As explained this morning during a flag-raising at city hall in St. Thomas, human trafficking isn’t what you think it is. Christina Hoffer, crisis intervention specialist at Victim Services Elgin, explains trafficking exists in several not so obvious forms.
It may be difficult to spot, however it is present in numerous forms right along the Hwy. 401 corridor in Ontario, explains Hoffer.
The stats are shocking: 97% of victims of human trafficking in Canada are women and girls and almost half of all victims of human trafficking are between the ages of 18 and 24. And, being located along the Hwy. 401 corridor has resulted in an increase in calls to Victim Services Elgin, advises Hoffer.
This is Human Trafficking Awareness week, Hoffer says its an opportunity to better understand the facts about who is at risk, how traffickers recruit and exploit victims, and what signs to look for.
