Since its inception, Men Ending Trafficking has always focused on advocating for those impacted by human trafficking, as well as providing practical support. This can be a difficult, and often discouraging endeavour for many reasons.
To do it well, one must listen to many traumatic personal stories, to really understand the weight of the issues and identify key details. One must also conduct countless hours of research on the ways different policies have affected victims around the world. After all of that, speaking out on the issue risks offending others who have a different opinion, and it can all seem pointless if you wonder whether anyone is listening.
Even when those in positions of power do pay attention, change comes slowly. However, once in a while, there’s a move toward something better. There can be a sudden, positive response that makes all the difficulties worth it.
In March of this year, MET was invited (through the Durham human trafficking coalition) to meet with a couple of MPs who were holding a round-table discussion regarding Human Trafficking in Canada. We’d attended a few of these in the past, and never really saw any positive results after, but we knew we needed to go and do our best to be heard.
Colin Carrie, MP for Oshawa, and Arnold Viersen, MP for Peace River – Westlock (Alberta), were there to listen and engage in a way I had not seen before. They shared openly about their passion to help the victims of Human Trafficking in Canada, and they wanted to hear what could be done to help.
Along with several other local organizations, including other members of the human trafficking coalition like SafeHope Home and Durham Region Police Services’ Human Trafficking unit, we advised on some major issues that are profoundly impacting victims of human trafficking. When the discussion was over, they assured us that we’d be hearing from them in the near future about these matters, and thanked us for our time.
In June, two bills were read in the house of commons: The Putting Victims First Act Bill C-463 and Bill C-461 An Act to amend the Criminal Code and the Judges Act (trafficking in persons). Tabled by Arnold Viersen, and Colin Carrie respectively.
- C-463 seeks to give police authority to better protect victims aged 16 and 17, given that currently, certain powers are restricted to victims 15 and younger.
- It seeks to allow victims the ability to lift their own publication bans if desired.
- Lastly, it would put a reverse onus on bail for those charged with trafficking in persons.
These are significant steps in the right direction that will help victims of human trafficking.
C-461 would see better, human trafficking-specific training for judges so they would better understand the trauma and coercion a victim may suffer.
It would also amend the criminal code to remove the need to prove a victim’s fear, better aligning our laws with the world-wide standard: the Palermo Protocol. It’s another positive step toward enabling our justice system to be effective against the perpetrators of this heinous crime.
This progress is why advocating for those impacted by human trafficking is so important to us at Men Ending Trafficking. When the right people begin to listen, real change can occur.
These bills are substantial moves in the right direction, and if they’re passed, it could make a critical difference in the lives of young women and girls who are lured, coerced, and forced into sexual slavery.
I’m grateful that these two men stepped up, reached out to those who understand the problem, and took decisive action to make things better. I’m also thankful for the many more people in authority who are doing this daily. If we all work together, eventually we’ll see the end of human trafficking in Canada.