Responding to the Phenomenon of Global Human Trafficking on Canada’s West Coast

1. Responding to the Phenomenon of Global Human Trafficking on Canada’s West Coast

2. What is Human Trafficking? • The transport of human beings for exploitation and profit • Global phenomenon that transcends international borders • Extreme violation of an individual’s human rights • 2nd most lucrative source of income for organized crime internationally

3. UN Definition of Human Trafficking • …the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or receipt of persons... • using force, coercion, abduction, fraud, deception, abuse of power • …for the purpose of exploitation. UN Protocol to Prevent, Suppress, and Punish Trafficking in Persons, especially Women and Children. 2000

4. Definition of Child Trafficking • UNICEF states that: In keeping with the Palermo Protocol, there is no requirement for coercion, force, deception, abuse of power or a position of vulnerability in order for child trafficking to have occurred. Combating Child Trafficking, UNICEF 2005

5. Exploitation is... • prostitution of others • forced labour • slavery or practices similar to slavery • the removal and sale of organs UN Protocol to Prevent…Trafficking in Persons

6. Three P’s of Human Trafficking • to Prevent and combat trafficking in persons • to Protect and assist victims respecting full human rights • to Prosecute those who engage in trafficking in human beings

7. Global Efforts to Address Modern Day Slavery • Most European countries, US and Australia have anti-trafficking legislation. • Numerous International NGOs have developed anti-trafficking campaigns: UNICEF/UNHCR International Organization for Migration International Red Cross International Labour Organization Save the Children Alliance World Health Organization

8. Trafficking vs Smuggling • Migrant smuggling occurs with the consent of the smuggled person • AND the smuggled person is free to go once the destination is reached • Victims of Trafficking in Persons are not at liberty in their final destination

9. Who are the Victims? • They are desperate women, men and children looking to escape poverty, war, and violence • Traffickers prosper in poor countries • Trafficked persons may enter a country legally as a: Visitor Student, or with a valid Work Permit • Or they may enter a country illegally using clandestine methods and routes of travel

10. Identifying a Trafficked Person • Evidence of being controlled • Bruises or other signs of physical abuse • Fear/depression • No passport/identification/documentation • KEY: Exploitation and Loss of Liberty

11. US Trafficking in Persons (TIP)Report • Annually grades all countries on efforts to address human trafficking • Creates 3 tiers and imposes trade sanctions on those in Tier 3 • Canada Tier 1 for 2006 but criticized for lack of services for TP’s

12. Canada’s Response to TIP • Immigration and Refugee Protection Act Human Smuggling &Trafficking sections • Criminal Code Trafficking in Persons Offences • Citizenship and Immigration HumanTrafficking Interim Guidelines

14. BC’s Ministry of Children and Family Development:Migrant Services Program • Established in 1999 following the arrival of boats off BC’s west coast • 134 ‘unaccompanied minors’ traveling without parents or legal guardian • Majority became legal wards of BC’s child protection system

15. Migrant ServicesProgram • Assumes legal and financial responsibility for all unaccompanied minor children entering BC • Coordinates specialized services: legal guardianship housing education health care legal representation

16. Ministry of Children & Family Development • Mandated to ensure the safety and well being of BC’s children and youth • Over 9000 children in MCFD care at any one time • 4000 employees providing child protection, guardianship, mental health and youth justice services

17. Human Trafficking Response Initiative • Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General lead • Extensive network of community agencies • Provincial ministries • Federal jurisdictions • Law enforcement

18. Referrals in ▪ CIC / CBSA ▪ NGOs ▪ VictimLINK ▪ Law Enforcement ▪ Provincial Government Health Care Community Based Health Care Providers Vancouver Health Authority/Bridge Clinic Housing Safe Houses / Transition Houses / NGOs Lead Agency Overall Care Coordination Trafficked Person Legal Assistance Legal Aid Emergency Income Ministry of Employment and Income Assistance Trauma Counselling/ Victims Assistance NGOs Advisory Group Service Providers Funders / VictimLINK Law Enforcement

19. Human Trafficking References Guide to the New UN Trafficking Protocol http://action.web.ca/home/catw/attach/un_protocol.pdf WHO Ethical and Safety Recommendations for Interviewing Trafficked Women http://www.who.int/gender/documents/en/final%20recommendations%2023%20oct.pdf U.S. State Department Trafficking in Persons Report – June 2005 http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/47255.pdf Look Beneath The Surface: Community Responses to Human Trafficking in Persons: A Gender Rights Perspective, Briefing Kit http://www.unifem-eseasia.org/resources/others/traffkit.pdf Independent Evaluation Unit: Evaluation of the Global Programme Against Trafficking in Human Beings http://www.unodc.org/pdf/Evaluation_04-Trafficking.pdf

20. THANK YOU BC’s Human Trafficking Response