Our Village News

Labour trafficking takes place in every country of the world, in every industry. Despite governments and corporations pledging to put an end to exploitative employment practices, the problem persists around the globe. The International Labour Organization (ILO) estimates that there are 27.6 million victims of forced labour worldwide as of 2021, an increase from 24.9 million in 2016. That is 3.5 people for every thousand people in the world.

ACT Alberta is thrilled to launch our brand-new training, Human Trafficking 101: Service Provider Essentials. This online workshop offers service providers an opportunity to learn about the presence of human trafficking in Alberta and practice the skills necessary to respond to the needs of victims and survivors they may encounter in their roles.

The Board of Directors of the Action Coalition on Human Trafficking Alberta (ACT Alberta) announces the departure of its Executive Director, Kate Price, effective June 14, 2024. ‍Since January 2022, Kate has demonstrated exceptional leadership as the Executive Director through her commitment to combating human trafficking. Under her guidance, ACT Alberta has seen significant growth and development.

Virtual spaces have become more important than ever. Technology is ubiquitous, and the internet is woven into the fabric of our daily life. The internet, while a powerful tool for learning and communication, can also be used as a tool for exploitation. The reality is, traffickers will hang out wherever vulnerable people are, whether those places are virtual or physical. Human traffickers have become adept at using online platforms, including social media, chat rooms, online marketplaces, and gaming sites, to identify and recruit potential victims.

In Alberta, the court has the authority to issue various orders that prohibit one individual from contacting another. If the conditions of the order are broken, there may be civil or criminal ramifications. In this blog we will explore the different orders available, including Human Trafficking Protection Orders, and how they can be implemented to protect victims of human trafficking.

Language is a powerful tool. It is how we communicate meaning with one another. The words we choose and how we use them have the power to influence the way people think about and respond to an issue. Considering your words carefully is always important, but this is especially true in the context of human trafficking. Misused or incorrect language may cause further harm and damage to individuals who have experienced trafficking and may render data completely inaccurate.

The Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) is a government initiative that allows Canadian employers to hire foreign workers on a temporary basis when qualified Canadian citizens or permanent residents are not available.

Commemorating the 75th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. This year, the United Nations’ Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) marks its 75th year. So, to commemorate this historic moment, from December 1-10, 2023 a team of partners led by the John Humphrey Centre for Peace and Human Rights will host the Ignite Change Global Convention, a series of online and in-person events to facilitate dialogue, learning and action on human rights. ACT Alberta is proud to be one of several organizations working to make this incredible event happen!

22% of ACT Alberta clients identify as First Nations, Inuit, or Métis. It's important to understand the unique vulnerabilities that Indigenous people face such as discrimination, violence and abuse, inter-generational trauma, lack of cultural support and for community members, underfunded services, and often the physical barrier or living in a rural region.

ACT Alberta was privileged to participate in a conversation with the Human Rights Council-appointed special rapporteur, Tomoya Obokata, when he visited BC in August. The discussion was essential to garner the attention needed to address this ongoing crisis that is reaching critical levels in our communities, and we appreciate the opportunity to illuminate the extent to which human rights are being violated here in our country.

ACT proudly supports our incredible, diverse communities as we all celebrate Pride Week in Edmonton and Calgary this week! It also means it is time to renew our commitment to the prevention and elimination of discrimination in all communities who are especially vulnerable to trafficking. We need to understand experiences that are unique to 2SLGBTQQIA+ communities and recognize opportunities to collaborate and work together to change the narrative.

Our Victim Response Team is the heart of our organization. It is an honour to be in the position to work directly with victims and survivors of human trafficking. To walk with them on their path to safety is a rare and important privilege.

There are many ways to get involved in the fight to end human trafficking, and many of them are easy to integrate into your everyday life...

“This is just the start. We hope EIA will be the first in a long list of airports and transportation partners across the country to join this initiative and continue gaining momentum in this very important movement” continues Kate, “this work cannot be done by one organization alone, it takes powerful compassion and collaboration to end human trafficking. We believe that together, that goal is within reach.”

Released July 4, 2023, the film Sound of Freedom placed number three in the box office, and, after just six days, it has already grossed $40.2 million. ACT Alberta staff tried to go to three different shows, and they were all sold out. We ended up at a sold-out show starting at 9:20 p.m. on a Tuesday night. While this does not tell us if the movie is good or bad, what it does tell us is that the public has an appetite to learn more about human trafficking.

The sharing of knowledge, resources, skill sets, and experiences only enhances our knowledge in the sector and builds a solid foundation to provide valuable and necessary services to victims and survivors and educate our communities.

Every year, the U.S. Department of State, produces a report on Trafficking in Persons. The report aims to engage and inform foreign governments about human trafficking, as well as spread awareness on the prevalence of the issue. This year, the report provides a comprehensive overview of the state of human trafficking around the world and the tools we are using to strengthen our response and coordination.

Displacement is one of many vulnerabilities that traffickers are skilled at recognizing and exploiting for profit, and they do so when they observe that people are in crisis or at their most vulnerable. They often recruit vulnerable or marginalized individuals by understanding what people need, and manipulating those needs to serve them.