BC Government Meeting 2009

Meeting with BC Government

TRAFFICKING OF HUMANS
Sandra Stajduhar

Trafficking of humans is the focus of resolutions 2004.05 End Trafficking of Children (http://www.cwl.ca/resolutions/2004/04-05.htm) and 2008.01 Preventing Human Trafficking at 2010 Olympics (http://www.cwl.ca/resolutions/2008/2008-01.html). We are asking for a concentrated effort from all members to follow the action plans and also to pray daily for guidance as we work against the horrible crime of trafficking.

A delegation from the BC & Yukon Provincial executive met with Liberal and NDP MLA’s on March 25, 2009. A complete report of that meeting will be available after the provincial convention, but for your information and assistance in working on resolution 2008.01 we are providing in full the presentation made on human trafficking by president-elect Nancy Simms.

Nancy’s report:
“I would like to bring to your attention resolution, 08.01 Preventing Human Trafficking at 2010 Olympics. Three years ago we were here and I addressed the Catholic Women’s League resolution 04.05 End Trafficking of Children. I spoke about the increasing problem of human trafficking not only in Canada, but globally. Statistics now indicate that between 700,000 to 4 million people are trafficked yearly. I do believe that within these past three years our society has come to a greater understanding of the reality of human trafficking and we in the Catholic Women’s League know and appreciate the steps the government of British Columbia has made to reduce and prevent trafficking through the opening of The Office to Combat Trafficking in Persons.

Canada signed and in May 2002 ratified the United Nations trafficking protocol, in which trafficking in persons is defined as “the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or receipt of persons, by means of 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.” (end quote)

The purposes of trafficking include: prostitution, entertainment industry, sweatshops, organ transplants, domestic slavery and begging for others.

Because Canada is preparing to host the 2010 Olympics in British Columbia, the global problem of human trafficking, especially at international sporting events, has been brought to the forefront. In November 2007 The Future Group, a Canadian based non-governmental organization dedicated to combating trafficking and the child sex trade, released a report, Faster, Higher, Stronger: Preventing Human Trafficking at the 2010 Olympics, which indicates a correlation between international sporting events and increased human trafficking. Two examples cited in the report are those of the 2004 Olympics in Greece and the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany.

During the Olympics, the Greek government found that human trafficking increased by 95 per cent whereas at the soccer cup, preventive measures were used to minimize human trafficking.

The Future Group recommendations to reduce human trafficking include:

• deterring traffickers through public awareness campaigns – Which, we understand Robin Pike has announced a BC anti-trafficking public awareness campaign, inclusive with TV commercials, that will be produced later this year, and we are pleased to know this is happening.

Other recommendations are:

• deterring commercial sex users through law enforcement response
• identifying victims in transit through border controls, and
• protecting trafficked persons by arranging for housing and other assistance

The report also states that the countries that have been most effective in combating human trafficking have:

1st  adopted a clear legal framework to protect victims and prosecute offenders – Which interestingly enough, The Future Group,  gave Canada an F for its abysmal record of treating victims. Yet, we are encouraged to see that Bill S-223 has passed second reading in the senate and if it eventually receives royal assent will go a long way to correct this.

The 2nd means to combat trafficking is having countries devote sufficient financial resources to enforce laws and support victim recovery.

The 3rd  means is to demonstrate a high degree of cooperation between law enforcement, governmental agencies and non-governmental sectors -  Again, we were very encouraged to learn about the training that happened here in BC at the end of last month that educated various agencies and their employees who are coming in direct contact with trafficking victims and their perpetrators.

And the 4th means that has helped combat trafficking in countries is to have coordinated their international development efforts to deal with root causes of poverty and corruption in source countries.

To aid in achieving these goals the United Nations published a Toolkit to Combat Trafficking in Persons. I did not print out the entire document since it is 250 pages long, but I do have the table of contents and introduction, which in part states, “It [the Toolkit] presents a selection of conceptual, legislative and organizational tools in use in different parts of the world.
The Toolkit is based on the premise that the problem of trafficking in persons, whether at the national or local level, can only be addressed effectively on the basis of comprehensive strategies that are based on human rights and that take into account the transnational nature of the problem, the many associated criminal activities, the frequent involvement of organized criminal groups and the profound pain, fear and damage suffered by the victims.” And it continues from there.
Robin Pike has stated that the BC “school system would also like a lot more information about how kids are recruited off of school grounds.”

And the Canadian Religious Conference has produced an educational kit entitled: We are a Global Village – Human Trafficking and the 2010 Olympics. Of which, I have the introduction to and an order form. This kit is designed for high school students and aims to educate them on the reality of human trafficking in all its forms and many causes so that students become actively committed to the battle against this modern day form of slavery. The kit includes a DVD, a user guide and teacher notes and can be easily adapted to other groups of people.

To conclude; with the 2010 Olympics less than a year away, it is incumbent on all levels of government to prevent human trafficking. Therefore, we The Catholic Women’s League of Canada with our membership of almost 9,500 in BC and just under 100,000 throughout Canada, commend the BC government for establishing the new Office to Combat Trafficking in Persons and encourage the continuation of sufficient funding to provide all means available to reduce and prevent human trafficking not only at the 2010 Olympics but for all time”. End of Nancy Simms report.

The Bishops of British Columbia and the Yukon have also issued a statement Pastoral Letter on Human Trafficking from the Bishops of BC and the Yukon (http://www.rcav.org/ht/index.htm)

For information on Human trafficking on the BC government website (http://www.pssg.gov.bc.ca/octip/about.htm).

PROVINCIAL/TERRITORIAL GOVERNMENT CONTACTS
Premier Gordon Campbell
PO Box 9041
STN PROV GOVT
Victoria, B.C.
V8W 9E1

Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General
John van Dongen
PO Box 9053
STN PROV GOVT
Victoria, B.C.
V8W 9E2

Minister of Finance and Minister Responsible for the Olympics
MLA: Hon. Colin Hansen
Room 153
Parliament Buildings
Victoria, BC
V8V 1X4

Opposition Critic for the Olympics and Sport
MLA Harry Bains
Room 201
Parliament Buildings
Victoria, BC
V8V 1X4

Premier Dennis Fentie
PO Box 2703
Whitehorse, Yukon
Y1A 1B2

Suggestion: copy letters to your own MLA

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT CONTACTS
Mail may be sent postage-free to any Member at the following address:
House of Commons
Parliament Buildings
Ottawa, Ontario
Canada
K1A 0A6

MP’s:
Diane Ablonczy, Minister of State for Small Business and Tourism
Leona Aglukkaq, Minister of Health
Stockwell Day, Minister of International Trade and Minister for the Asia-Pacific Gateway
Jason Kenney, Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism
Gary Lunn, Minister of State for Sport
James Moore, Minister of Canadian Heritage and 2010 Olympics
Rob Nicholson, Minister of Justice, Attorney General of Canada
Josee Verner, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs

Suggestion: copy letters to your own MP and to Prime Minister Stephen Harper

Lord we give you thanks for the many blessings you have bestowed upon us. Send your Holy Spirit upon us to give us wisdom and courage as we work against the crime of human trafficking. May Our Lady of Good Counsel guide us to protect and care for the victims of trafficking.  AMEN