First Nations communities combating domestic trafficking

The Vancouver 2010 Olympics are drawing near. Construction projects are being completed. Tickets are being sold. Athletes are training hard in anticipation of their moment in the spotlight.

And human traffickers are on the lookout for vulnerable people – mainly women and children – to bring to Vancouver and exploit during the Games.

Significant spikes in trafficking are common occurrences during international sporting events, as large numbers of people congregate together.

The Winter Olympics have attracted particular concern for this reason. Within Canada, the trafficking of young Aboriginal women for the purposes of sexual exploitation is expected to rise, and Canada currently has no national strategy with which to combat it.

Trafficking is a horrendous crime. It strips victims of their human rights and dignity, and can result in long-lasting physical, emotional and psychological trauma.

People are made more vulnerable to trafficking because of poverty, unemployment and a lack of opportunities in their home communities, among other reasons.

It is difficult for many people to believe that trafficking happens in modern-day Canada, and a lack of awareness contributes significantly to the problem.

Fortunately, initiatives have begun to be taken to address the trafficking of Aboriginal women. Today, the Winnipeg Free Press reported that the federal government has made a contribution of $100,000 to support the efforts of the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs in developing education and awareness programs to combat trafficking in Manitoba First Nations communities.

This is positive news. The contribution demonstrates that the federal government has begun to recognize domestic trafficking as an issue that urgently needs to be addressed.

However, focusing on trafficking alone, without fighting against root causes such as poverty and unemployment, will only go so far in the long term. As we host the 2010 Olympics, we have a responsibility as a country to ensure that we limit this terrible crime to the fullest possible extent.