Institutional Influence on Human Trafficking

What is Institutional Influence?

Institutional influence can be understood as how an institution or organization influences an outcome or as factors that influence institutional building (ie. organizational goals, organizational structure and design, organization culture, etc.)

Institutional influence on youth trafficking can be seen in the following organization systems: Justice, Education, Healthcare, Laws & Policies, Immigration Systems

Justice System:

Government of Canada strategy to combat human trafficking
Witness protection for victims

Education

Providing security in institutions against predators
Integrating social programs
Informing and educating students about youth trafficking

Healthcare

Treating victims
Sensitizing medical staff
Providing trauma informed care and identifying indicators of youth trafficking

Laws and Policies

Government responses and policies
Laws prohibiting youth trafficking
Law enforcement to protect victims of trafficking while targeting traffickers

Immigration Systems

Youth trafficking operates within Canada's borders and internationally
Traffickers lure/trap victims in different ways and take away their identity documents and passports

Barriers for black youth in Toronto or Canada

Racism, discrimination, and lack of cultural understanding.
Cultural stigma from communities.
Increased contact with the justice system.
Challenges in accessing mental healthcare.
Accessing healthcare in general.
Lower unemployment rate.
Colorism in the community.

Effects of Covid-19

1. Intensifying drivers and root causes of human trafficking

Vulnerability may increase among existing victim’s vulnerable groups (including trafficking survivors) & those who were previously less vulnerable to human trafficking.

2. Heightened and changed forms of exploitation

Increased abuse.
Shifts towards alternative exploitation types.
Supply of new criminal recruits.

3. Multifaced impact on children

Rise in online child sexual exploitation.
Depriving many children of one or both parents and/or caregivers, thus increasing their vulnerability to trafficking.
Increased rates of child labor and child marriage.

4. Shift towards informality in both formal and informal sectors of global supply chains

More opportunities for criminals to exploit in informal sectors due to the increased supply of vulnerable groups.
Coronavirus-induced economic crisis incentivizes businesses to exploit workers to remain viable.

5. Increased illegal and irregular migration flows

More people will be forced to move irregularly.
Irregular migrants are likely to experience increased human trafficking risks.

6. Disruption in victim assistance and support services

NGOs have been dramatically limited in their anti-trafficking response, including cancelling victim rescue missions, shelters, in-person counselling and legal- assistance services

7. Reduced enforcement, policing, investigation and justice system Capacities

Delays and/or reductions in law- enforcement operations and investigations of human trafficking cases.
Disruptions in criminal justice systems, court cases being put on hold.
Decreased cyber-security and monitoring capacities of the private sector

8. Interrupted financial support and funding

Grants and donations are in steep decline, leading to reduced financial support for anti-trafficking efforts and organizations.
NGOs and research institutions are facing shortages of funding, delays, or cancellations of ongoing research projects as donors and foundations switch priorities.

Addressing Trafficking In The Curriculum

On July 6th, the Ontario Ministry of Education issued a policy to prevent sex trafficking in schools.
They have stated that it will be in effect as of January 31st, 2022.
Teaching consent, healthy relationships and healthy sexuality
Statement of principles
Strategies to raise awareness and prevent sex trafficking
Response procedures
Training for school board employees
Measuring success: accountability and evaluation

Examples of Institutional Work
With funding from TELUS, in 2017 Media Smarts and researchers at University of Toronto’s Faculty of Social Work conducted a study to examine how attitudes, experiences, knowledge and moral beliefs of young people impact their decisions to share or not share sexts they have received.
The detailed report can be found here: https://mediasmarts.ca/research-policy/non-consensual-sharing-sexts-behaviours-attitudes-canadian-youth

CCTEH Human Trafficking & Municipal Law Research Project from University of Toronto The Canadian Centre to End Human Trafficking ("the Centre") is a national charity dedicated to ending all types of human trafficking in Canada.

The John J. Brunetti Human Trafficking Academy upholds and advances the inherent value, worth and dignitiy of each human being. It develops education programs conducts research, and instructs law and policy to fight human trafficking throughout the world and to empower survivor leadership in our global community.
https://humantraffickingacademy.org/

Our youth discussed the following possible solutions

Education: By educating our youth about the negative impacts institutional influence can have on them, they will be more prepared to find other mediums of employment, education, immigration, housing, etc.
Raising awareness: Raising awareness will notify many youth about the potential risk factors of a negative institutional influence and help them be more knowledgeable on the different ways it can affect them.
Project initiatives: Having project initiatives will help gather funding for programs that can help youth obtain valuable professional skills to prosper in the job market, to teach the youth good study habits to attain positions in good schools, and to provide youth with opportunities to display their worth in society.
Resources: Resources will allow the youth to learn numerous skills and apply them in their daily lives. These resources will diversify the youth's skills and offer them help whenever it’s needed in any regard

Dr. Gabriela Debelis

Human rights advocate and anti-trafficking specialist.
M. and a J.S.D. in Intercultural Human Rights.
Thomas University College of Law , Co-Editor in Chief for the St. Thomas University IHR Law Review.
Human Trafficking Task Force in South Florida and in the Diocese of Orlando.
Strategy advisor and consultant to various nonprofit organizations.