Human Trafficking in Canada

In Ontario, most reported cases of human trafficking involve sexual exploitation, which may also be referred to as child sex trafficking.

Human trafficking is child abuse. It is inhumane and illegal. Human trafficking is the act of luring, coercing, forcing, or manipulating a child under the age of 18 into sexual activity either through online or in-person contact with or without the apparent consent of the youth in exchange for basic needs, drugs and/or alcohol, or financial gain on the part of the perpetrator. Youth involved in child sex trafficking may be coerced or forced into trafficking themselves, trafficking others, or both. Traffickers can be anyone. They know how to manipulate their victims.

According to Ontario’s anti-human trafficking strategy, the average age of recruitment into sex trafficking is 13 years old, and over 70% of human trafficking victims identified by police are under 25 years old.

Those at high risk of being trafficked include:

• Children and youth involved with Children’s Aid Societies
• Indigenous women and girls
• 2SLGBTQIA+ persons
• Homeless and marginalized youth
• Persons living with disabilities
• Persons facing barriers to accessing housing, supports, and basic needs

Human trafficking has had a devastating impact on many children, youth and families in Durham Region. We provide support for hose affected in collaboration with our community partners.

We provide resources and protection services for affected children, youth and families, and we support advocacy efforts to combat human trafficking.

If you or a friend is involved with someone who exhibits any of the following characteristics. please seek help.

• Promises things that seem too good to be true
• Buys expensive gifts or likes to flash their money
• Creates distance between you and your family or friends
• Suggests that they know how to help you make a lot of money
• Encourages you to engage in illegal activities to achieve your goals or dreams
• Introduces you to sex, sexting, porn or strip clubs
• Has money, but vague about how they obtained it
• Gets pushy or demanding about sex
• Wants to take suggestive photos, encourages you to model or dance for money
• Makes you feel responsible to pay him/her back, help him/her financially
• Becomes abusive (verbally, physically, psychologically)

If you have concerns for a child related to trafficking, please call us at 905-433-1551. If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, call 911 or your local police service.