Press release – Hamilton (Ontario), February 23 2023
Human Trafficking Awareness Day is a national event to raise awareness of the issue of human trafficking and to promote action to prevent and combat it. According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, human trafficking involves the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harboring or receipt of persons through the use of coercion, abduction, fraud, deception or the abuse of power by a person in a vulnerable position for the purpose of exploitation. Human trafficking can take many forms, including sexual exploitation, forced labour and organ removal.
The Centre de santé communautaire Hamilton/Niagara has received funding to assist youth who are particularly vulnerable to human trafficking and their families. This is an important step in the fight against human trafficking as youth are often at high risk of being targeted by traffickers. The CSCHN continues to provide education and awareness as well as support services and one-on-one assistance to help youth and their families recognize the signs of trafficking and take steps to prevent it.
It is also important to note that Niagara is particularly vulnerable to human trafficking, including sexual exploitation. This is due to a number of factors, including its location on a major transportation route and its proximity to the U.S. border. The Canadian Centre to End Human Trafficking has identified the Niagara region as a hub for human trafficking in Canada, and it is important that communities are aware of this problem and take action to combat it.
Overall, Human Trafficking Awareness Day is an important reminder of the need to work together to prevent and combat human trafficking, and our organization’s work to support youth and their families is a crucial part of that effort.
We know that human trafficking is a complex, pervasive issue that affects many communities, including Hamilton :
The City of Hamilton is also considered a high-risk area for human trafficking due to its location on the main transportation route between Toronto and the U.S. border, as well as its proximity to the Niagara region. The Hamilton Police Service has identified human trafficking as a significant problem in the city, particularly with respect to sex trafficking and the exploitation of vulnerable youth.
The CSCHN continues to play an important role in combating human trafficking in Hamilton by providing support, resources to youth and families in the city, including raising awareness of the signs of trafficking, providing one-on-one assistance and psychotherapeutic support to victims, and outreach and prevention programs to support youth at risk.
Working with local organizations and community groups in Hamilton and the Niagara region is critical to addressing human trafficking, as it requires a coordinated and comprehensive response. This could include partnering with the Hamilton Police Service, local shelters and support services, and other community organizations to raise awareness of the issue in the various communities and provide support to victims and survivors.
Finally, it is important to remember that human trafficking is a global problem that affects millions of people around the world. National Human Trafficking Awareness Day is an opportunity to raise awareness of this issue, but combating trafficking requires individuals and organizations in every community to continually educate, advocate, and act.
Information:
Loubna Moric, Director (Interim) Programs against Domestic Violence & Sexual Abuse, and Community Initiatives
Tél. : (905) 734-1141 – www.cschn.ca
