Responding to the PhenomenonResponding to the Phenomenon of Global Human Traffickingof Global Human Trafficking

on Canada’s West Coaston Canada’s West Coast

What is Human Trafficking?What is Human Trafficking?• The transport of human beings for exploitation and The transport of human beings for exploitation and

profitprofit

• Global phenomenon that transcends international Global phenomenon that transcends international bordersborders

• Extreme violation of an individual’s human rightsExtreme violation of an individual’s human rights

• 2nd most lucrative source of income for organized 2nd most lucrative source of income for organized crime internationallycrime internationally

UN Definition of Human UN Definition of Human TraffickingTrafficking

• ……the recruitment, transportation, transfer, the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or receipt of persons...harbouring or receipt of persons...

• using force, coercion, abduction, fraud, deception, using force, coercion, abduction, fraud, deception, abuse of powerabuse of power

• ……for the purpose of exploitation.for the purpose of exploitation.

UN Protocol to Prevent, Suppress, and Punish Trafficking in UN Protocol to Prevent, Suppress, and Punish Trafficking in Persons, especially Women and Children. Persons, especially Women and Children. 20002000

Definition of Child Definition of Child TraffickingTrafficking

• UNICEF states that: UNICEF states that: In keeping with the Palermo Protocol, there In keeping with the Palermo Protocol, there

is no requirement for coercion, force, is no requirement for coercion, force, deception, abuse of power or a position of deception, abuse of power or a position of vulnerability in order for child trafficking to vulnerability in order for child trafficking to have occurred. have occurred.

Combating Child Trafficking, UNICEF 2005Combating Child Trafficking, UNICEF 2005

Exploitation is...Exploitation is...• prostitution of othersprostitution of others

• forced labourforced labour

• slavery or practices similar to slaveryslavery or practices similar to slavery

• the removal and sale of organsthe removal and sale of organs

UN Protocol to Prevent…Trafficking in PersonsUN Protocol to Prevent…Trafficking in Persons

Three P’s of Human Three P’s of Human TraffickingTrafficking

• to Prevent to Prevent and combat trafficking in and combat trafficking in personspersons

• to Protect to Protect and assist victims respecting and assist victims respecting full human rightsfull human rights

• to Prosecute to Prosecute those who engage in those who engage in trafficking in human beingstrafficking in human beings

Global Efforts to Address Modern Day Slavery

• Most European countries, US and Australia have Most European countries, US and Australia have anti-trafficking legislation. anti-trafficking legislation.

• Numerous International NGOs have developed Numerous International NGOs have developed anti-trafficking campaigns:anti-trafficking campaigns:

UNICEF/UNHCRUNICEF/UNHCR International Organization for MigrationInternational Organization for Migration

International Red CrossInternational Red Cross International Labour OrganizationInternational Labour Organization Save the Children AllianceSave the Children Alliance

World Health OrganizationWorld Health Organization

Trafficking vs SmugglingTrafficking vs Smuggling• Migrant smuggling occurs with the Migrant smuggling occurs with the

consent of the smuggled person consent of the smuggled person

• AND the smuggled person is free to go AND the smuggled person is free to go once the destination is reachedonce the destination is reached

• Victims of Trafficking in Persons are not Victims of Trafficking in Persons are not at liberty in their final destinationat liberty in their final destination

Who are the Victims?Who are the Victims?• They are desperate women, men and children looking to They are desperate women, men and children looking to

escape poverty, war, and violenceescape poverty, war, and violence

• Traffickers prosper in poor countriesTraffickers prosper in poor countries

• Trafficked persons may enter a country legally as a:Trafficked persons may enter a country legally as a: VisitorVisitor

Student, or Student, or with a valid Work Permitwith a valid Work Permit

• Or they may enter a country illegally using clandestine Or they may enter a country illegally using clandestine methods and routes of travelmethods and routes of travel

Identifying a Trafficked Identifying a Trafficked PersonPerson• Evidence of being controlledEvidence of being controlled

• Bruises or other signs of physical abuseBruises or other signs of physical abuse

• Fear/depressionFear/depression

• No passport/identification/documentationNo passport/identification/documentation

• KEY:KEY: Exploitation and Loss of Liberty Exploitation and Loss of Liberty

US Trafficking in Persons (TIP)US Trafficking in Persons (TIP)ReportReport

• Annually grades all countries on Annually grades all countries on efforts to address human traffickingefforts to address human trafficking

• Creates 3 tiers and imposes trade Creates 3 tiers and imposes trade sanctions on those in Tier 3sanctions on those in Tier 3

• Canada Tier 1 for 2006 but criticized Canada Tier 1 for 2006 but criticized for lack of services for TP’sfor lack of services for TP’s

Canada’s Response to TIPCanada’s Response to TIP• Immigration and Refugee Protection ActImmigration and Refugee Protection Act

Human Smuggling &Trafficking sectionsHuman Smuggling &Trafficking sections

• Criminal CodeCriminal CodeTrafficking in Persons OffencesTrafficking in Persons Offences

• Citizenship and ImmigrationCitizenship and ImmigrationHumanHuman Trafficking Interim GuidelinesTrafficking Interim Guidelines

BC’s Ministry of Children and BC’s Ministry of Children and Family Development:Family Development:

Migrant Services ProgramMigrant Services Program• Established in 1999 following the arrival Established in 1999 following the arrival

of boats off BC’s west coastof boats off BC’s west coast

• 134 ‘unaccompanied minors’ traveling 134 ‘unaccompanied minors’ traveling without parents or legal guardianwithout parents or legal guardian

• Majority became legal wards of BC’s child Majority became legal wards of BC’s child protection systemprotection system

Migrant ServicesMigrant ServicesProgramProgram

• Assumes legal and financial responsibility for Assumes legal and financial responsibility for all unaccompanied minor children entering all unaccompanied minor children entering BCBC

• Coordinates specialized services:Coordinates specialized services:legal guardianshiplegal guardianshiphousinghousingeducationeducationhealth carehealth carelegal representationlegal representation

Ministry of Children & Ministry of Children & Family DevelopmentFamily Development

• Mandated to ensure the safety and well Mandated to ensure the safety and well being of BC’s children and youthbeing of BC’s children and youth

• Over 9000 children in MCFD care at any Over 9000 children in MCFD care at any one timeone time

• 4000 employees providing child 4000 employees providing child protection, guardianship, mental health protection, guardianship, mental health and youth justice servicesand youth justice services

Human Trafficking Response Human Trafficking Response InitiativeInitiative

• Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General leadlead

• Extensive network of community agenciesExtensive network of community agencies

• Provincial ministriesProvincial ministries

• Federal jurisdictionsFederal jurisdictions

• Law enforcement Law enforcement

Referrals inReferrals in

▪ CIC / CBSA▪ NGOs ▪ VictimLINK ▪ Law

Enforcement▪ Provincial Government

Trauma Trauma Counselling/ Counselling/

Victims Victims AssistanceAssistance

NGOs

Advisory GroupAdvisory Group

Service Providers Funders /

VictimLINK Law Enforcement

Lead AgencyLead AgencyOverall Care CoordinationOverall Care Coordination

TraffickedTraffickedPersonPerson

Emergency Emergency IncomeIncome

Ministry of Employment and

Income Assistance

Health CareHealth Care

Community Based Community Based Health Care ProvidersHealth Care Providers

Vancouver Health Authority/Bridge Clinic

HousingHousing

Safe Houses / Transition Houses /

NGOs

Legal Legal AssistanceAssistance

Legal AidLegal Aid

Human Trafficking Human Trafficking ReferencesReferences

Guide to the New UN Trafficking ProtocolGuide to the New UN Trafficking Protocolhttp://action.web.ca/home/catw/attach/un_protocol.pdfhttp://action.web.ca/home/catw/attach/un_protocol.pdf

WHO Ethical and Safety Recommendations for Interviewing Trafficked WomenWHO Ethical and Safety Recommendations for Interviewing Trafficked Womenhttp://www.who.int/gender/documents/en/final%20recommendationshttp://www.who.int/gender/documents/en/final%20recommendations

%2023%20oct.pdf%2023%20oct.pdf

U.S. State Department Trafficking in Persons Report – June 2005U.S. State Department Trafficking in Persons Report – June 2005http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/47255.pdfhttp://www.state.gov/documents/organization/47255.pdf

Look Beneath The Surface: Community Responses to Human Trafficking in Look Beneath The Surface: Community Responses to Human Trafficking in Persons: A Gender Rights Perspective, Briefing KitPersons: A Gender Rights Perspective, Briefing Kit

http://www.unifem-eseasia.org/resources/others/traffkit.pdfhttp://www.unifem-eseasia.org/resources/others/traffkit.pdf

Independent Evaluation Unit: Evaluation of the Global Programme Against Independent Evaluation Unit: Evaluation of the Global Programme Against Trafficking in Human BeingsTrafficking in Human Beings

http://www.unodc.org/pdf/Evaluation_04-Trafficking.pdfhttp://www.unodc.org/pdf/Evaluation_04-Trafficking.pdf

THANK YOUTHANK YOUBC’s Human Trafficking BC’s Human Trafficking

ResponseResponse