Human Trafficking Awareness Day, 2024

Submitted by Melyssa Kerr, Manager, Student Rights and Responsibilities

Human Trafficking Awareness Day is observed this year on Thursday February 22 and the Student Rights and Responsibilities Office will be hosting programming on Human Trafficking, as well as providing resources to the campus community. Further details will be posted through the URSLC platform. 

The Government of Canada defines human trafficking as the “recruitment, transportation or harbouring of a person, including controlling or influencing their movements, with the goal of exploiting, or facilitating the exploitation of, a person.” This can take many forms, including sex trafficking, forced labour, and domestic servitude.  

It is important to understand that trafficking does not necessarily involve moving an individual from one place to another; it can occur within city limits. Human trafficking is therefore difficult to detect due to its complex nature, as well as the coercion or shame involved that prevents survivors from coming forward.  Traffickers often target a person who may already be vulnerable through exploitation of their race, ability, immigration status, age, and sexuality.  
 
Traffickers are known to use manipulation as a means of maintaining control over their victims. This can include beginning a relationship through gifting expensive items or compliments, but can quickly turn to emotional abuse, addiction dependency, threats, or violence. Though a large majority of traffickers are male, they may use past female victims as a method of luring or recruiting new victims.

In 2023, Statistics Canada reported that:

-Ontario accounted for 67% of human trafficking cases 
-One third of victims were trafficked by an intimate partner 
-82% of cases were reported in census metropolitan areas (CMAs) 
-The number of police-reported human trafficking cases increased by 7% since 2020
-43% of victims were between the ages of 18-24, from 2012-2022 
-82% of accused traffickers are male

According to the Canadian Human Trafficking Hotline, some signs that a person may be being trafficked include:  

-Withdrawing from friends and family, or frequent absences from home, school, and work 
-Being secretive about a new friend or boyfriend
-Having unexplained gifts or expensive items, and/or drastic changes to their appearance 
-Not having money even when they say they are working constantly
-Not having possession of their identification documents
-Visible signs of abuse (cuts, bruises, burns, etc.) and fatigue 
-Substance abuse 

For more information on human trafficking and resources, please see the links below:  

Canadian Human Trafficking Hotline 
Government of Canada - Human Trafficking 
Canadian Centre to End Human Trafficking 

Campus Supports: 

SLC Student Rights and Responsibilities Office Tri-Campus: srro@sl.on.ca 
SLC Wellness and Accessibility Tri-Campus: wellness@sl.on.ca 

Community Supports 

Sexual Assault Centre Kingston 
Kingston Interval House 
Assault Response & Care Centre of Leeds and Grenville 
Sexual Assault Support Services - Stormont, Dundas, Glengarry and Akwesasne