Sex Trafficking
Most police-reported cases of human trafficking involve sex trafficking. If you have been forced into sex work or performing sexual acts, including exotic dancing or pornography, that is human trafficking.
Unlike consensual sex work, human trafficking involves the use or threat of manipulation, coercion, psychological and/or physical violence to control and exploit victims. No one can consent to being trafficked, and children and youth under the age of 18 cannot consent to engaging in sex work.
You are probably thinking this would never happen to you. The reality is that nobody thinks that it will ever happen to them – until it does.
How does this happen?
*Trigger warning* The following stories may be triggering for some readers. Discretion is advised.
Here are a few examples to illustrate how this can happen:
I met him at a bus stop. I thought it was weird because he started talking to me, which doesn’t happen in Vancouver. It was like being back in my home town, except for the bus stop – my town was way too small for buses.
So we talked and we ended up exchanging snap accounts. He told me I was pretty and that I was his girlfriend. I believed him. He bought me nice clothes, designer bags, booze, and he even got me high. I finally felt like I belonged and I was so in love.
One day, he said he was out of money and that if we were going to have a life together, I had to work. He wanted me to have sex for money. I thought it would be just a few times, but he started keeping all my money and told me I couldn’t stop. He knew everything about me and threatened my family – and worse: to tell them what I was doing for money.
Eventually, he was arrested for something and I took my chance and ran away. I got help and now I’m rebuilding my life.
I was 15 when Sean first messaged me on Facebook. I was flattered when he told me how pretty I was. He was good looking, and older, which I thought was exciting.
Two weeks later, we met at the mall, and I was surprised that he didn’t look much like his picture, and that he was a lot older. I didn’t want to say anything in case it upset him, and there was no way I was going to tell my parents.
Despite feeling weird, I kept seeing Sean. He really liked me and wanted to be together all the time. He wanted me to skip school and stop seeing my friends. He even wanted me to call him every hour when we were apart. It started making me uncomfortable, but he was so nice, buying me presents all the time and telling me he loved me.
The first time Sean became really angry was when I forgot to call him on time, and things only got worse. One night, he told me that if I really loved him, I would sleep with his friend. He said the guy would pay us money, and I owed him for all the nice things he bought me.
I felt like I had no choice – I was scared, but I loved Sean, and he did buy me all those gifts.
I was so nervous and scared about having sex with some strange guy, so Sean gave me some pills to make things easier. Afterwards, I was so upset I told him it was over. That was the first time Sean hit me. He said that I was his, and I would do exactly what he told me to.
I felt like I had nowhere to turn – I was too ashamed and embarrassed to tell my family or my friends or ask for help. So I stayed with Sean for another two years. I had no idea that my family had reported me missing and were searching for me. I was forced into sex work, and I became addicted to drugs and alcohol.
I was finally able to escape and rebuild my life after I spoke to a doctor at the clinic. She referred me to a shelter and some organizations that helped me, and I reunited with my family.
Looking back, I wished I had trusted my instincts when I first met Sean and felt uncomfortable, and that I had reached out for help earlier.
I was introduced to these guys by a friend, who said they were offering a job making easy money. All I had to do was send photos of myself. I did and they paid me.
At first the photos were innocent, but then they asked me to do sexier shots. I hid my face and got my money.
This went on for a while, but I wanted to make some quick cash. We decided to meet, as they had another job offer for me. They said I could make a lot more money – that I was sexy and I could make a killing. I could set my own schedule and only work when I wanted, and I would be protected.
That’s when they started giving me booze and drugs to make it easier. They posted ads of me and determined when I worked and who I saw. They took a cut of my pay, and then took almost the rest, claiming they would save it for me. They didn’t care if I didn’t want to do something – they controlled what I did or didn’t do. I needed permission to buy new clothes or go to the corner store. All they cared about was money.
When I asked for my savings, they said I did not deserve it. When I wanted to leave, they said I needed to pay an exiting fee. I’m still struggling to get by, but I’m finally out.
Still not sure you’re a victim?
- Is he controlling, threatening you, or dishonest?
- Is he giving you expensive gifts and telling you to look sexy?
- Does he try to prevent you from spending time with your friends or family?
- Is he forcing you to have sex for money and keeping the money you make?
Labour Trafficking
A form of human trafficking in which people provide labour or services through the use of force, fraud or coercion. It includes situations of debt bondage, forced labour, and involuntary child labour.
Labour traffickers use coercion, threats, and violence to force people to work long hours for little or no pay, often in unsafe working conditions, in industries such as:
- Construction
- Agriculture
- Restaurant
- Manufacturing
- Food processing
- Live-in caregiving
Labour Trafficking Facts
- Debt Bondage is a form of labour trafficking where a person is told they must work to pay off a large, unexpected, and illegal debt.
- Newcomers and people in other countries may be recruited by someone from their home country or from Canada who makes false promises about the requirement of a job and its pay.
- The person may not know their rights, may not know how to get help, or may fear reporting to the police.
- Labour traffickers often take away passports and other documents, and sometimes control where the person stays.
- Language barriers may affect someone’s ability to seek help or access services.
Forced Marriage
A forced marriage is when someone makes you get married when you do not want to. It is not the same as an arranged marriage, where both people consent to the marriage.
Family members might believe that the marriage is the right thing for the person and for the family. In some cases, people are taken abroad against their will to be married. Forced marriage may include:
- physical violence
- threats of violence
- sexual violence
- abduction
- emotional and psychological abuse
Forcing someone to marry against their will is a crime in Canada.
Organ Trafficking
The organ trade includes three broad categories:
- traffickers who force or deceive victims to give up an organ
- people who sell their organs out of financial desperation, often only receiving a fraction of the profit, or they are cheated out of the money altogether
- victims who are deceived into believing they need an operation and the organ is removed without their knowledge
Organ trafficking mainly takes place through “transplant tourism,” in which a Canadian visits another country to receive an organ transplant in a foreign hospital.
There is no law in Canada prohibiting Canadians from taking part in transplant tourism – travelling abroad and purchasing organs for transplantation and returning home to Canada.
Signs someone you know may be a victim of human trafficking:
Not everything listed below is present in every human trafficking situation, but here are a few signs to watch for:
- sudden change in behaviour – may be acting fearful or anxious
- suddenly has expensive purses, clothes, jewelry or shoes they cannot afford
- escorted or driven to and from locations
- may be dressed in clothing inappropriate for the weather, situation, or their age
- no control over their own money and/or identification
- showing signs of abuse, malnourishment or sleep deprivation
- having multiple cellphones or a cell phone with a tracking or screen mirroring application installed
- tattoos or branding by a trafficker
- travelling with limited or no luggage
- trafficker taking control of the conversation for one or multiple persons
- unable to indicate where they are living, including an address
- unable to identify their last location or upcoming destination
Signs for parents to look out for:
- new friends or boyfriend who provide gifts, expensive clothing, jewelry, or drugs
- loss of connection to family and friends
- skipping school and staying out late or all night
- behaviour changes and mood swings – anxiety or depression, secrecy, and lying.
- reluctance to engage with teachers, youth workers, social workers, and other adults in their life
- chronically missing / reported missing repeatedly
What can you do if you suspect this is happening to someone you know?
- reach out to any of the resources below
- do not confront a suspected trafficker directly – contact local police, if needed
- identifying victims and reporting tips is doing your part to help – it is up to police to investigate
- if it is an emergency, call 911
Resources
Canadian Human Trafficking Hotline
Get confidential help 24/7 in several languages by calling the Canadian Human Trafficking Hotline.
Call toll-free 1-833-900-1010 or chat online.
The Canadian Centre to End Human Trafficking
The Canadian Centre to End
Human Trafficking
1-833-900-1010
24/7 toll-free
Onyx
A free, confidential, voluntary support service for youth aged 13-18, of all genders and all orientations, who are, or are at risk of, being sexually exploited. Young people can access Onyx on their own, through a friend, family member, MCFD, other youth serving agencies, their school or the police.
Toll Free: 1-877-411-7532
Email: onyx@plea.bc.ca
Children of the Street
Children of the Street offers children, parents, caregivers, and service providers the information and practical tools they need to keep young people safe from all forms of sexual exploitation.
604-777-7510
info@childrenofthestreet.com
Family Services of Greater Vancouver
For over 25 years, Family Services has delivered victim services to women and children who have experienced domestic violence, sexual violence, and human trafficking.
Cybertip.ca
Cybertip.ca takes tips regarding the online sexual exploitation of children under 18 years old.
Province of BC
The Office to Combat Trafficking
in Persons
1-888-712-7974
24/7 toll-free
octip@gov.bc.ca
VictimLinkBC
1-800-563-0808
24/7 toll-free
victimlinkbc@bc211.ca
Illuminate
Ending Human Trafficking
604-347-9500 or
toll-free 1-855-332-4283 24/7
connect@illuminateht.com
Crime Stoppers
Report crime anonymously to Crime Stoppers or call 1-800-222-8477.
Vancouver Police Foundation
This awareness campaign is possible thanks to the generous support of the Vancouver Police Foundation.
