This is a topic that’s difficult to talk about.
As a father with a beautiful daughter of my own, just reading the words “sex trafficking” is enough to turn my stomach.
But I beg you not to turn away. Every single day, innocent and vulnerable Canadian girls are lured into Canada’s rapidly growing underground world of sexual slavery. It’s a psychological game played by master manipulators and the effects are long lasting and deeply damaging.
If you’re having a hard time believing this could happen in Canada, please watch Amy’s story here to see how easy it is to become a victim.
Amy was just like any girl you know – a regular teenager who liked to talk on the phone and hang out with her friends. But like some girls her age, she was gripped with low self-esteem.
Amy yearned for love and approval. She met Ryan and he changed her life, but in the worst way possible. His once kind and thoughtful actions turned into demands and violent threats once he ensnared her in the world of sex trafficking.
These predators are slick manipulators. They understand that many girls can struggle with body image, self-esteem and self-identity. These girls are then vulnerable to luring and falling for a false sense of affection.
Sex trafficking in Canada is primarily a domestic problem. Some 90 per cent of victims are female and most are Canadian girls as young as 13, and on average 17. Police have identified Toronto as a major trafficking hub and estimate the number of victims could be in the thousands. These girls come from all over the country and are from every background. In the last four years, Covenant House has seen a 300-per cent increase in our caseload for victims of sexual exploitation and trafficking.
As a Catholic agency, Covenant House follows the church’s values in our work with the most vulnerable, recognizing the value of each person. Since opening our doors in 1982, we have welcomed almost 95,000 homeless and trafficked young people, ages 16 to 24, from all parts of Ontario, Canada and the world.
When a youth enters our doors, we make a covenant to support them every step of the way to independence. We achieve this with the support of our donors, volunteers and through sector partnerships, however, it mustn’t end there. Broad collaboration amongst community members is essential for ensuring our young people, and victims of sex trafficking in particular, truly receive the wraparound support they need to recover.
In Amy’s case, she had the courage to leave her trafficker on her own and seek out the support she needed to rebuild her life but we can all, as full members of our community, help victims while preventing greater victimization.
We cannot, as people, flourish in isolation and as Pope John Paul II said, “…a community needs a soul if it is to become a true home for human beings.”
It is only together as a community that we can create a home of love and compassion and effectively combat this devastating crime which touches us all.
Please help us raise awareness by educating others about this issue. If you suspect someone is being trafficked or groomed for trafficking, alert your local police.
Guest Bloger Bruce Rivers
Executive Director, Covenant House Toronto