Human Trafficking Awareness Day in Canada, 22 February,

Activities and Materials to Circulate to Clubs

Definition

Trafficking in persons, also known as human trafficking, is a heinous crime and an abuse of human rights. Itis commonly defined as the use of violence, deception or coercion to transport, recruit or harbour people in order to exploit them for purposes such as force prostitution, forced labour, criminality, marriage or organ removal. (Zonta International Statement on Trafficking in Persons)

See the ZI Statement on Trafficking in Persons

Suggested Activities for Zonta Clubs and Like-Minded Organizations

Start a discussion in your club about human trafficking using Facts and myths about Human Trafficking – Canada.ca

Gather your community data from your local police services, your sexual assault centre or similar agencies in your community. Highlight the data on your social media.

Contact your local media to remind them that February 22 is Human Trafficking Awareness Day in Canada.Perhaps you can point them to some resources for their use.

Request your municipality to issue a proclamation to highlight February 22 as Human Trafficking Awareness Day in Canada. See a suggested wording in the resource list below that you could use in contacting your councilors.

Provide a workshop session on the hand signal which victims can use to seek help in Tanya Tagwerker, a member of the Zonta Canada Caucus presents online workshops on the hand signal. You can contact her at [email protected] to set up a time for her presentation. Invite community members, members of like-minded organizations and local elected officials to join you for the presentation.

Gather as a group to watch Chelsea’s Story Chelsea’s Story is a play based on actual events. Chelsea is a 15 year-old who is targeted and groomed by a man posing as her boy friend to traffic her for sex. The presentation is by MT Space, a theatre group in Waterloo, the Sexual Assault Support Centre of WaterlooRegion (SASC) and the Coalition of Muslim Women. You can find more details and register at no cost at https://events.humanitix.com/chelsea-s- story-online-virtual-performance-and-talkback

Starting the week before February 22, highlight the issue of human trafficking by posting information about human trafficking on social media

Like, share and repost social media that you will find on the

Zonta Canada Caucus Facebook page:

https://facebook.com/profile.php?id=100089577531614 and

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zontacanada/

Create your own social media Some posts to assist you can be found at

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1TNuh89Eog1AOy8fr5XiJRWDO3bYO2g7p?usp=drive_link

What Individuals Can Do

Like, share and repost social media posts by your club, the Zonta Canada Caucus, other Zonta clubs and your Zonta District
Become a Signal for Help Responder. Register for a free online presentation by The Walrus and the Canadian Women’s Foundation on February 22. You will learn about different forms of abuse, the hand signal and how to respond in a safe, supportive way to someone facing abuse. To register go to https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_1ubUOFioRvmGSV- dHeKCug#/registration
Register to watch Chelsea’s Story, about a 15 year-old targeted and groomed by a man posing as her boy friend to traffic her for sex. You can register for this free presentation at https://events.humanitix.com/chelsea-s-story-online-virtual-performance-and-talkback

Sample wording for contacting municipal and provincial officials, and other organizations.

Human Trafficking Awareness Day in Canada is a solemn occasion dedicated to shedding light on the pervasive and reprehensible issue of human trafficking within the country. Observed annually on February 22nd, this day serves as a collective effort to raise awareness about the heinous crime of exploiting individuals for forced labor, sexual exploitation and other forms of modern-day slavery. Canadians unite on this day to educate themselves and others about the signs of human trafficking, its root causes and the importance of prevention. Various events, seminars and initiatives are organized across the nation to engage communities, empower survivors and encourage collaboration among law enforcement agencies, non-profit organizations and government bodies. By recognizing Human Trafficking Awareness Day, Canadians reaffirm their commitment to eradicating this grave violation of human rights and fostering a society where every individual is free from exploitation.

Resources:

For social media slides, resources and more information on human trafficking go to