Modern form of slavery exists in Canada

BY SELINA McCALLUM

When you think about human trafficking, you may not associate Canada with it, but you should.  The two most prevalent forms of human trafficking in Canada are forced labour and forced prostitution. 87% of those trafficked in Canada are Canadians.

The Canadian Government defines human trafficking as the recruitment, transportation, harbouring and exercising control over the movements of a person in order to exploit that person through sexual exploitation or forced labour. It is often described as a modern form of slavery.

Shae Invidiata was 18 years old in 2003 when she moved to Honolulu, Hawaii to earn a university degree in advertising. Hawaii was not as glorious and beautiful at night as it was in the day, and that is what Invidiata came to find out when the night sky covered the horrific acts that happened to young girls.

Through speaking to them over two years, she learned their stories of false promises, fake boyfriends, being coerced, lured, and the fear and realities that prohibited them from being able to leave or escape.

A few years after leaving Hawaii, Invidiata knew that there was much work to be done surrounding the stigma about prostitutes and human trafficking. She knew that the world wouldn’t care, unless they were educated.

“You can’t fight something that you’re not aware exists,” said Invidiata.

In January 2010, Invidiata founded Free-Them; an initiative dedicated to raising awareness and funds to abolish human trafficking in Canada and abroad by partnering with people, organizations and businesses. The entire organization is volunteer-based.

For the last 6 years, they have organized the Free-Them Freedom Walk in Toronto, Ontario.

The Free-Them Freedom Walk is an event to raise awareness and funds to end exploitation in Canada. Over 500 people registered and attended this year’s event at Westin Harbour Castle.

“The Free-Them Walk is our biggest event of the year, that brings together all different walks of life, demographics, cultures, faith groups and communities all under one roof to learn about human trafficking from different perspectives, such as survivors, law enforcement and politicians,” said Invidiata.

This year’s keynote speaker was Rhonelle Bruder, a human trafficking survivor, advocate, public speaker, educator, and writer. She is also the founder of the RISE initiative, a grassroots project dedicated to helping spread awareness on issues vulnerable people face.

Rhonelle has shared her story of overcoming adversity and resilience to international audiences and uses her voice to advocate for various causes such as sex trafficking, mental health and youth issues.

Why do victims stay? This is a question that many people ask, and Bruder answered it for the audience.

“So I’m going to ask everybody to close your eyes,” Bruder told the crowd, and as their eyes were closed Bruder went on to ask them to imagine the worst day of their life.

“Maybe it was the day you got that call that your loved one was no longer here, or the day you signed those divorce papers,” said Bruder.

Then, she asked them to picture a person who came in to tell them that they would provide them with love, support and all the answers they were looking for.

“What would you do to keep that person in your life?” Asked Bruder. “For me, I would have done anything.”

The average age of entry into forced prostitution and exploitation in Canada is 13 to 14 years old. Young girls are typically coerced by men who they think will be a stable and loving support system, when that is far from the truth.

Today, Bruder is an active community leader, sits on multiple boards including Massey Centre for Women, Toronto’s Human Trafficking Advisory Committee, and the Black Students Achievement Community Advisory Committee.

After hearing the many empowering people speak during the ceremony that morning, the participants headed outside for a 3KM freedom walk to raise awareness to end exploitation in Canada. A sea of people in purple shirts marched down the downtown streets demanding freedom for vulnerable people.

The money raised during the fundraiser will be given to Aurora House in Toronto, a safe house that provides housing to Canadians, Canadian foreign nationals, immigrants and refugees who have been trafficked and exploited in Canada.

The goal is to raise $100,000 and they have so far raised just under $90,000. To learn more about human trafficking or to donate to the cause, visit their website.

“An event like the Free-Them Walk just encourages others to come forward, seek help, know that they can get out and receive love and support,” said the founder of Free-Them.