National Human Trafficking Awareness Day in Canada was proclaimed in the House of Commons in February of 2021.
One of the advocates for the day was Elgin-Middlesex-London MP Karen Vecchio who stressed this is not just a big city problem.
This morning a flag-raising will take place at 10 a.m. in front of city hall in St. Thomas in recognition of the day.
Kelly Franklin, director and founder of Courage for Freedom, stresses the day is a significant step to validating the experiences of victims.
Courage for Freedom exists to educate, train and certify front-line and community service providers on proven strategies and prevention tactics that serve vulnerable victims of human trafficking and sexually exploited girls.
Christina Hoffer, crisis intervention specialist at Victim Services Elgin, explains human trafficking involves the recruitment, transportation or harbouring of individuals for the purpose of sexual exploitation, forced labour or organ removal.”
Franklin would like to see a minute of silence to honour “the 427 survivors that I’ve had the privilege to support. And right now the 27 young women I am supporting.”
At last year’s inaugural flag-raising, Christina Hoffer, crisis intervention specialist at Victim Services Elgin, noted human trafficking is present right along the Hwy. 401 corridor in Ontario.
Hoffer adds National Human Trafficking Awareness Day is an opportunity to better understand the facts about who is at risk, how traffickers recruit and exploit victims, and what signs to look for.
