Roundtable on gender and trafficking in persons held in advance of G7 Security Ministers’ Meeting

From: Public Safety Canada

News release

April 20, 2018
Ottawa, Ontario
Public Safety Canada

Women and girls account for the vast majority of victims of trafficking in persons. The Government of Canada is committed to countering this terrible crime, which occurs in every region of the world, exploiting human vulnerability that may be created by poverty, racism, conflict and lack of social support networks.

On April 19, 2018, the Honourable Ralph Goodale, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, held a roundtable with experts from academia, non-governmental and Indigenous organizations on gender and trafficking in persons. These discussions focused on how gender considerations can be better integrated into efforts to counter human trafficking. They also provided insights on what actions Canada can take to boost gender-based analysis in international dialogues, starting with the G7 Security Ministers Meeting (April 23-24) in Toronto, Ontario.

Information exchanged during this roundtable will also help inform upcoming discussions on ways to advance gender equality and women’s empowerment at the G7 Leaders’ Summit in Charlevoix, Quebec on June 8-9.

Quotes

“Most victims of human trafficking are women and girls. The Government of Canada is committed to fighting this abhorrent attack on basic human rights and dignity. We’re grateful for yesterday’s discussions with a broad range of experts from civil society, academia and the Gender Equality Advisory Council. They have helped us understand the best approaches to address factors that contribute to human trafficking and will help inform Canada’s way forward in preparation for the G7 Security Ministers Meeting.”

- The Honourable Ralph Goodale, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness

Quick facts

  • Human trafficking is an offence under the Criminal Code of Canada and the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act. The extent of human trafficking, in Canada and internationally, is difficult to assess due to the hidden nature of the crime, the reluctance of victims and witnesses to come forward to law enforcement and the difficulty of identifying victims.

  • Canada was among the first countries to ratify the United Nations Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, especially Women and Children.

  • Canada’s Strategy to address Gender-Based Violence is being expanded. Following investments of $101 million over five years in Budget 2017, Budget 2018 invested an additional $86 million over five years, starting in 2018-19, and $20 million per year ongoing.

  • Budget 2018 also invested $14.51 million over five years, beginning in 2018-19, and $2.89 million per year ongoing, to establish a National Human Trafficking Hotline that will serve to report tips to law enforcement, refer victims and survivors to the appropriate services, and collect data to better understand and respond to this issue.

Associated links

Contacts

Scott Bardsley
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness
613-998-5681
scott.bardsley@canada.ca 

Media Relations
Public Safety Canada
613-991-0657
media@ps-sp.gc.ca

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