Human trafficking in Canada
Encyclopedia
Human trafficking in Canada has become a significant legal and political issue, and Canadian legislators have been criticized for having failed to deal with the problem in a more systematic way.
This was updated in 2010
is a Canadian humanitarian
NGO founded to draw attention to "human trafficking and the child sex trade". It adopts a prohibitionist stance on prostitution. In 2006 they wrote a report entitled Falling Short of the Mark: An International Study on the Treatment of Human Trafficking Victims
Of eight industrialized nations countries examined and ranked, they gave Canada
the lowest score (F), compared to the United States as the highest (B+) in terms of best practices in terms of providing support for victims of trafficking "Canada has ignored calls for reform and continues to re-traumatize trafficking victims, with few exceptions, by subjecting them to routine deportation and fails to provide even basic support services." (p. 13) The report also states that "Canada's record of dealing with trafficking victims is an international embarrassment and contrary to best practices" (p. 2). The report was also critical of the former Liberal Government
but stated the new Conservative Government had not had time to formulate a policy.
, Monte Solberg
told Sun Media Corporation, "It's very damning, and if there are obvious legislative or regulatory fixes that need to be done, those have to become priorities, given especially that we're talking about very vulnerable people."
The 2010 report confirmed Canada's Tier 1 status.
The report states that "Prostitution by willing adults is not human trafficking regardless of whether it is legalized,
decriminalized, or criminalized.assured countries that the State Department would not include prostitution in its numbers as human trafficking, stating that prostitution by willing adults is not human trafficking, regardless of whether it is legalized, decriminalized or criminalized." (p. 8) Therefore should Canada fully legalized sex work this will not effect its Tier ranking. This is a change from earlier reports such as 2005
which linked tolerance of prostitution to trafficking. Furthermore the US now follows the International Labor Organization which considers human trafficking to be predominantly an issue of forced labour rather than of sexual exploitation. (p. 8)
stated
However it did not break these figures down further by type of trafficking (see above) nor comment on their accuracy, however it continues
and Sisyphe
believe that keeping prostitution illegal is the best way to prevent human trafficking, forced prostitution, child prostitution and similar abusive activities. They argue that a system which allows legalized and regulated prostitution makes it more socially acceptable to buy sex, creating demand for prostitutes and, as a result, human trafficking increases in order to satisfy this demand. However these claims are disputed by other organizations.
Justice Susan Himel in a 2010 Ontario Superior Court decision, referring to the New Zealand Report of the Prostitution Law Review Committee on the Operation of the Prostitution Reform Act 2003, noted that "Under-aged prostitution does not appear to have increased post-criminalization, and, as of 2007, no situations involving trafficking in the sex industry have been identified.
This has been disputed by those claiming a link, stating that New Zealand is a country notable for its geographic isolation, and is not on any trafficking route. Furthermore, the report has been accused of bias by opponents of prostitution.
RCMP
In 2004, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) estimated that 600-800 persons are trafficked into Canada annually and that additional 1,500-2,200 persons are trafficked through Canada into the United States.This was updated in 2010
Future Group report
The Future Groupis a Canadian humanitarian
Humanitarianism
In its most general form, humanitarianism is an ethic of kindness, benevolence and sympathy extended universally and impartially to all human beings. Humanitarianism has been an evolving concept historically but universality is a common element in its evolution...
NGO founded to draw attention to "human trafficking and the child sex trade". It adopts a prohibitionist stance on prostitution. In 2006 they wrote a report entitled Falling Short of the Mark: An International Study on the Treatment of Human Trafficking Victims
Of eight industrialized nations countries examined and ranked, they gave Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
the lowest score (F), compared to the United States as the highest (B+) in terms of best practices in terms of providing support for victims of trafficking "Canada has ignored calls for reform and continues to re-traumatize trafficking victims, with few exceptions, by subjecting them to routine deportation and fails to provide even basic support services." (p. 13) The report also states that "Canada's record of dealing with trafficking victims is an international embarrassment and contrary to best practices" (p. 2). The report was also critical of the former Liberal Government
Liberal Party of Canada
The Liberal Party of Canada , colloquially known as the Grits, is the oldest federally registered party in Canada. In the conventional political spectrum, the party sits between the centre and the centre-left. Historically the Liberal Party has positioned itself to the left of the Conservative...
but stated the new Conservative Government had not had time to formulate a policy.
Government response
Commenting on the report, the then Minister of Citizenship and ImmigrationMinister of Citizenship and Immigration (Canada)
The Minister of Citizenship and Immigration is the Minister of the Crown in the Canadian Cabinet who is responsible for overseeing the federal government department responsible for immigration, refugee and citizenship issues, Citizenship and Immigration Canada...
, Monte Solberg
Monte Solberg
Monte Kenton Solberg, PC is a former Canadian Member of Parliament, representing the riding of Medicine Hat in the Canadian House of Commons as a member of the Conservative Party of Canada. He was the Minister of Human Resources and Social Development...
told Sun Media Corporation, "It's very damning, and if there are obvious legislative or regulatory fixes that need to be done, those have to become priorities, given especially that we're talking about very vulnerable people."
US State Department Trafficking in Persons Reports
The US Trafficking in Persons Report is an annual report of the US State Department that takes stock of the international human trafficking situation, with Tier 1 being the highest ranking while Tier 3, may be subject to certain U.S. government sanctions, such as the withholding of nonhumanitarian, non-trade-related foreign assistance, funding for government employees educational and cultural exchange programs. Canada has been rated as Tier one consistently with the exception of 2003 when it was considered Tier 2. The 2009 report states "The Government of Canada fully complies with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking. During the past year, the Canadian government maintained strong victim protection and prevention efforts, and demonstrated modest progress in prosecuting and punishing trafficking offenders, securing five trafficking-specific convictions during the past year. Law enforcement personnel, however, reported difficulties with securing adequate punishments against offenders."The 2010 report confirmed Canada's Tier 1 status.
The report states that "Prostitution by willing adults is not human trafficking regardless of whether it is legalized,
decriminalized, or criminalized.assured countries that the State Department would not include prostitution in its numbers as human trafficking, stating that prostitution by willing adults is not human trafficking, regardless of whether it is legalized, decriminalized or criminalized." (p. 8) Therefore should Canada fully legalized sex work this will not effect its Tier ranking. This is a change from earlier reports such as 2005
which linked tolerance of prostitution to trafficking. Furthermore the US now follows the International Labor Organization which considers human trafficking to be predominantly an issue of forced labour rather than of sexual exploitation. (p. 8)
Other
A 2009 US State Department Human Rights Reportstated
"NGOs estimated that 2,000 persons were trafficked into the country annually, while the RCMP estimated 600 to 800 persons, with an additional 1,500 to 2,200 persons trafficked through the country into the United States. Many victims were Asians and Eastern Europeans, but a significant number also came from Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean. Women and children were trafficked for sexual exploitation; on a lesser scale, men, women, and children were trafficked for forced labor. Some girls and women, most of whom were Aboriginal, were trafficked internally for commercial sexual exploitation."
However it did not break these figures down further by type of trafficking (see above) nor comment on their accuracy, however it continues
"Vancouver, Montreal, and Toronto served as hubs for organized crime groups trafficking in persons, including for prostitution. East Asian crime groups targeted the country, Vancouver in particular, to exploit immigration laws, benefits available to immigrants, and the proximity to the U.S. border."
Canadian NGOs and claims of links between sex work and trafficking
As noted by the US report, Some Canadian NGOs such as Vancouver Rape Reliefand Sisyphe
believe that keeping prostitution illegal is the best way to prevent human trafficking, forced prostitution, child prostitution and similar abusive activities. They argue that a system which allows legalized and regulated prostitution makes it more socially acceptable to buy sex, creating demand for prostitutes and, as a result, human trafficking increases in order to satisfy this demand. However these claims are disputed by other organizations.
Justice Susan Himel in a 2010 Ontario Superior Court decision, referring to the New Zealand Report of the Prostitution Law Review Committee on the Operation of the Prostitution Reform Act 2003, noted that "Under-aged prostitution does not appear to have increased post-criminalization, and, as of 2007, no situations involving trafficking in the sex industry have been identified.
This has been disputed by those claiming a link, stating that New Zealand is a country notable for its geographic isolation, and is not on any trafficking route. Furthermore, the report has been accused of bias by opponents of prostitution.