In this issue: Call out to service providers on national human trafficking assessment tool, OCTIP Community Toolkit, ACT Alberta myth-busting infographic, National Action Plan Annual Report on Progress, and more…
Issue No. 19 - July 2015
E-BULLETIN CONTENTS
Important policy developments on trafficking
Bill C-452 Receives Royal Assent, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (exploitation and trafficking in persons)
On 18 June, Bill C-452 received Royal Assent. This bill amends the Criminal Code pertaining to exploitation and trafficking in persons by:
Some responses to the Bill:
Canadian Bar Association:
Comité d'action contre la traite humaine interne et internationale (CATHII), May 2013: http://bit.ly/1NuzQfw.
Bill S-7 Receives Royal Assent
On 18 June, Bill S-7 received Royal Assent amending the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA), the Civil Marriage Act and Criminal Code.
A summary of the provisions of the bill and some responses are available in our previous bulletin.
For further information about the bill, please visit: http://bit.ly/1JE672q.
On 18 June, Bill C-452 received Royal Assent. This bill amends the Criminal Code pertaining to exploitation and trafficking in persons by:
- Creating a rebuttable presumption of guilt of control and exploitation, against a person that “lives with or is habitually in the company of a person who is exploited” but who is not themselves exploited (section 279.01);
- Providing consecutive sentences for offences related to trafficking in persons (section 279.05);
- Adding trafficking in persons to the list of offences to which the forfeiture of proceeds of crime apply.
Some responses to the Bill:
Canadian Bar Association:
- Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs, 25 February 2015: http://bit.ly/1QZZGyh.
- Comments on the bill, 8 December 2015: http://bit.ly/1SYGLkS.
Comité d'action contre la traite humaine interne et internationale (CATHII), May 2013: http://bit.ly/1NuzQfw.
Bill S-7 Receives Royal Assent
On 18 June, Bill S-7 received Royal Assent amending the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA), the Civil Marriage Act and Criminal Code.
A summary of the provisions of the bill and some responses are available in our previous bulletin.
For further information about the bill, please visit: http://bit.ly/1JE672q.
National Human Trafficking Assessment Tool: Call out to service providers across Canada
The CCR is working to develop a national human trafficking assessment tool and is asking for the collaboration of service providers working directly with persons who have been trafficked to privately share their experience regarding any guidelines or tools, formal or informal, which have been useful in their everyday work to assess, identify and respond to possible situations of trafficking.
The CCR has received extensive feedback from NGOs and service providers working to support trafficked persons across regions regarding the need for such a tool on a national scale that can help guide first-contact service providers in identifying and responding to situations of human trafficking. The CCR is working closely with Legal Assistance of Windsor/WEFIGHT (Windsor-Essex Fights the International Growth of Human Trafficking) and the University of Windsor, School of Social Work in the creation of this tool.
In order to develop a useful and applicable national resource, the CCR seeks to gather this information so as to determine the most common guiding points and best practices employed by first-contact workers across Canada. We recognize that organizations and service providers face different local realities and will remain sensitive to this in developing this tool.
For questions and to share information, please contact Samanta García-Fialdini at sgarcia@ccrweb.ca or 514-277-7223 ext. 6.
OCTIP Community Toolkit to Address Human Trafficking
The Office to Combat Trafficking in Persons (OCTIP) in British Columbia has released a Community Toolkit to Address Human Trafficking. The toolkit aims to support communities to take action at the local level to raise awareness and prevent human trafficking. The toolkit is meant to be used by anyone who would like to take action in their community. It provides practical information and specific examples of how B.C. communities are addressing this issue, including community action stories.
The OCTIP Community Toolkit is available online: http://www.pssg.gov.bc.ca/octiptraining/toolkit/index.html.
ACT Alberta Infographic: Human Trafficking in Alberta: Myths vs Realities
Human trafficking is an issue that is receiving increased attention from government, media, law enforcement, and service providers. But unfortunately, the discourse on human trafficking tends to sensationalize and misrepresent its local reality.
In recognition of National Victims of Crime Awareness Week, ACT Alberta has created a myth-busting infographic to challenge and correct the misconceptions about human trafficking in Alberta.
The infographic is available online at: http://ccrweb.ca/en/actalberta-infographic-mythbusting.
Learning Module Human Trafficking: Help Don’t Hinder for Emergency Health Care Providers and Video
Fraser Health Forensic Nursing Service Program has launched a 1-hour online learning module called Human Trafficking: Help Don’t Hinder for Emergency Health Care Providers. This training is the first of its kind for health care providers in Canada and is publically available online:
For more information or questions about the online learning module, please contact the Human Trafficking Team at Surrey Memorial Hospital, at ForensicNursingService@fraserhealth.ca or 1-604-953-4723.
The CCR is working to develop a national human trafficking assessment tool and is asking for the collaboration of service providers working directly with persons who have been trafficked to privately share their experience regarding any guidelines or tools, formal or informal, which have been useful in their everyday work to assess, identify and respond to possible situations of trafficking.The CCR has received extensive feedback from NGOs and service providers working to support trafficked persons across regions regarding the need for such a tool on a national scale that can help guide first-contact service providers in identifying and responding to situations of human trafficking. The CCR is working closely with Legal Assistance of Windsor/WEFIGHT (Windsor-Essex Fights the International Growth of Human Trafficking) and the University of Windsor, School of Social Work in the creation of this tool.
In order to develop a useful and applicable national resource, the CCR seeks to gather this information so as to determine the most common guiding points and best practices employed by first-contact workers across Canada. We recognize that organizations and service providers face different local realities and will remain sensitive to this in developing this tool.
For questions and to share information, please contact Samanta García-Fialdini at sgarcia@ccrweb.ca or 514-277-7223 ext. 6.
OCTIP Community Toolkit to Address Human Trafficking
The Office to Combat Trafficking in Persons (OCTIP) in British Columbia has released a Community Toolkit to Address Human Trafficking. The toolkit aims to support communities to take action at the local level to raise awareness and prevent human trafficking. The toolkit is meant to be used by anyone who would like to take action in their community. It provides practical information and specific examples of how B.C. communities are addressing this issue, including community action stories.The OCTIP Community Toolkit is available online: http://www.pssg.gov.bc.ca/octiptraining/toolkit/index.html.
ACT Alberta Infographic: Human Trafficking in Alberta: Myths vs Realities
Human trafficking is an issue that is receiving increased attention from government, media, law enforcement, and service providers. But unfortunately, the discourse on human trafficking tends to sensationalize and misrepresent its local reality.In recognition of National Victims of Crime Awareness Week, ACT Alberta has created a myth-busting infographic to challenge and correct the misconceptions about human trafficking in Alberta.
The infographic is available online at: http://ccrweb.ca/en/actalberta-infographic-mythbusting.
Learning Module Human Trafficking: Help Don’t Hinder for Emergency Health Care Providers and Video
Fraser Health Forensic Nursing Service Program has launched a 1-hour online learning module called Human Trafficking: Help Don’t Hinder for Emergency Health Care Providers. This training is the first of its kind for health care providers in Canada and is publically available online:
- Module for British Columbia Health Care Providers: https://ccrs.vch.ca/Catalog.aspx?cid=4379
- Module for health care and other service providers outside of B.C.: https://learninghub.phsa.ca/Courses/6427/human-trafficking-help-dont-hinder.
For more information or questions about the online learning module, please contact the Human Trafficking Team at Surrey Memorial Hospital, at ForensicNursingService@fraserhealth.ca or 1-604-953-4723.
Reports and media
National Action Plan to Combat Human Trafficking - 2013-2014 Annual Report on Progress
On 8 May, the Minister of Public Safety announced the release of the annual report on the efforts carried out as part of the National Action Plan to Combat Human Trafficking between 2013 and 2014.
The report is available at: http://bit.ly/1L3TT6Q.
Media Reports
Alberta
Red Deer pair charged with human trafficking face labour law offences, CBC News, 4 June 2015: http://bit.ly/1Cdty3P.
Red Deer couple charged with human trafficking at central Alberta hotel, Global News, 17 April 2015: http://bit.ly/1yOkFMb.
Harsh treatment of workers by Red Deer motel operators results in human trafficking charges, Calgary Sun, 17 April 2015: http://bit.ly/1GQLRbj.
British Columbia
Allegations denied in civil forfeiture suit tied to West Vancouver human trafficking case, Vancouver Sun, 17 April 2015: http://bit.ly/1LKqVsY.
Manitoba
Winnipeg girl, 17, trafficked for sex, CBC News, 11 June 2015: http://bit.ly/1LKqxuF.
Nova Scotia
Human trafficking victims need more services in Halifax, advocates say, CBC News, 23 April 2015: http://bit.ly/1NziNsS.
Trial in alleged human trafficking set for November, Herald News, 17 April 2015: http://bit.ly/1cVKX56.
Ontario
Guelph Police involved in human trafficking crackdown, Guelph Mercury, 25 June 2015: http://bit.ly/1CNb1Gc.
Man charged with human trafficking (Sudbury), The Sudbury Star, 25 June 2015: http://bit.ly/1f5lsQq.
4 teens in Ottawa found as victims in Ontario human trafficking ring, CBC News, 24 June 2015: http://bit.ly/1HytnQC.
2 charged with 41 offences in Ontario-wide human-trafficking probe, CTV News, 24 June 2015: http://bit.ly/1H3xYZw.
Markham woman charged in human trafficking investigation, CTV News, 12 June 2015: http://bit.ly/1GRaIuN.
Sex workers further victimized by deportations, groups say, CBC News, 11 May 2015: http://bit.ly/1LX45eT.
Man arrested for allegedly forcing underage girl into sex trade, Global News, 22 April 2015: http://bit.ly/1bvT8oq.
From dating to domestic human trafficking: one woman's story, CBC News, 17 April 2015: http://bit.ly/1JquDna.
Hamilton human trafficking kingpin Domotor deported to Hungary, CBC Hamilton, 15 April 2015: http://bit.ly/1b0PQZs.
On 8 May, the Minister of Public Safety announced the release of the annual report on the efforts carried out as part of the National Action Plan to Combat Human Trafficking between 2013 and 2014.
The report is available at: http://bit.ly/1L3TT6Q.
Media Reports
Alberta
Red Deer pair charged with human trafficking face labour law offences, CBC News, 4 June 2015: http://bit.ly/1Cdty3P.
Red Deer couple charged with human trafficking at central Alberta hotel, Global News, 17 April 2015: http://bit.ly/1yOkFMb.
Harsh treatment of workers by Red Deer motel operators results in human trafficking charges, Calgary Sun, 17 April 2015: http://bit.ly/1GQLRbj.
British Columbia
Allegations denied in civil forfeiture suit tied to West Vancouver human trafficking case, Vancouver Sun, 17 April 2015: http://bit.ly/1LKqVsY.
Manitoba
Winnipeg girl, 17, trafficked for sex, CBC News, 11 June 2015: http://bit.ly/1LKqxuF.
Nova Scotia
Human trafficking victims need more services in Halifax, advocates say, CBC News, 23 April 2015: http://bit.ly/1NziNsS.
Trial in alleged human trafficking set for November, Herald News, 17 April 2015: http://bit.ly/1cVKX56.
Ontario
Guelph Police involved in human trafficking crackdown, Guelph Mercury, 25 June 2015: http://bit.ly/1CNb1Gc.
Man charged with human trafficking (Sudbury), The Sudbury Star, 25 June 2015: http://bit.ly/1f5lsQq.
4 teens in Ottawa found as victims in Ontario human trafficking ring, CBC News, 24 June 2015: http://bit.ly/1HytnQC.
2 charged with 41 offences in Ontario-wide human-trafficking probe, CTV News, 24 June 2015: http://bit.ly/1H3xYZw.
Markham woman charged in human trafficking investigation, CTV News, 12 June 2015: http://bit.ly/1GRaIuN.
Sex workers further victimized by deportations, groups say, CBC News, 11 May 2015: http://bit.ly/1LX45eT.
Man arrested for allegedly forcing underage girl into sex trade, Global News, 22 April 2015: http://bit.ly/1bvT8oq.
From dating to domestic human trafficking: one woman's story, CBC News, 17 April 2015: http://bit.ly/1JquDna.
Hamilton human trafficking kingpin Domotor deported to Hungary, CBC Hamilton, 15 April 2015: http://bit.ly/1b0PQZs.
Trafficking-related events
Ride for Refuge Events across Canada, 3 October 2015
Organizations across Canada will take part in Ride for Refuge events on 3 October. Ride for Refuge is a family-friendly cycling fundraiser partnering with 175+ charities to raise operating funding for their work with the displaced, vulnerable and exploited.For a list of organizations to support, please visit: https://rideforrefuge.org/charities. Locations are also available at: https://rideforrefuge.org/locations.
For more information about how to join or organize an event, please visit: http://rideforrefuge.org.
International developments
Articles: Anti-Trafficking Review No 4 (2015): Fifteen Years of the UN Trafficking Protocol
In recognition of the 15th anniversary of the UN Protocol to Prevent, Suppress, and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, this issue of the Anti-Trafficking Review examines through a number of contributions the impact that the Trafficking Protocol has had on addressing trafficking internationally. The articles also offer different perspectives around the ways in which the Trafficking Protocol could be more useful for trafficked persons in the following decades, as they are affected by anti-trafficking policies, and also review legal frameworks around trafficking.
The issue is available at: http://www.antitraffickingreview.org/index.php/atrjournal