The Human Stop Sign

I met Cathy Peters years ago on Bowen Island before her passion raised her to national acclaim. She was an articulate teacher out to change the world. In the last 11 years, Peters has made over 900 presentations on human trafficking to over 20,000 listeners, not including her online presence. She’s presented to the RCMP in their national webinar on trafficking, presented to two global summits, and made four presentations to Federal government committees. She’s presented to politicians, police, and to the public to raise awareness on sexual exploitation. She has a teaching website and has written two books on the subject. For her efforts, she’s been awarded 17 challenge coins from police agencies and Federal corrections and received the Queens Platinum Jubilee Medal for her advocacy work.

Peters is clear in her message. “Human sex trafficking and sexual exploitation for the purpose of prostitution is the fastest growing crime in the world. It is a lucrative crime targeting our youth, children and the vulnerable.”

Her ‘Be Amazing Campaign’ lays down the facts. The average age of recruitment is 13 years and that age is lower in urban centers. Indigenous women are overrepresented, making up 50-90 percent of those involved. A large majority of victims have experienced childhood sexual abuse and/or incest. Most of the trafficked survivors live with complex post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Typically, trafficked victims tend to be female, but with the onset of online gaming sites, there are a growing number of boys being exploited. Traffickers, primarily male, look for vulnerability in anyone who looks young. However, more and more females are becoming involved in trafficking others. Whoever is operating the scheme, the operation is highly organized, sophisticated, moves fast, with organized crime or family members often involved.

Factors stimulating this growing calamity include the realities of globalization, unregulated technology, limited law enforcement, and minimal prevention education. 95 percent of prostituted persons are either pimped or trafficked in this lucrative activity. Less than 5 percent of victims involved are able to free themselves from the sex industry. A majority become mentally ill, drug addicted, suicidal, or are murdered.

Peters says that healthy relationships are a key for prevention of vulnerability. “A healthy relationship exudes kindness, trust, courtesy, consideration, honesty, reliability, equality, good communication, and acceptance. Knowing your own boundaries and being able to communicate them, plus respecting the decisions and boundaries of others, allows you to be yourself and to feel supported and encouraged by the other person. Violence is never okay in a healthy relationship.”

She adds that “a safe adult is a genuine and kind person who expects nothing in return. A safe adult encourages you to maintain and grow healthy relationships with friends, family, and peers. They encourage you to achieve your goals and dreams, to be well and to be your best.” Safe adults can help contact an authority if help is needed.

The Law under attack

The Federal Protection of Communities and Exploited Persons Act (PCEPA) needs protection and reinforcement as it is under attack again in our courts at the highest levels. Currently, this law criminalizes the buyers and profiteers of sex. It protects the sellers from prosecution and provides immunity from criminalization. It provides exit strategies to assist victims out of the sex industry, and it offers robust prevention education.

Still disturbing trends continue to prevail. Sexting is being normalized, and sextortion is increasing. Online grooming, luring, and recruiting for the sex industry is increasing. There is an increase in the sexualization of youth and children. Along with this, there are increased sexual assaults (even incest) among children with each other. Females are experiencing decreasing safe spaces.

Pornography is the fuel for trafficking and is unchecked. While parents work hard to keep their children safe on playgrounds and in parks, they are unaware of the dangers online and offer little protection for their vulnerable little ones. Without digital safety training, social media accountability, and positive parenting support, our kids are stumbling blindly into a dark world. Now, with the unchecked development of artificial intelligence (AI) the vulnerable are at the mercy of predators anywhere in the world.

How do you know someone might be involved?

Gut feelings should not be ignored when you feel something is wrong. But watch for some of the following signs: fake ID, few personal possessions, inability to speak for themselves, in debt, not free to come and go, signs of malnutrition and poor hygiene, bruising, broken bones, black eyes, tattoos or branding symbols, expensive clothing, accessories, and jewelry they can’t afford, well kept nails and lashes, fearful, anxious, depressed, nervous, isolated, paranoid, memory loss, drug or alcohol addiction, avoids eye contact, has a new circle of friends, grades are dropping, change in attitude toward school, skips school, is exhausted, has two phones, wears inappropriate or provocative clothing, has an older partner, involved in gang or criminal activity, fears for safety, is secretive.

Even a few of these signs together should raise the alert level for teachers, parents, or family members.

What can we do?

Peters says we need to work hard to “reduce demand and diminish supply.” Complicit businesses, such as unregistered massage and body rub parlours, nail spas, day spas, wellness centers, modelling agencies, tattoo parlours, escort services, cheap bars and hotels, men’s clubs, AirBnB, VRBO, strip clubs, organized crime club houses, bus stops, train stations, homeless camps, tent cities, work camps, pool halls, community centres, and wherever youth congregate, need to be addressed.” A humungous task. Even schools have become recruiting grounds for gangs and human trafficking.

Strategies for Parents: Peters uses the acronym TRUST to guide memory. 

T – Talk with your youth about what influences them

R – Relationships and helping them to identify healthy ones

U – Understanding and empathy to reach your youth

S – Security, stability, and safety are needed at home

T – Teach children about grooming, luring, boundaries, and how to report such instances

Peters invites further contact through her BeAmazingCampaign.org. The Canadian National Human Trafficking hotline is 1-833-900-1010