Press release
For immediate release
On National Human Trafficking Awareness Day, we reaffirm our commitment to raising awareness and addressing this plague that continues to affect millions of people around the world. This year, as we mark this important day, we pay particular attention to the need to support not only women and young people exposed to sexual exploitation, but also those who are victims of human trafficking in other forms, such as forced labor and domestic servitude.
According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, human trafficking involves various actions such as the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harboring or receipt of persons using coercion, abduction, fraud, deception or the abuse of power of a person in a position of vulnerability, with the aim of exploiting them. This exploitation can take many forms, including sexual exploitation, forced labour and even organ removal.
The Centre de santé communautaire Hamilton/Niagara has been granted funding to provide crucial support to young people and their families, who are particularly vulnerable to human trafficking. As young people are often targeted by traffickers, this initiative is of paramount importance in our fight against this scourge. We will continue to provide education, awareness-raising and personalized support to help young people and their families recognize the signs of trafficking and take preventive action.
It is essential to recognize that the Niagara region is particularly vulnerable to human trafficking, especially in the area of sexual exploitation, due to factors such as its geographic location and 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 the country, underscoring the urgent need for action in this region.
Similarly, the City of Hamilton is designated as a high-risk area for human trafficking, due to its strategic location on the transportation route between Toronto and the U.S. border. The Hamilton Police Service has identified human trafficking as a major problem, particularly with regard to sex trafficking and the exploitation of vulnerable youth.
The CSCHN will continue to play an active role in the fight against human trafficking in the Hamilton and the Niagara regions, working with local authorities, community organizations and support services to raise awareness, protect and support victims. Finally, we remind you that human trafficking is a global problem that requires a collective and ongoing response from all players in society.
For further information, please contact
Loubna Moric, Director (interim) programs against violence and sexual assault, and community initiatives
Tel. : 905-734-1141
