Guelph women’s group hosting free online seminar on being aware of human trafficking
How to detect signs of human trafficking is the focus of a virtual seminar hosted by Guelph-Wellington Women in Crisis.
A 90-minute informational session this Wednesday will explore trends, challenges people face, and how to help those who are being trafficked.
Human trafficking was once considered a “big city problem”, but there is evidence that women and girls are being recruited or sold for sex in areas such as Guelph, County Wellington and the Waterloo region.
“The most common thing that happens to people in Ontario who are trafficked is going up and down[highway]401 in and around the GTA,” said Guelph-Wellington, a public educator at Women in Crisis. One Cindy McMann said.
“It is very easy for traffickers to bypass Highway 401, enter small towns and rural areas, and recruit people from there.”
This seminar will feature a panel of people working in various anti-trafficking positions.
- Raquel Hall, Intimate Partner Violence Caseworker at Victim Services Wellington
- Olena Kania, Project Coordinator for Youth Activist Inc.’s “This is Human Trafficking” campaign
- Jaseth Purcell, anti-trafficking counselor at GW-Women in Crisis
- Brooke-Lynn Riley, Victim Services Coordinator, Métis Nation of Ontario
There will also be a Q&A session with the panel after the presentation.
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Human trafficking often involves physical abuse and violent means, but it can also be as subtle as a conversation over coffee.
“The most common thing traffickers do is build relationships with people, whether it’s being friends or pretending to be boyfriend/girlfriend,” McMann said.
She also notes that men and boys make up a small percentage of trafficking victims.
“It’s definitely out there. We may not be very good at finding trafficked men and boys.”
Wednesday’s seminar coincides with Trafficking Awareness Day, which Congress unanimously declared a national day in February 2022.
“This is something that all members of Congress will agree with, because we see it happening in our own communities,” said the man, who is spearheading initiatives to mark the day across Canada. Elgin Middlesex London Conservative MP Karen Vecchio, who helped
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Since 2020, Guelph Police have partnered with Waterloo Local Police in a joint trafficking team.
“The team has brought 61 prosecutions in Guelph and 131 in the Waterloo area,” GPS media relations coordinator Scott Tracy said in an email. “During 2022, the team will identify 18 previously unidentified sex workers operating in the Waterloo area and 17 previously unidentified sex workers operating in Guelph. were able to identify the
Tracy goes on to say that workers were identified through online advertising and active outreach by team members.
If you are interested in participating in this virtual event, to register.
people also Guelph-Wellington Women in Crisis website For more information on the seminar.
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