Western Canada’s first human trafficking charges were dropped in court on Wednesday, due to “significant witness issues”. Despite police efforts to reassure these victims that they were not in legal trouble, they were still unwilling to fully participate in Monday’s preliminary trial.

“We know that victims of trafficking frequently fear authorities, which becomes compounded by the trauma of their exploitation and the fear of their traffickers,” says Andrea Burkhart, Executive Director of ACT Alberta.

“In fact, fearing ones traffickers is part of the legal definition of human trafficking.”

Edmonton Police Services John Fiorilli maintains that his team will “still tenaciously investigate human trafficking complaints” but he acknowledges that victims relive their trauma during testimonies, which can prevent them from coming forward.

“The victim said she had put her experiences behind her and wanted to move forward, rather than re-live the pain in testimony”, says Fiorilli about one of the victims.

ACT Alberta provides support for such victims, public education and prevention and plays a coordinating role between many agencies to ensure victims receive the help they need.

“We know that victims require ongoing support, to access services, to know their rights and in many cases, they require psychological assistance”, says Burkhart.

A new national initiative, the Chrysalis Network, now exists to provide these psychological services to victims in crisis.

“Ultimately, victims need a wide range of supports, not only to get them into and through court processes, but to help them heal and move on with their lives. The process is complex and requires the input of all stakeholders involved, including government, law enforcement and service providers. Coordination is one of the roles our organization provides.”

“Despite the charges being dropped, it’s positive that police and the courts take this issue seriously, and that ultimately these victims of modern slavery were freed.”

If you see evidence of trafficking, ACT Alberta urges you to contact your local police, RCMP or to call Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS).

For more information, call Andrea Burkhart at 780 421 0175.