Two more proposed bills against human trafficking

I was looking up information about Joy Smith’s bill on the Parliament of Canada website for my blog yesterday and found two other bills on human trafficking that are being processed.

Currently, victims of trafficking are allowed to remain in Canada only if they are involved in legal prosecution of their traffickers. Bill C-269 proposes to amend the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act to allow victims of trafficking to gain a temporary residency permit even if they are not involved in a criminal case against their trafficker.

The bill was introduced by MP Marlene Jennings, and had its first reading in the House of Commons on January 29, 2009.

Bill S-223 also proposes changes to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act that would expand protection and support for victims of trafficking.

This bill would enable victims to obtain a protection permit that would grant them temporary residence status in Canada for up to 180 days. This permit could be extended for up to three years in special circumstances.

These circumstances include if the victim or their family faces harm if the victim were to be removed from Canada; if the victim is willing to assist in the investigation or prosecution of their traffickers; or if the permit was otherwise justified in the circumstances.

This bill would also provide victims with access to health benefits, social services, and allow them work or study in Canada.
It would also create a health services information hotline for victims of trafficking through which they could access counseling, health referrals and other services. In addition, it would establish an awareness campaign on human trafficking with particular emphasis on the vulnerability of victims.

Bill S-223 was sponsored by Senator Gerard A. Phalen and had its second reading in the Senate on February 24, 2009.

Both these bills are particularly important because they emphasize that trafficked persons are victims, not criminals, and should be provided with care and support to help them heal from the traumas they have experienced.

In 2002, Canada ratified the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, especially Women and Children. The Protocol aims to balance punishment of perpetrators with protection and assistance of victims.

While Canada has since criminalized human trafficking, little to date has been done to help victims. By providing greater assistance to trafficked persons, these two bills represent important steps in combating trafficking in Canada.