Walk on. Many came out to stretch their legs during the Canada Fights Human Trafficking 5k walk fundraiser held at Square One Mall on Saturday. Photo by Claudio Cugliari
The mission of the walk was the raise funds to support and rescue individuals who have been victims of human trafficking in Canada and to raise awareness about the cause.
CFHT works across the country to help victims through various rehabilitation programs. They provide rescue services, food, emergency housing and connections to resources to help victims get their lives back.
CFHT works with police organizations across the country to help track and locate women who have been sold into the sex trade and help them escape.
In recent years, Canada has become a haven to human traffickers due to the lack of legislation preventing and prosecuting the act.
Unlike in the United States, where a conviction can lead to a lengthy prison term, no such penalty exists in Canada.
In 2008, 25-year-old Imani Nakpangi of Toronto received just five years for trafficking two young girls ages 14 and 15. When credited for time served he ended behind bars for less than two years in total. He made more than $400,000 selling the girls as prostitutes.
In 2003, Private Members Bill C-268 was introduced in the House of Commons, calling for minimum sentences and tougher prosecution of offenders. It remains before the Senate.
CFHT Special Events Coordinator Mara Bajak said many young girls and women end up in the sex trade after they are kidnapped or tricked into thinking they will be working as housekeepers or nannies.
“They are shipped from different countries and when they get here, their passports are taken and their families threatened with violence,” said Bajak.
She added many children who are kidnapping victims in Canada end up in the sex trade industry. According to the RCMP, from 800 to 1,200 people are trafficked in and through Canada every year. The average age of a girl who is sold within Canada is 4-10.
If more men understood the nature of the sex trade industry, Bajak said, they would be less likely to participate.
Iwona Lukasik of Mississauga, a mother of three girls, was a participant in the walk. She first heard about the event through a friend who has been involved in volunteering with the organization for several years.
She said the event has very personal meaning to mothers who know what it’s like to worry about their daughter’s safety.
“As a parent, it is important to make sure your kids know what is happening in their communities,” said Lukasik, who added she encourages families and schools to discuss the issue of personal safety and self protection. “It could so easily be your children.”
More information about CFHT and human trafficking in Canada can be found at www.canadafightshumantrafficking.com.
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