What is Human Trafficking?

The official definition of human trafficking is outlined by the United Nations (UN) Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children. The primary objectives of the UN Protocol are to prevent trafficking, protect victims and prosecute traffickers.

Human trafficking is defined by the United Nations Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children as:

“The recruitment, transportation, transfer, harboring or receipt of persons, by means of the threat or use of force or other forms of coercion, of abduction, of fraud, of deception, of the abuse of power or of a position of vulnerability or of the giving or receiving of payments or benefits to achieve the consent of a person having control over another person, for the purpose of exploitation.”

The UN Protocol specifically mentions three forms of exploitation: sexual exploitation, forced labour, and the removal of organs for the organ trade.

human trafficking happens in canada

Human trafficking happens everywhere in the world and Canada is no exception. In Canada, the majority of victims are Canadian citizens and trafficked within the country. LGBTQ+, Indigenous, homeless and refugee communities are more at risk of being trafficked. Indigenous women are overrepresented in Canada’s domestic trafficking statistics and are specifically targeted for sexual exploitation.

human trafficking & healthcare

Human trafficking is a health issue. Trafficking victims suffer from profound sexual, physical, and psychological abuse while in captivity. As a result of their injuries, up to 80% of trafficking victims may come into contact with healthcare providers while they are still in captivity. However, healthcare providers in Canada are largely unaware of their potential role in screening, identifying, and treating trafficking victims. The interaction between a healthcare provider and victim of trafficking represents a missed opportunity for intervention.

educating healthcare professionals

The clandestine nature of human trafficking creates the misconception that interactions with victims in the healthcare setting are rare. But there is an extensive body of literature which shows that this is false. Research also shows that education can make a difference. Studies in the United States have demonstrated that even with short training modules, healthcare provider knowledge of trafficking can improve drastically.

CAMSAHT aims to integrate courses and educational workshops into medical schools across Canada in an effort to address misconceptions about trafficking and to train healthcare providers.