Trafficking Bulletin Issue No. 25 - September 2016

In this issue: Ontario launches anti-human trafficking strategy, National Inquiry on MMIW begins, CCR webinar resources on identifying trafficking, U.S. Trafficking in Persons Report calls on Canada step up, and more...

Issue No. 25 - SEPTEMBER 2016


 

Policy developments on trafficking

Ontario launches strategy on human trafficking
On June 30, 2016, the Ontario government announced a $72 million anti-human trafficking strategy focusing on four areas of action:
  • Prevention and Community Supports to increase awareness of human trafficking, improve community services like housing, mental health services, trauma counseling, and job skills training for survivors.
  • Enhanced Justice Sector Initiatives to support the identification, investigation and prosecution of human trafficking.  
  • Indigenous-Led Approaches that will support culturally relevant services and responses –designed, developed, and delivered together with Indigenous partners.
  • Provincial Coordination and Leadership, including the development of a provincial Anti-Human Trafficking Coordination Office to help improve collaboration across law enforcement, justice, social, health, education, and child welfare sectors. 
Background Information: Strategy to End Human Trafficking - Overview of Initiatives

National Inquiry on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls launched

In August 2016, the federal government announced a national inquiry to investigate the systemic causes behind the violence that Indigenous women and girls experience and their greater vulnerability to that violence. Starting September 1, the independent inquiry will be overseen by a five-member panel, led by Marion Buller, British Columbia's first female First Nations judge. With a budget of $53.86 million, the commission is expected to complete its mandate by the end of 2018. In parallel, the government also announced $16.17 million over four years to create family information liaison units in each province and territory, and to increase funding for culturally appropriate victims' services. Families will be able to take their questions regarding their individual cases and petition police and other institutions for answers.
 
For more information:
Government of Canada Names Commissioners for National Inquiry Into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls
 

Resources & announcements

CCR webinar series - Identifying and Assessing Human Trafficking: A National Tool
In collaboration with Legal Assistance of Windsor, the Canadian Council for Refugees organized a two-part webinar series on how the National Human Trafficking Assessment Tool can be used by first-contact service providers across the country in order to identify and respond to situations of human trafficking. Part One looked at how the tool can help build a coordinated national response to trafficking, provide evidence for best practice, and foster advocacy strategies to protect trafficked persons in Canada. Part Two of the webinar series demonstrated how to use the tool using real-life scenarios, and provided best practices on the interview process with clients.
 
The presentation slides and recordings from this webinar series are available here. Thanks to Shelley Gilbert, Coordinator of Social Work Services, Legal Assistance of Windsor for presenting both webinars.
 
New training - Human Trafficking: Increasing our Community’s Capacity to Respond through Legal Education
The Coalition Assisting Trafficked Individuals (CATI) has created training materials on human trafficking for social service workers and non-traditional service providers. The materials include a legal training manual, a guide for the hospitality sector and resource sheets (available in English, Spanish and Vietnamese) for taxi drivers, agricultural workers, nail salon employees, and women.

New tool - Without Consent: Strategies for Identifying and Managing Risk in Cases of Forced Marriage
The Multilingual Orientation Service Association for Immigrant Communities (MOSAIC) and the Ending Violence Association of British Columbia (EVA BC) have launched a tool for assessing risks in forced marriages.

Website: http://www.endforcedmarriages.ca/

New housing program for survivors of trafficking in Canada
A new community-based transition house in Toronto opened its doors in August. Aurora House provides support services to individuals who have been trafficked and exploited in Canada.
 
Built on an anti-oppression framework, Aurora House can support:
  • People who have been trafficked in Canada
  • Immigrants, newcomers or refugees
  • Men, women, LGBTQ or families
  • People who do not require high security (those not being pursued by a trafficker)
  • Those willing to enter into a supportive transitional plan
Publications
2016 Trafficking in Persons Report 
The U.S. Department of State’s Trafficking in Persons Report analyses how well 180 countries around the globe protect trafficked persons as well as prosecute and prevent trafficking. The latest report focuses on prevention strategies, and rates how well countries meet international standards for the elimination of trafficking. Canada is considered a Tier 1 country. This year’s report recommends Canada steps up its efforts to investigate human trafficking, especially forced labour.

Visit the report page to view or download the full report, the Country Narratives with recommendations for each country, or Fact Sheets. The Canada Report is available here.
 
Report on 2016 National Forum on Human Trafficking hosted by Public Safety Canada & Canadian Women’s Foundation
Public Safety Canada has released its report on the National Forum on Human Trafficking, a two day event co-hosted by Public Safety Canada and the Canadian Women’s Foundation. This event falls under Canada’s National Action Plan to Combat Human Trafficking established to coordinate the Federal Government’s anti-human trafficking work. The four-year plan was launched in 2012 and comes to an end this year.
 

Trafficking-related events

Canadian Women’s Foundation webinar on promising practices in housing for trafficked women
The Canadian Women’s Foundation invites you to register for its upcoming webinar on Adapting Housing Services to Meet Trafficked Persons’ Needs.

When: Wednesday, September 28, 2016 at 1pm EDT

Presenters: Julie Neubauer, Covenant House Toronto and Krystal Snider, YWCA Niagara Region

Click here to register:
 


 

 In the news

  • Quebec: Quebec's undocumented children have right to education, activists say, CBC News, 28 August 2016 – http://bit.ly/2cy9zCI
     
  • Quebec: Opinion: Quebec's sex education curriculum should warn against sex trafficking, Montreal Gazette, 14 July 2016 – http://bit.ly/2cQE46d
     
  • Ontario: Halton police praise Province's $72 million anti-human trafficking strategy, Inside Halton, 19 July 2016 – http://bit.ly/2cAEfBr
     
  • Ontario: Girls younger than 18, members of LGBT community 'at high risk of being recruited', Orillia Packet, 13 July 2016 – http://bit.ly/29PbH9G
     
  • Ontario: City asked to act on human trafficking, The Nugget, 10 July 2016 – http://bit.ly/2a2F32g
     
  • Ontario: Fighting human trafficking, CHCH News, 30 June 2016 – http://bit.ly/2cqnZJ7
     
  • Ontario: Ontario unveils $72-million plan to fight human trafficking, The Globe and Mail, 30 June 2016 – http://bit.ly/29bXVJO
     
  • Ontario: Human trafficking can happen to any child, Cochrane Times, 29 June 2016 – http://bit.ly/2czK85f
     
  • Ontario: Human trafficking charge against woman withdrawn, Toronto Sun, 29 June 2016 – http://bit.ly/295gm3a
     
  • Alberta: Edward Downey, charged in death of Taliyah Marsman, has Halifax ties – CBC News, 15 July 2016 – http://bit.ly/29KGfZk
     
  • Alberta: Action needed on forced labour in Alberta: Group – Metro (Edmonton), 7 July 2016 – http://bit.ly/29kFR0R
     
  • Canada: Marion Buller, B.C. First Nations judge, to lead MMIW inquiry, CBC News, 3 August 2016 – http://bit.ly/2auWvRu
     
  • Canada: Launch of MMIW inquiry 'surreal,' NDP MLA Nahanni Fontaine says, CBC News, 5 August 2016 – http://bit.ly/2cXPpWB
     
  • Canada: 25% of Canada's human trafficking victims are minors: Statistics Canada, Global News, 19 July 2016 – http://bit.ly/29U4Mhz
     
  • Canada: Not All Tourism Is Good For Canadians, Huffington Post, 22 June 2016 – http://huff.to/2ctR4jt
     
  • International: Labor Trafficking and Sex Trafficking: Equally Critical, Unequally Prioritized, Human Rights First, 18 July 2016 –  http://bit.ly/2cgWQFD
     
  • International: Amnesty International releases policy on sex work, rejects Nordic model, rabble.ca, 1 June 2016 – http://bit.ly/2cQHUw1