SEX TRAFFICKING

Both victims and those who have survived, are all around us and in every one of our communities. They are our sisters, our nieces, our aunts, our daughters, our mothers, and our neighbours. They might be trans gendered or male, and are of every culture, ethnicity, and age fathomable. The face of the victim can represent most any religion, ability, age, size, and or sexual orientation. What we know for sure is that each victor has their own unique story that deserves to be heard. 

80% of human trafficking victims in Canada are Canadians.

Ibrahim, D. (2018, June 27). Trafficking in Persons in Canada, 2016 Retrieved from https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/85-005-x/2018001/article/54979-eng.htm

In the GTA, 79% of trafficking victims live in private residences, the remaining 21% live in group homes, hotels, foster homes or in shelter (Baird et al., 2020)

In the GTA, the research suggests five main modes of recruitment including online, through relationships, employment, nightlife, and as a stranger.  Based on the current sample, the most common way victims meet their trafficker is online. 36% report being recruited on websites such as, kjiji or Craigslist, or through social media accounts such as Instagram  or Facebook (Baird et al., 2020).

Ontario is a major centre for human trafficking in Canada, accounting for roughly 65% of police-reported cases nationally.

Peel Institute on Violence Prevention. (February, 2018). Human Trafficking in Canada, Ontario,

and Peel.

It is estimated that 60% of people who are trafficked in Canada are travelling along the 400 series of highways.

Nyznik, D. (2019, July 31). Video ads at OnRoute stops to warn of human trafficking in Ontario.

Retrieved from https://globalnews.ca/news/5703229/video- onroute-stops-human-trafficking-ontario/

The province of Ontario has been identified as a major hub for sex trafficking, with 75% of Ontario's cases occurring within the Greater Toronto Area

​(Baird et al., 2020).