especially concerning for young women and girls, who are most often targeted.
Although anyone can be a victim, children and youth are among those at highest risk. The average age of recruitment into sex trafficking is just 13 years old.
Jane McKenna, Associate Minister of Children and Women’s Issues, and Sylvia Jones, Solicitor General, released the following statement on Human Trafficking Awareness Day:
“Human trafficking is one of the fastest growing crimes around the world. It’s a serious issue here at home that we must address as, sadly, the majority of police-reported incidents in Canada happen in Ontario.”
Ontario residents are encouraged to learn more about how trafficking happens, what the warning signs are and where to go for help. This is particularly important for parents, as well as children and youth, who may find themselves or someone they know being lured or groomed.
Here are the following resources:
- To find information on human trafficking, including how it happens, warning signs and where to get help, visit Ontario.ca/HumanTrafficking
- Call the Canadian human trafficking hotline: 1-833-900-1010 for support/to report a potential case or find services across Canada. It’s confidential, toll-free & open 24/7
- Talk 4 Healing offers Indigenous women help, support and resources 24/7, with services in 14 languages
- “The Trap” is an interactive online tool that teaches children and youth about human trafficking and equips them with the skills to stay safe
- “Speak Out: Stop Sex Trafficking” is an Indigenous-focused awareness campaign providing resources to help prevent the trafficking of Indigenous people
- Ontario’s anti-sex trafficking policy for school boards requires all provincially funded schools to have a plan, and have anti-human trafficking protocols in place to protect students
- Read Ontario’s Anti-Human Trafficking Strategy – the government’s five-year, $307-million action plan to combat this crime
Raising awareness is a critical first step in preventing this crime and helping survivors find the supports they need. That’s why it is a cornerstone of our government’s five-year Anti-Human Trafficking Strategy, which focuses on raising awareness of the issue, protecting victims and intervening early, supporting survivors and holding offenders accountable.
“While our province is leading the fight against human trafficking across the country, stopping it will take all of us working together. We hope Ontarians will take the opportunity today and moving forward to learn more about human trafficking. We can all play a part in preventing this vicious and violent crime and keeping those most vulnerable safe.”
