Editor’s Note: The following story contains details about human trafficking that may upset some readers.
February 22 is Human Trafficking Awareness Day in Canada, and aims to raise awareness about its magnitude and prevalence while taking steps to combat and prevent the crime itself.
“Sex trafficking is the most common form of human trafficking and is one of Canada’s most lucrative and misunderstood crimes,” Suzie Tarlattini, Supervisor of the Awareness and Prevention Program at Covenant House Toronto, tells blogTO.
“Most people don’t realize that it can happen to someone they know, and when we believe this, we’re distancing ourselves from the issue and from very real risk factors our children might be facing.”
Educating the GTA
Alongside dual efforts to both prevent and support youth experiencing homelessness, Covenant House provides education about sex trafficking and online safety to students across the GTA so that they may understand the issue, how it happens, what warning signs may look like, and know where to get help.
“Our goal is to provide young people with insight, information, and safety tips to empower them to protect themselves and each other,” explains Tarlattini.
Maximizing understanding and retention means connecting with young people about difficult topics in an age-appropriate, engaging way that makes sense to them. Last year, over 11,000 students learned how to protect themselves through these free sessions.
Along with school partnerships and presentations, Covenant House provides programs and services for survivors. This includes immediate care like shelter beds, healthcare services, counselling, and safety programs, along with longer-term housing, education assistance, and job training opportunities.
Resources for caregivers
Prevention is key when it comes to sex trafficking. Tarlattini encourages parents and caregivers to be aware of their children’s online activity by following their social media accounts and the accounts they follow, knowing about their friends, and being involved in their interests.
“If they feel that you care, they’re going to feel connected, and they’re going to feel they can trust you with the bigger things.”
Online awareness
It’s not as simple as being stolen off the street — victims of sex trafficking are being increasingly targeted online, and traffickers often appear as friends, mentors, or romantic partners.
“We know from our research that most Canadian parents and caregivers are comfortable talking about sex trafficking and online safety with their children,” explains Tarlattini, “but many admit they can’t keep up with online technology in a constantly changing digital world where online safety is paramount.”
The new research focused on parents and caregivers of teenage children, conducted by Leger on behalf of Covenant House, also indicates that 55 per cent of parents and caregivers say children aged 12 to 14 are most vulnerable online, but concern drops for older teens, even though 36 per cent reporting their child has been approached online by someone they didn’t know.
To bridge this gap and encourage conversation on this topic, Covenant House has created online tools and resources available to get Canadians to learn more and provide parents and caregivers with resources to help educate themselves and their children.
To download a survivor-informed caregiver guide, access education resources, request a presentation for your school, and learn more about how to support the work Covenant House is doing every day, visit the Covenant House Toronto website.
