PROJECT IMPACT PREVENTING AND REDUCING THE TRAFFICKING OF WOMEN AND GIRLS FOR SEXUAL EXPLOITATION IN OTTAWA

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1 PROJECT IMPACT PREVENTING AND REDUCING THE TRAFFICKING OF WOMEN AND GIRLS FOR SEXUAL EXPLOITATION IN OTTAWA CCR NATIONAL FORUM NOV 26TH, 2014 OUTLINE About PACT-Ottawa Overview Project impact Findings Demographics of victims at risk women and girls Where is sex trafficking taking place in Ottawa Why Human Trafficking thrives in Ottawa Cost of Human Trafficking to Ottawa Services Gaps/Challenges PACT- Ottawa Persons Against the Crime of Traf5icking in Humans Personnes en Action Contre la Traite des Personnes 2-22 PACT-OTTAWA Person Against the Crime of Trafficking Humans Founded in 2004, incorporated 2007 Mostly volunteer based organization Education and public awareness initiatives PROJECT IMPACT PACT-Ottawa received funding $200,000 from Status of Women Canada in June 2013, to conduct a pilot project on human trafficking for sexual exploitation in Ottawa. Ø Steering Committee members Ottawa Police Service, Crime Prevention Ottawa and St. Joe s Women s Centre Ø Limited literature available on HT in Ottawa, so data collected: 3 Roundtables and online survey with 34 community stakeholders Interviews with 27 Key informants Focus groups and interviews with 90 youth and 10 self-identified sex worker victims Social workers, shelters, youth org., group homes, counselors, Ottawa police service, former trafficker, victims, youth, rape crisis center, immigration services, aboriginal services, RCMP

2 FINDINGS MYTHS ABOUT HUMAN TRAFFICKING IN OTTAWA Myth 1: Trafficking persons are foreign nationals/only are immigrants. Reality: Trafficking persons can be either Canadian citizens or foreign nationals. In our research for project impact, we found that 90% of trafficking victims are Canadian and from the Ottawa area. Myth 2: Trafficking requires transportation across state or national borders. Reality: The legal definition of trafficking does not require transportation, although transportation may be involved. Myth 3: There must be elements of physical restraint for it to be trafficking. Reality: The legal definition of trafficking does not require physical restraint. Psychological means of control are sufficient elements of the crime. Myth 4: Sex work and human trafficking are synonymous Reality: Sex work is not automatically equated to human trafficking. Agency of sex workers DEMOGRAPHICS AGE RANGE OF TRAFFICKED WOMEN AND GIRLS COMMUNITY ORG. 90% of girls trafficked in Ottawa for domestic sexual exploitation are Canadian, local area Different race, religion, ethnicity, socioeconomic backgrounds, sexual orientation Average age first trafficked 45.0% 40.0% 35.0% 30.0% 25.0% 20.0% 15.0% 10.0% 5.0% 0.0% 9-18 years of age years of age years of age years of age Over 40 years of age

3 AGE RANGE OF TRAFFICKED WOMEN AND GIRLS COMMUNITY ORG. WOMEN AND GIRLS AT RISK 50.0% 45.0% 40.0% 35.0% 30.0% 25.0% 20.0% 15.0% 10.0% 5.0% 0.0% 9-16 years of age years of age and over years of age I M A VICTIM WOMEN/GIRLS AT RISK SEX TRADE Sex work Human Trafficking UN Palermo Protocol: The Act (What is done) Recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or receipt of persons The Means (How it is done) Threat or use of force, coercion, abduction, fraud, deception, abuse of power or vulnerability, or giving payments or benefits to a person in control of the victim YOUTH more receptive to recruitment tactics. Impressionable, looking for lavish lifestyle/luxury, hyper-sexualization of females in the media/ entertainment industry. Wanting to replicate lifestyle and look The Purpose (Why it is done) For the purpose of exploitation, which includes exploiting the prostitution of others, sexual exploitation, forced labour, slavery or similar practices and the removal of organs

4 PEOPLE WHO PAID FOR SEX Online Survey 104 responses in one week (Backpage/Ottawa escorts, anonymous) 93% identified as male 40% heterosexual, 10% LGBTQ, rest did not answer question Age range from 30 to 59, attended University and earned over $50,000 45% married/common-law/committed relationship, remaining single or separated (60% didn t tell partners) PEOPLE WHO PAID FOR SEX Majority purchased sex on online ads and massage parlours and bought sex a few times a year The sexual act took place in hotels, apartments and their homes Most common reason for sex work: to support family, they like it, need extra money for school 90% never had sex with a minor, 8% not sure with 2% saying yes 75% never bought sex from someone who had a pimp, 25% unsure 55% would report human trafficking to police, 40% would ask if can help and 5% said none of their business WHERE DOES SEX TRAFFICKING OCCUR? Street Prostitution Strip Clubs Massage Parlors Escort Services Truck Stops Brothels Hotel Rooms Private Parties Night clubs (selling without knowledge) Interfamilial Pimping Private Homes Social media, pornography RECRUITMENT Boyfriend relationship Social inclusion/friendship Monetary attraction Promise lifestyle and protection Blackmail through gang rape (video) Drug addiction/debt Abduction (rare)

5 WHY HUMAN TRAFFICKING THRIVES IN OTTAWA TRAFFICKERS Trafficker (male) Histories of abuse History of being in care Lack of parental supervision Addiction 1. Demand/ Lucrative Recruiter (female/male) Victims (wifey) Victims (wifey) 2. No Prevention Initiatives or the Identification of Women/Girls at Risk 8. Released without Assistance Victims (wifey) Gang member 3. Recruitment and Physical/ Mental Conditioning 7. Not Identified as Victim/Falsely Arrested/Humiliated Age 16 28, men and women (female as recruiters) Prior victims - understand how to recruit and understand the psychology of being vulnerable. Better to be recruiter than continue to be a victim. 6. Hospital/ Arrested/ Shelter/Social Worker Girls are pain in the ass. Bill (former trafficker) 4. Manipulation and Exploitation 5. Trauma Incident SERVICE GAPS SERVICE GAPS Short term/prevention: Long term: Training front line staff e.g. shelters, nurses, social workers, hotel staff, police etc. HT specific shelter basic needs (shelter, safety, food, clothing, trauma counselling) Long term alternatives, working with community to long term safe housing and meaningful work = meaningful alternatives! Making existing services more accessible: Trauma Counseling, Detox treatment Recovery Ottawa, no waiting times, no ID needed Dedicated Police Vice Unit (trained officers, understand the complexity of the issue (psychology), working with community and high schools, group homes, YSB ) 72 hours emergency services basic needs more support for Ottawa Coalition to End Human Trafficking (ad-hoc, volunteer based case management) Educating at risk youth (schools, group homes, youth services organizations): address gender roles, pimping culture hyper-sexualization of girls in media (Peer to Peer education) Public Awareness posters in shelters, youth services, community resource centers, supportive housing, group homes etc. what services are available (Ottawa Coalition) Outreach/drop-in: collaborate with sex workers build relationships/resource

6 COMMUNITY ACTION PLAN* CONTACT DETAILS Christina Harrison Baird Project Director 1. Public Awareness 2. Training Elise Wohlbold Project Manager 3. Educate and Empower ** 4. Outreach and Partnership 90% of women and girls trafficked in ottawa are canadian. Corey Bourguignon Outreach Officer Marie-Josée Vinette Youth Outreach Officer * Project impact and its Community Action Plan are funded by Status of Women Canada. it is happening here! PACT-Ottawa ** The Educate and Empower pillar of Project impact s Community Action Plan is supported in part by Public Safety Canada project impact Visit: ottawa.org Contact: e.wohlbold@pact- ottawa.org Preventing and reducing the trafficking of women and girls for sexual exploitation through community planning