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TITLE Canada Slow To Recognize Human Slavery in Canada

Author A.V. Joe


On Tuesday September 7th 2010 three anti trafficking campaigns were launched. Pu
blic Safety Minister Vic Toews, Crime Stoppers and the RCMP launched a campaign
aimed to inform Canadians of human trafficking and how to recognize it. The publ
ic awareness campaign was launched on the success of Bill C-268 coming into law
on June 17 2010. The bill put forward by Manitoba MP Joy Smith's tireless lobbyi
ng to implement a five year minimum sentence for those convicted of human traffi
cking.
In response to Toews press conference, Benjamin Perrin, author of a forthcoming
book, entitled Invisible Chains, documenting the depth of the problem in Canada.
"These are small steps that are filling gaps, but really what is needed is a na
tional action plan." Echoing other critics, Perrin said a comprehensive plan mus
t involve better co-operation, co-ordination and training of law enforcement age
ncies to recognize trafficking and also provide more protection for victims, mos
t of whom are forced into the sex trade, so they have the courage to turn in the
ir abusers.
Victims, Profits and Justice
According to www.canadafightshumantrafficking.com, there are approximately 27 Mi
llion people world-wide presently enslaved. Human trafficking in Canada has beco
me epidemic as organized crime groups seek profits from the lightly prosecuted c
rime with millions of potential domestic and international victims. The Public S
afety Minister Vic Toews announcement does well to focus the attention on foreig
n victims brought to Canada and little mention of domestic victims. Understanda
bly, what political party wants awareness that slavery has targeted Canadian vic
tims for as few as two decades without any law making response or effort to reco
ver the victims? In 2005 Canada had no Criminal Code offence for human trafficki
ng. Prior to 2005 little recognition was given by the government on the issue an
d the police spent little time arresting criminals they could not prosecute.

Finding Victims and Those Responsible


Police officers looking for victims need to do more than drag a net along street
corners, for victims lie in motel rooms, massage parlours, escort agencies and
strip clubs. Vice officers in Peel have estimated that 90 per cent of exotic dan
cers in clubs across the Greater Toronto Area are trafficked. Craigslist has bee
n used to sell girls as young as 14. On September 4th 2010 Craigslist USA shut d
own their adult services section of their site after lobbying by the US law make
rs. Craigslist Canada continues to operate Erotic Services. Despite MP Joy Smith
s lobbying attempts, Canada's slow and uncoordinated effort to shut down highly
visible and public venues that solicit sex for money is almost nonexistent.
Who Is Involved With Slavery In Canada?

Retired Toronto Police Juvenile Task Force head Dave Perry â The Russian mafia runs g
irls, the Hells Angels runs girls. There's a lot of Asian human trafficking goin
g on, locally and from abroad. It's everywhere now.â According to Criminal Intellige
nce Services of Canada 2008 annual report "street gangs are active within the do
mestic TIP (trafficking in persons) market for the purposes of sexual exploitati
on. These groups facilitate the recruitment, control, movement and exploitation
of Canadian-born females in the domestic sex trade, primarily in strip bars in s
everal cities across the country."
Without tougher minimum sentencing and even a modest effort by police to shut do
wn strip clubs, massage parlours and sites soliciting escort services Canadians
will continue to be forced into prostitution. Victims can do little to avoid the
se street gangs and organized crime groups as they continue to find victims ever
ywhere. Facebook, coffee shops, hostiles and malls have all been used to find vi
ctims. Current and future victims only hope is that Public Safety Minister Toews
and the RCMP follow up with more than a public awareness campaign and come thro
ugh with a tough national plan to combat and deter crime groups from victimizing
Canadians in the first place.
Author: A.V. Joe. To <a href="http://www.canadiancrimestoppers.org/">report huma
n trafficking in Canada</a> call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477(TIPS). Do not
use a cell phone when calling as these calls could be monitored by scanners. Use
a secure land line number or text your message to CRIMES (274637). For immediat
e action call 911 or your local police department. For <a href="http://www.canad
iancrimestoppers.org/">help for people forced into prostitution in Canada</a> ca
ll or visit Crime Stoppers at http://www.canadiancrimestoppers.org.

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