Since its earliest days, The Salvation Army has been committed to working with those caught up in the sex trade, and to advocating on behalf of sexually exploited women and children. In 2004, a task force was set up at International Headquarters with the specific goal of mobilizing The Salvation Army to help abolish human sexual trafficking. Since that time, The Salvation Army in many Territories has stepped up efforts to: prevent people from entering this trade; make people aware of this evil; and rescue and restore people caught up in the sex trade. The Salvation Army in Canada & Bermuda has set up an Anti-Trafficking Network and members around the Territory are actively involved in various venues of fighting this trade. For more information on the Anti-Trafficking Network, click
here. For more information on The Salvation Army’s international efforts, click
here.
Current Initiatives of the Anti-Trafficking Network in Canada & Bermuda
- Strategizing on how best to respond to sexual trafficking at the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver. The Network is looking at how best to raise awareness of sex trafficking, prevent sex trafficking and care for victims of sex trafficking. Sharon Tidd, who is the coordinator for Olympic initiatives, is a member of the Network and leads the strategizing around this initiative. There are many plans in the works including an awareness campaign with billboards, posters and public service announcements on radio and television. There are also plans to train people coming to the Games (i.e. Salvation Army volunteers) in terms of identifying and serving trafficked women.
- A presentation was made before Senator Dallaire’s Senate Sub-Committee against Sexually Exploited Aboriginal Youth at the invitation of Major Grant Effer (Government Relations Officer) and Senator Dallaire March 6, 2008.
- Updating the Territorial website (www.salvationist.ca/trafficking) with new and helpful resources.
- The Network has begun to access a newly created Lotus Notes Work Group that should assist with information and communication.
- Development of a Territorial handbook that will direct The Salvation Army in this territory about what to do upon encountering a trafficked person and guide units in navigating/accessing government and non-government assistance for the person.
- Support for a Women’s Ministries Mission project to Tijuana, Mexico assisting in the care and programming of children at risk of being trafficked.
- Participation and planning for the 3rd International Weekend of Prayer and Fasting for Victims of Sexual Trafficking (September 26-28, 2008).
AROUND THE TERRITORY
The Anti-trafficking Network has representatives in all divisions of The Salvation Army’s Territory of Canada & Bermuda. Each division has an action plan with ideas and initiatives that they are implementing in their respective provinces for anti-trafficking action. Across the board, there are like-minded initiatives such as:
- Raising awareness of Human Trafficking, and particularly Human Sex Trafficking through the delivery of seminars and presentations to various groups within and outside of The Salvation Army. This will also serve as a prevention measure for getting awareness of the issue to those at risk of being trafficked.
- Promotion of the issue and prayer about it in corps, at men’s ministries and women’s rallies, youth groups, etc.
- Trainings to take place in social service units that are most likely to come into contact with trafficked persons so that they are able to recognize a trafficked victim and know what to do in this case.
- Developing partnerships with local law enforcement on the issue as well as with other like-minded groups and organizations.
- Developing intentional ministry specific to commercially sexually exploited adults and youths.
- Some divisions are also committed to addressing the demand side of the exploitation (i.e. the consumers of commercial sex).
Some specific initiatives/activities – East to West, then South:
Newfoundland & Labrador East
The Anti-Trafficking representatives presented awareness presentations at women’s ministries camps. These women were previously unaware of human trafficking and shocked that this evil could be happening in their backyard. The representatives on the network hope to speak in corps (churches) in the future. There is disbelief that trafficking could be happening in Newfoundland and Labrador, so awareness of the issue is important. The Salvation Army has partnered with the R.C.M.P. as well as other local groups in the field to work together on this issue. A human trafficking conference is being hosted by The Salvation Army in November 2008. In the future, there is a need for training front-line workers in how to identify and work with trafficked persons.
Newfoundland and Labrador West
The Anti-Trafficking representatives presented awareness presentations at women’s ministries camps. These women were previously unaware of human trafficking and shocked that this evil could be happening in their backyard. The representatives on the network hope to speak in corps (churches) in the future. There is disbelief that trafficking could be happening in Newfoundland and Labrador, so awareness of the issue is important. The Salvation Army has partnered with the R.C.M.P. as well as other local groups in the field to work together on this issue. The Salvation Army in St. John's, Newfoundland is co-coordinating with the R.C.M.P. to organize a human trafficking workshop in November 2008. The workshop will be a time of learning and sharing for non-governmental organizations as well as government. In the future, there is a need for training front-line workers in how to identify and work with trafficked persons.
Maritimes (Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and P.E.I.)
There is a Human Trafficking Council in the Maritimes, of which The Salvation Army is an active member. Their main focus is being prepared and proactive to identify, prevent and protect victims of trafficking, and to prosecute offenders. They are currently working on drafting guidelines for a handbook on working with victims within the Maritimes. There is also training taking place for front-line workers.
The Salvation Army's Moncton CJS administers the John School for the Moncton area and recently completed a class. There is an upcoming class for the Safe Choices program (prostitution diversion). In New Brunswick, The Salvation Army works with PEERS (Prostitution Empowerment Education and Resource Society). They are hoping to establish a SAFE school for the women who want help getting off the streets. The Salvation Army hopes to extend its awareness campaign into NB schools in the future.
Quebec
The Salvation Army is part of the Provincial Council of Women, which works on the issue of sexual trafficking. Two members of Divisional Headquarters also partner with The Temple Committee Against Human Trafficking (Temple Emanu-El-Beth Sholom) and participate in its meetings and events. We supported the Temple's Symposium against Human Trafficking which took place April 10 -13, 2008.
Captains Rachele Lamont and Curtis Cartmell are establishing a 614 church plant in Hochelaga Maisonneuve, a district of Montreal. Part of their strategy is to build relationships with those involved in the sex trade. They have already begun to make contacts.
All Corps Officers are being supplied with the materials (in French as needed) to focus on the issue of Human Trafficking on Sunday, September 28th, thus participating in the weekend of prayer and fasting.
Ontario East
There is an established anti-trafficking committee in Ottawa called PACT (Persons against the Crime of Trafficking in Humans). The committee is run by the Canadian Religious Conference and Kairos Spirituality for Social Justice Centre and The Salvation Army is a participating member. The goals include preventing the trafficking of persons and increasing the protection of victims. The Salvation Army network representative has future plans to create more awareness within The Salvation Army in this division.
Correctional Justice Services in Ottawa is working with domestically trafficked persons from other provinces (such as Nova Scotia) through their Prostitution Diversion Programme (a three day program for those who have been charged with communicating for the purposes of prostitution). This programme is also available to women who have not been charged, but are looking for a way out of the lifestyle they have found themselves caught up in. The Salvation Army also has a John school and an outreach and support group (which is run in partnership with the Elizabeth Fry Society).
Ontario Central
Human trafficking in the Toronto area is present but there is a lack of firm data. The Salvation Army works closely with Toronto Police Sex Crimes Unit in the work of looking for trafficked victims, collecting appropriate information and then finding necessary services for them. They are working on awareness within The Salvation Army and other agencies. There are plans in the works for developing a residential program for victims of trafficking, as well as for further awareness raising.
The network representative has assumed the role of mission leader for the October Mexico Missions Trip to La Gloria and is making preparations, including fund-raising to go see a site. The Salvation Army is also involved in a lot of front-line work directly on the streets, forming relationships of trust so that trafficking victims can more easily be identified and helped.
Ontario Great Lakes
There is a local Salvation Army Anti Trafficking Committee, which is made up of Salvation Army employees. Recently, the committee sent a letter to the London Free Press asking them to stop publishing adult ads for sex for sale. The Salvation Army also participates on the LAAT (London and Area Anti-Trafficking Committee).
The Salvation Army is waiting for approval on starting a John School in London to address the demand side of this issue. A diversion program for sex trade workers started in the Spring of 2007. The anti-trafficking committee is working on education packages and presentations for youth (they plan to go into the schools), church groups (giving a particularly Christian perspective), other service providers and for the community (to share with community services and agencies). A training/education manual is being developed. The Network representative has been asked to speak at other NGOs/agencies who are concerned about this issue. There are also plans to approach service clubs in the London area such as Kiwanis, Optimist etc. to present on human trafficking. A community workshop is being organized for October 2008. In Hamilton, the Ellen Osler Home is trained to be on the look-out for potential trafficking victims.
The Salvation Army runs Cornerstone,an outreach program/court diversion program for sex workers in London which is trying to reach women before they become involved in the criminal justice system.
Ontario North
Fundraising activities for the Mexico mission trip include fused glass dragonfly pins , which are accompanied by a poem written by Owen Rowsell. T-shirts are also on sale, and human trafficking brochures are included with all sales of both items. The Network representative gives awareness talks about human trafficking at Salvation Army corps (churches) in the area. Plans for the future include more education and awareness, setting up a local committee with other partners and offering training on identification of victims.
Manitoba and NorthWest Ontario
In the province of Manitoba, work has begun on setting up a response team to address the needs of trafficked persons. The desired result is to have identified personnel on call to respond to trafficked individuals when identified.
A longstanding committee that is in place to advise all programming related to Commercial Sexual exploitation is “The Prostitution Diversion Program Advisory Committee” and it is chaired by The Salvation Army. It was originally set up to assist with the design of the Prostitution Diversion Program Camp (which has been operating since 1998) as well as the Prostitution Offender Program (which has been operating since 1997), both of which have become models for other agencies engaging in this type of work. There are also other programmes which have evolved from this group, such as the First Instance Program that assists individuals who have been arrested for prostitution-related offences at the time of arrest. Participating agencies (like The Salvation Army) are on hand to meet the prostituted person upon release to offer resource information and transportation.
The Network representative has given awareness talks at Booth College, CFOT and various other groups, etc. and has also written about trafficking in the Manitoba Association of Social Workers newsletter.
Prairies and Northern Territories (Saskatchewan, Alberta, NorthWest Territories and Yukon)
Trafficking of aboriginal women and girls brought into the major cities from the reserves is a major concern for the Prairies. Future plans for this region include connecting more with the Northern and Aboriginal communities to work together. The Salvation Army has joined the Alberta Human Trafficking Coalition, and is developing a better working relationship with the R.C.M.P. as well as government officials in order to facilitate more help for victims of trafficking. Awareness seminars are being conducted as well as direct work with sexually exploited people – in outreach, mobile kitchens and relationship building. There is a John school operating in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan for first-time offenders.
British Columbia (for more information visit: stophumantraffic.com)
The Salvation Army’s anti-trafficking task force has been very active in the fight against sexual trafficking in B.C. There are several initiatives including Freedom Fridays (when everyone in the province is invited to pray every Friday at noon specifically about trafficking), pioneering and partnering with other interested groups and churches (i.e. the Faith-based group and the Vancouver Coalition on Human Trafficking), prayer walking around the Downtown Eastside and building relationships with prostituted women (some of whom have been trafficked) and advocacy at a local and provincial level. Awareness seminars have been conducted all around the division, including a Traffic Jam awareness event for youth (for more info, click
here. The Salvation Army has developed training materials for those potentially coming into contact with those who have been trafficked, and this will be formalized by a training manual, which will be produced in time for the Olympics.
We also have a partnership with Linwood House a ministry house at Robson Creek on the Sunshine coast. Our workers on the Down town East Side take prostituted women over to this House where they get to share their stories, a number of opportunities are available like a spa, horse back riding etc,. The idea is to show them that they are valued, God loves them and their lifestyle can change. It is about building relationships and this is continued in The Great Room where they can come during the week and meet with the helpers, have a cup of coffee, talk and feel safe.
In Northern B.C. the R.C.M.P. has identified The Salvation Army as a good group to make people aware of what is happening in relation to sexual trafficking because they have such a good profile in their work and activities.
Marlene Swift is our representative in Northern BC and has participated in a number of Awareness seminars particularly in the schools. Marlene is First Nations and has a passion to help her own people. She received the "Courage to Come Back" award which is given to outstanding people who have gone through adversity and have triumphed. She works for the RCMP in victim services.
The Salvation Army anti-trafficking network in BC is mobilizing and getting things in place leading up to and following the Olympics in 2010. They are coordinating strategies with other churches and groups to create awareness about sexual trafficking at the games and also to be on the lookout and to help victims of trafficking who come to Vancouver for the Olympic games. The Salvation Army and the Catholic church are the main players, but there is also an evangelical office set up. Plans include public service announcements, billboards and bus shelter posters. There are also plans to train volunteers and mission teams who are coming to the games in terms of identifying and working with victims of trafficking.
Future plans in B.C. include developing a contact list for those (potentially) able to give services to trafficked people (i.e. medical, immigration/legal advice, shelter, etc.) as well as a toll free crisis number. They would also like to give more overseas mission support as well as to lobby local council members for improved services for trafficked people.
Bermuda
More awareness of this issue is needed in Bermuda, because many people in the general public do not recognize that it could be happening in their own backyard. The Salvation Army’s anti-trafficking network representative did an interview with “The Royal Gazette” (the local newspaper) on the subject of “Human Trafficking – does it take place in Bermuda?” to create awareness. The article led to discussions with the Bermuda Industrial Union on the subject of worker exploitation and those people who might be at risk of being trafficked. Goals for the future in Bermuda include further education within corps, community and various organizations, better connections with the government and other interested parties, and a working committee specifically for this issue.