MISSISSAUGA, Ont. (June 12, 2009) – Today international aid agency World Vision weighed in on the Bill C-268 debate with the release of “10 Things You Need to Know About Human Trafficking”. Private Member’s Bill C-268 will impose a minimum sentence for child traffickers in Canada. It is scheduled for third reading in the House later this month and World Vision is urging Parliamentarians of all parties to support the legislation and protect children.

World Vision’s report draws on the aid agency’s extensive reach in the Asia Pacific Region where children are trafficked at an alarming rate. The report combines external research with case studies to paint a broad picture of rights abuses and child exploitation across many industries in Asia’s notorious trafficking hotspot, the Greater Mekong Sub-region.

While trafficking into the sex industry is still a priority issue affecting women and girls who represent the majority of identified transnational victims, the report includes testimonies from boys who have been trafficked onto farms or fishing boats, children trafficked into begging or vending on city streets, young girls forced into domestic labour and babies forcibly removed from mothers to sell into adoption.

In the report, World Vision calls for greater recognition and criminalization of all human trafficking activities, many of which are tolerated by communities, overlooked by authorities and even sanctioned by families.

“This is Canada’s moment to take concrete steps to protect children and let potential traffickers know that this isn’t a ‘slap-on-the-wrist’ crime,” said Carleen McGuinty, World Vision’s policy advisor for child protection. “By imposing a minimum sentence for those convicted we can start to set a standard in our own backyard. We want all MPs to vote for this law and protect children.” World Vision hopes this will be the beginnings of a national strategy on human trafficking.

World Vision has been actively supporting Bill C-268 and continues to call for a national anti-human trafficking strategy to address the domestic and global aspects of this crime. The agency made recommendations to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights, where it said that support for the bill is a critical step in protecting children internationally. 

“It’s disturbing to think that human trafficking could produce profits exceeding $31 billion for criminals at the expense of the lives of the victims. It’s time for Canada and the international community to be serious about stopping this crime,” said McGuinty.

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Notes to Editors:

• Bill C-268 was introduced by Conservative Member of Parliament Joy Smith on January 29, 2009. It is scheduled for third reading this month. The bill, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (minimum sentences involving trafficking of persons under the age of 18), will amend the criminal code to include a minimum prison term of five years for cases where the trafficked victims were under the age of 18.
• World Vision works in 24 countries or territories in the Asia Pacific Region, and is actively engaged in programs to end or mitigate human trafficking. The agency’s strategies to reduce trafficking in the region revolve around reducing vulnerabilities, influencing governments and assisting trafficking survivors, with particular emphasis on child protection, safe migration and improved policy.
• World Vision is a Christian relief, development and advocacy organization dedicated to working with children, families and communities to overcome poverty and injustice. World Vision serves all people regardless of religion, race, ethnicity or gender.

For a copy of the report and/or interviews, please contact:

Tiffany Baggetta     
905-565-6200 ext. 2485                                      
416-305-9612 (cell)
tiffany_baggetta@worldvision.ca