National Human Trafficking Awareness Day
On February 22, 2007, the Canadian House of Commons passed a motion condemning the trafficking of persons and proclaiming February 22nd as National Human Trafficking Awareness Day. This day was designated to help bring awareness to the magnitude of modern-day slavery in Canada and abroad, and to encourage Canadians to take steps to combat human trafficking.
Human trafficking (sex, labour, and organ trafficking) involves recruiting, transporting, harbouring, or receiving a person, through the use of force, fraud, or coercion, for the purpose of exploitation. In the case of minors, any commercial sex act is trafficking, regardless of whether force, fraud, or coercion is involved. Exploitation can occur without trafficking.
Covenant House Vancouver has been engaged in a 32-month project to develop and implement intervention practices that will advance knowledge and enhance empowerment supports for youth age 16 to 24, who are at risk of, or are survivors of, exploitation and human trafficking, in Vancouver.
The project will result in a practice guide, tool kit, and training model, to support frontline staff and community partners, which will provide empowerment supports for trafficked youth.
Taking the time to learn about human trafficking can help protect yourself, your family, and your community from exploitation.
The Canadian Human Trafficking Hotline is a tool for learning about and reporting human trafficking: https://www.canadianhumantraffickinghotline.ca/.
Let us use February 22nd as a day to join together to build a network of awareness.