On March 6, 2020, the government announced Ontario's new Anti-Human Trafficking ("AHT") Strategy to combat human trafficking and child sexual exploitation.
SEX TRAFFICKING
Sex trafficking is one of the fastest-growing and most profitable crimes worldwide. It is predatory and damaging to victims, survivors, their families, and communities. Action by schools, families, and community partners will help prevent, identify and recognize sex trafficking to act quickly to ensure appropriate interventions.
What is Human Trafficking?
Human trafficking is a hidden crime and involved the recruitment, transportation, harbouring and/or exercising control, direction, or influence over the movements of a person in order to exploit that person, typically through sexual exploitation or forced labour (commonly referred to as sex or labour trafficking).
There is no universal experience of human trafficking, and it is known to result in severe trauma for survivors, who may have non-linear healing journeys as they work to rebuild their lives.
Karly Church, a survivor of sex trafficking, speaks to sex trafficking in an Ontario context.
What are some of the possible signs that a student is being trafficked?
- drop in grades
- withdrawal from social activities
- a noticeable change in behaviour (i.e., Is tense/hyper vigilant, nervous or anxious)
- change in attire/expensive clothing
- change in lingo i.e. ‘telly time’ or ‘being in the game’
- carries one or more cells phones with blocked/private phone numbers
- makes references to boyfriend (often older) as “daddy” or self as “mama or baby”
- increased drug/alcohol use
What supports will be provided to students who disclose that they are have been or are being trafficked?
BWDSB has created a protocol, Policy and Procedure AP 6824-D, to help students who disclose that they have been or are being trafficked are supported and have access to appropriate resources (i.e. board mental health workers, in-school child and your workers, and community agencies). The goal is to keep the student safe, both physically and emotionally.
Students may also use the Canadian Human Trafficking Hotline (available in a number of languages) to receive support.
National human trafficking hotline at 1-833-900-1010 (24/7)