Sex trafficking
Safeguard your kids from exploitation and help those being trafficked
A Focus Series
Every day, all across Canada, great parents are losing their kids to predators intent on ensnaring youth in the sex trade. These are not stranger abductions; the vast majority of victims are carefully groomed by a friend or boyfriend until they can be manipulated, threatened or blackmailed into selling their body for sex. In many cases the victim is still living in their childhood home when the grooming or even the trafficking begins, with the parents having no idea that their child is in trouble.
In Canada, sex trafficking is a lucrative criminal industry, and the average age of entry into the sex trade is just 13 years old. The resources on this page will teach you how to spot the signs that a child is being groomed or trafficked, and what you can do to help a youth in need of rescue.
Staying alert to signs of trouble
Reporting human trafficking in Canada
Youth being trafficked are usually under close surveillance by their handler so it may not be safe for you to intervene directly. If you suspect someone may be a victim of sex trafficking or human trafficking call the Canadian Human Trafficking Hotline at 1.833.900.1010 or submit an anonymous tip online.
If you wish to report a crime anonymously, you can also contact Crime Stoppers at 1.800.222.TIPS (8477).