The Evangelical Fellowship of Canada (EFC) has marked the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons on July 30 by focusing on the most vulnerable of people: children.
About one in four trafficked victims in Canada is aged under 18 according to police-reported incidents. The EFC in a press release said no children should be left behind in the fight against human trafficking.
Young adults are also more likely to be trafficking victims, with 43 percent aged between 18 to 24. Most of these trafficking victims in Canada - 94 percent of the total - are women and girls.
Sexual exploitation in particular mostly involves young women and girls, according to the EFC. The average age of recruitment for sex trafficking in Canada is 13 years old.
Referring to the above referenced Statistics Canada report, the EFC said that “trafficking for sexual exploitation is the most detected and encountered form of human trafficking by law enforcement in Canada”, adding that human trafficking exploits vulnerable people and violates human dignity.
“As Christians, we believe each person has inherent human dignity, made by God in His image, loved by Him. We are called to respect and uphold each person’s inherent worth, and to not treat them as objects for another’s gratification or profit,” said the EFC statement.
“Our concern for those who are exploited through human trafficking is based on biblical principles that compel us to care for those who are vulnerable, to seek justice and to defend the oppressed.”
The province of Manitoba’s Tracia’s Trust found that most adult sex trade workers reported their victimization beginning at a very young age, as young as nine.
“It is estimated that hundreds of children, youth and adults are victimized in the visible sex trade on the streets of Winnipeg and other cities each year. It is also estimated that thousands are victimized in the invisible sex trade that takes place in hidden venues such as private homes and drug houses located throughout the province,” said the Manitoba Tracia Trust statement.
The EFC also highlighted that children may be trafficked personally or online. Canadian viewers of abuse see footage of Canadian children and youngsters in other countries, according to the evangelical association.
A recent report by the International Justice Mission also revealed that Canadians were among the highest consumers of livestreamed sexual abuse of children in the Philippines.
“Human trafficking doesn't have to involve crossing borders. And it's not just a foreign problem, it's happening right now in communities across Canada,” said Public Safety Canada, in a statement.
The EFC has called on Christians to take action by praying for victims, and also to pray for current discussions in the Supreme Court of Canada about whether laws against benefiting from prostitution and procuring a person for prostitution are constitutional, which relates to the Kloubakov case in November 2024.
The evangelical association also wants Christians to raise awareness on the issue with loved ones and churches, and to be informed about how trafficking works and what warning signs to look for.
Finally, the EFC has called on Christians to ask the Canadian Government to act on the issue with the need for a permanent strategy to fight human trafficking.
In a letter to the Minister of Public Safety, Julia Beazley, EFC's Director Public Policy, wrote: “Today, on the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, we want to thank you for the actions that have been taken to combat trafficking and urge you to press on in this important fight.”
