Truth Magazine Issue 4 2019

Mindfulness
IN CANADA TODAY
William Wilberforce once said, “You may choose to
look the other way, but you can never again say you
did not know.” How true!
There is an estimated 30 million people enslaved through
sexual exploitation and forced labor in the world today. The
sex trade brings in a global value of $32 billion. The U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services states, “After
drug dealing, trafficking of humans is tied with arms dealing
as the second-largest criminal industry in the world.” This is
the modern-day slave trade and it happens in cities, towns
and rural areas all across Canada every single day. To this end,
Bill C-268 and Bill C-310 of the Canadian Criminal Code have
seen some significant amendments through the tireless and
relentless work of MP Joy Smith (Kildonan, St. Paul Riding,
Manitoba.)
The amended section of Bill C-268, Section 279.01dictates a
new mandatory five-year sentence as penalty for those who
commit the offence of Child Trafficking(persons under the age
of 18 years). Secondly, Bill C-310amended the Criminal Code
to add the current Trafficking in Persons offences to the list of
offences which, if committed outside of Canada by Canadians
or permanent residents, could be prosecuted in Canada. This
second amendment enhances the definition of exploitation in
the Trafficking in Persons offence(Section 279.04).Individuals
are convicted of human trafficking offences where forcible
confinement, sexual assault, procuring and conspiracy are
elements in the cases.
In Canada, the average entry age into this modern-day slave
trade or trafficking is 12-14 years of age. 93% of the trafficked
victims in Canada are born Canadians. Slavery occurs when
one person completely controls another person(s), using
violence or the threat of violence, to maintain control, exploits
them economically and they cannot walk away.
Victims of trafficking are obtained by location and method.
The locations where traffickers target their victims can be in
a social situation, in a public place, in a residence or a shelter,
in a bar or a club, or at a sports event. The methods they use
are romantic overtures, force or abduction, fake job offers,
or acting as a benefactor. The traffickers target their victims,
gain their trust initially and then groom them to be trafficked
and make money for them. After they have control over them,
the threats and brutality become an everyday occurrence.
This is an example of what happens every day. A group of girls
attended summer sports events at their local community
center. Three cute guys showed up and began to show a great
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