Policy developments on trafficking

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.