stopHT | Durham Region Human Trafficking Coalition

Average Age: 13

Average age of recruitment into sex trafficking is 13 years old

65% in Ontario!

Two thirds of police-reported human trafficking violations in Canada occur in Ontario.

Recruitment!

91% of victims know the person accused of the crime.

93% Canadian

93% of sex trafficking victims come from Canada, not other countries.

Victims & Survivors

Three quarters of victims and survivors are under 25 years of age.

What is human trafficking?

Human Trafficking is the recruitment, transportation, harbouring or controlling of persons for the purpose of forced labour, including work in the sex trade. It is defined by force, fraud, coercion that is facilitated by a third party for the purposes of profiting from you.

can include psychological manipulation, emotional abuse, lies, threats, violence and isolation
holding and controlling someone’s money and/or ID
forcing, coercing, pressuring someone to have sex for money
sometimes human trafficking is confused with smuggling or kidnapping, but no movement is necessary for human trafficking to occur. You can be from Durham and be trafficked in Durham
survivors often need specialized, intensive services due to the severe trauma trafficking can cause

5 Things to know about
Human Trafficking

What is domestic sex trafficking?

Domestic Human Trafficking is forced or coerced sexual labor facilitated by a third party also known as a pimp. Girls are targeted and trafficked in Canada, for the profit of pimps.

How does this happen?

Girls are coerced typically by someone they perceive as an intimate partner or friend. The pimp intentionally moves the girl through the stages of exploitation, for the purpose of trafficking her.

Who is at risk?

Approximately 72% of female trafficking victims are under 25—and can be as young as 12 years old. 93% of reported survivors identify as female.* *Ibrahim, Dyna. (2018, June, 27). Trafficking in persons in Canada.

Retrieved from https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/ n1/pub/85-005-x/2018001/article/54979-eng.htm

Is this a common problem in Ontario?

Human trafficking is the fastest growing crime in Canada. 66% of all human trafficking in Canada occurs in Ontario.*

Retrieved from https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/ n1/pub/85-005-x/2018001/article/54979-eng.htm

Why don't people just leave?

Pimps work hard to isolate and shame the girls they are trafficking so they don’t feel like there is anyone they can turn to. Pimps also exercise power and control over girls to make them feel afraid for their safety if they try to leave. Girls can also develop a ‘trauma bond’ with their trafficker, where they feel connected to him, despite the abuse.

So...how does it happen?

There is a Cycle of Commercial Sexual Exploitation that is used.

1. Luring

Assessing the right person
Testing their vulnerabilities and boundaries
Determining whether that person is looking for what they are selling
Testing the waters to see if that person is open to engaging in courting
Collecting as much information as possible about them
Making them feel special

2. Grooming & Gaming

Also called the honeymoon stage
She feels like she is in love, dreams coming true
Promises of family, home, or other dreams and hopes mentioned in the luring stage
Treated to new clothes, hair & nails done, etc.
May introduce drugs or substances under guise of loosening up or having fun, but not always
Only red flag is that it feels too good to be true

3. Coercion & Manipulation

Trafficker begins sending mixed messages
Increased anger, decreased communication
Withdrawing from the relationship, toying with their emotions
Causes victim/survivor to try to get back into their good books and please them in any way
Begins pushing boundaries sexually to desensitize the person to these actions
Sexual acts and compliance are rewarded with drugs/money (conditioning)

4. Exploitation

Trafficker has broken down their self-esteem
Threatens their safety and safety of loved ones
Makes them feel financially indebted to the trafficker or obligated to contribute in some way
Leads victim to believe that they need help of trafficker financially
Forced to work
Emotional, mental and physical abuse — intimidation and control
Confinement and isolation

5. Recruitment

Trafficker says you’re graduated to their top girl
Needs your help “teaching other girls”
Makes you feel powerful and important
You get to see less “clients”, reclaiming some power and control
Told old to befriend vulnerable girls
Show them how great the life is and they could have it too

Signs to look for » Myths »

Helpful Resources

5 Things to know about Human Trafficking in Durham Region

This informative 12-page booklet will give you good insight as to how Human Trafficking occurs in Durham Region along with 5 ways to ignite change to combat Human Trafficking.

Download resource

Human Trafficking: Parents & Prevention

Victim Services of Durham Region know that caregivers’ attention, love, and awareness is the biggest defence against Human Trafficking. This simple 2-page flyer is full of tips, signs to look for and detailed information on how to intervene when speaking to children about sensitive topics.