Sex trafficking
Sex trafficking is a form of human trafficking that involves recruiting, moving, or holding victims for sexual exploitation purposes. Sex traffickers can coerce victims into providing sexual services by force or through threats, including mental and emotional abuse and manipulation.
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Hear from Survivors about warning signs
While each trafficking situation is unique, there are some common signs experienced by sex trafficking victims or Survivors. The following video features real testimonies from Survivors of sex trafficking sharing their lived experiences.
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Transcript
The following video contains topics that may be distressing to some audiences including sexual exploitation, drug use, and violence. Viewer discretion is advised.
The following video contains testimonies from Survivors of sex trafficking and their family members.
They've shared their experiences to help Canadians understand the problem of human trafficking in this country.
What are potential warning signs experienced by sex trafficking victims or Survivors?
Brenda
We need to learn what the signs are we need to use our gut feelings and call in. You know, I think so many times we see something and we're just, like, you know, it's not my business and keep going. Or—I don't know, I just feel like it's our responsibility, right, to take care of each other, watch over each other. And if we had the signs, we would know more.
Subtle forms of control
Mallory
He would be in another hotel room that I was paying for. He would have friends, and alcohol, and weed and they would just hang out and enjoy themselves while I was working. If I was to leave at all, I needed to tell him
and I needed to come right back, obviously, and usually he would send
His friend's girlfriend with me to go out so that I wouldn't go anywhere by myself. And after a little bit, I realized that was a pattern, that I never really got to go anywhere by myself. At one point, like, my ID and stuff went missing, too.
Substance misuse
Raine
I wasn't taught about the birds and the bees, about safe sex, consent. That didn't exist in the late '90s, early 2000s. I was struggling with the impacts of the impacts of being raped and I was turning to drugs and alcohol to cope.
I currently have a 13-year-old boy that I'm raising, and
If they automatically started consuming large quantities of drugs and alcohol, I'd be like, what is going on? You know what I mean? Like, I don't think anybody as a young child is like, when I grow up, I want to drink copious amounts of alcohol and put a bunch of drugs in my system. Nobody wants to do that.
Self-harming behaviour
Charlie
I can't speak for other people, but in my life, like, my eating disorder started around the age of when - It started at eight, and that's when I started being trafficked.
And it's like I started controlling my food. I started hiding food. I didn't understand
What I was doing, but I would just do it and it made me feel better. And, yeah, and then it just kind of progressed from there.
I struggled with self-harm for a long time, and people call it an addiction, and that's something that I've overcome.
But that was what I did to escape the trauma. Trauma can really affect someone. And with what happened, I just didn't know what else to do. I didn't feel like I had anyone to turn to. Like, I know it sounds kind of weird, causing physical pain, but I guess causing the physical pain takes away the emotional pain.
Changes in physical appearance
I had a tattoo put on while I was with my trafficker, and it was the name that he gave me. That was my identity for a very long time.
It's hard having a piece of your body that you don't want to look at, or that you don't want other people to ask questions about, or you, you avoid. Like, how do you avoid your own place on your body?
The experiences shared reflect potential warning signs of sex trafficking, but it's not an exhaustive list. Each trafficking situation is unique, and the warning signs are wide-ranging.
If you or someone you know may be a victim or survivor of sex trafficking, call the Canadian Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-833-900-1010
His Majesty the King in Right of Canada, as represented by the Ministers of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, 2025.
PS18-96/1-2025E-MP4
ISBN 978-0-660-75677-6
Public Safety Canada Securite publique Canada
Canada
Who's at risk
Anyone can be a victim of sex trafficking. Traffickers often target people who may be at odds with or separated from their families, in need of work, desperate for money, or Survivors of abuse. Based on available government data and resources, in Canada, human trafficking most often affects:
Women and girls
Police-reported incidents of human trafficking show that 93% of victims are women and girls.Footnote1
Youth and young adults
Police-reported incidents of human trafficking show that 22% of victims are girls under the age of 18, and 41% are women aged 18-24.Footnote1
Indigenous people
The final report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls highlights the connection between trafficking for sexual exploitation and violence against Indigenous women and girls. The combination of social and economic issues resulting from colonialism make Indigenous women and girls more at risk of human trafficking.Footnote2
Possible signs of sex trafficking
Do you or someone you know:
- Have a new relationship with someone controlling, perhaps online?
- Receive excessive gifts or cash from a partner for no reason?
- Seem to be in a relationship that has taken a sudden negative turn?
- Have intimate images that have been shared by someone online with/without consent?
- Feel intimidated or controlled? For example, is somebody controlling their phone, ID, or movements.
- Live and/or work in unhealthy, unsafe conditions?
If you said yes to one or more questions, you or someone you know may be at risk of being trafficked.
How traffickers take control of victims
Learn what motivates traffickers, how they recruit and maintain control of victims, and what warning signs to look for.
Who human trafficking affects
While anybody can be a victim, learn why some people are at higher risk.
