The Canada & Bermuda Territory established a working group for the purpose of providing an avenue of communication, planning, and service delivery regarding Human Trafficking which is entitled The Canada & Bermuda Territory Anti-Human Trafficking Network. This network is made up of representatives from each of the divisions, and has been active since September 2004. The Network is also part of The Salvation Army’s International Anti-Trafficking Taskforce. The network meets via teleconference every two months and most action occurs at the Divisional level.
For a list of Anti-Trafficking Network members click
here.
Mission
Motivated by love for a particular group of our neighbours, and out of respect for the inherent dignity of our brothers and sisters involved in human sexual trafficking, we joyfully and determinedly accept the General’s challenge to combat the evil and injustice of human trafficking for sexual exploitation.
[1]
Ongoing Goals of the Network
- To reduce human sexual trafficking.
- To raise awareness of the evil and injustice of human trafficking.
- To engage Christians in prayer about human trafficking.
- To care for and assist those who have been trafficked into and within the Territory for the purposes of exploitation, particularly sexual exploitation.
- To lobby Provincial and Federal Governments to alter and enhance legislations applicable to human trafficking.
- To financially support people at-risk of human trafficking in developing countries.
- To prevent at-risk Canadian youth from being sexually exploited and trafficked into the commercial sex trade.
Guiding Principles
The Salvation Army and Public
Officially since 2004, The Salvation Army has committed itself to the issue of Human Sexual Trafficking on an international level. The Salvation Army in Canada and Bermuda has been involved in anti-trafficking activity since then, and continues to move forward in meaningful ways. The Salvation Army, in partnership with other like-minded organizations, seeks to educate ourselves internally so that we might take an active, informed approach to this destructive situation. The Salvation Army also seeks to make others in the general public more aware of this issue and to offer them meaningful ways to combat sexual trafficking.The Salvation Army maintains that there is a direct connection between sexual trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation (prostitution, pornography, etc.) and that reducing/eliminating one will directly influence the other.
The Salvation Army and other like-minded organizations
- The Salvation Army is already partnering with like-minded organizations/coalitions/faith-based groups around the issue of sexual trafficking, and will continue to do so.
Survivors of Trafficking
- Trafficked persons are human beings with inherent human dignity and worth that must always be upheld and respected.
- Building relationships of unconditional love with survivors of commercial sexual exploitation is essential to understanding where they are coming from.
- Trafficked persons escaping the sex trade need real, meaningful and positive alternatives made available to them so that restoration is possible.
- Efforts could be made to reduce the stigma of those who are sexually exploited, upholding the dignity and worth of all.
- Work could be done towards the decriminalization of the survivors of trafficking, as well as regularizing their immigration status in Canada.
Consumers of Sexual Exploitation
- Consumers of commercial sex are human beings who believe that (mostly) women’s bodies can be bought, used and sold.
- Education is needed around the harm of trafficking as well as the harm of commercial sexual exploitation, in general.
- Redemption and restoration for consumers is possible and achievable.
Perpetrators of Sexual Exploitation (traffickers and pimps)
- Perpetrators of sexual trafficking benefit financially from sexual exploitation.
- Perpetrators should be brought to justice.
- Redemption and restoration for traffickers/perpetrators is possible.
The Anti-Trafficking Network has undertaken some major initiatives since its inception, including the annual International Weekend of Prayer for Victims of Sexual Trafficking (visit
Weekend of Prayer for more details) and the “Looking behind the smile” conference (read the
Conference report for details). For more information on The Salvation Army in Canada & Bermuda’s response to the issue of sexual trafficking, click
here to read the Salvation Army response link.
[1] General John Larsson, Towards 2010 – A Declaration of Renewal 29 April – 7 May 2004 - International Conference of Leaders