Human trafficking takes many forms, from forced labour to sex where someone uses physical and/or emotional ploys to control another human being.
But to fully understand the problem, which is skyrocketing in Ontario, advocates say it’s important to hear from those who’ve lived it.
“Survivors are the true experts,” said Leah McSpadden, a Toronto woman who is now 33 but is now courageously speaking out about the events that shaped her life 16 years ago.
“I’m a survivor of child sex trafficking.”
At the age of 17, McSpadden went into the sex industry but said it took a horrible turn quickly.
“Yes, I did go in willingly, but at 17 years old, you are not legally capable of consenting to sex work, and over time, it proceeded to having people traffic me — multiple ones.”
She said she was able to escape by purposely stepping on a rusty nail.
“I saw that as the only way out,” McSpadden shared. “The nail hurt my leg so badly, I was unable to work. I then was put in hospital where I met with counselors who identified me as being a victim of trafficking.”
Thus began a long road of finding housing and going through intense therapy. She escaped her captors, but still deals with the mental anguish.
“But even so, I was lucky,” she said “Not everyone gets lucky to escape, so my passion is to help other people who might not have the same education or resources to survive.”
McSpadden is in the process of starting a non-profit organization which she has named, “A Voice for the Silent.”
“Because while we know Ontario has some of the highest rates of human trafficking, this is a crime that goes wildly unreported because victims don’t always know where to turn.”
She’s working to provide space to show others there’s an escape path.
“I want to create a mentorship program for those recently exiting trafficking to be paired with mentors who can help them navigate the extreme PTSD and all those things related to being a victim.”
She’s also going public via social media detailing her past hoping to create awareness about the problem.
“Awareness really is critical to the solution to end human trafficking,” said Julia Drydek, Executive Director of the Canadian Centre to End Human Trafficking (CCTEHT) which runs a phone hotline where victims can reach out for help.
“Unfortunately, still about three quarters of Canadians think that human trafficking involves smuggling that happens to other people in other countries, and they don’t understand the realities in Canada.”
She said Ontario holds one of the largest used human trafficking corridors in Canada. “There’s a few reasons for that. One is the higher population density, we’ve got more cities.”
There are many supports in Ontario for survivors, the province is among the highest in terms of funding for anti-human trafficking units and home to the only interjurisdictional law enforcement agencies focused specifically on the issue.
But there are needs, especially when it comes to finding housing for those who escape.
“It sometimes takes us 10 to 20 different calls to various shelters to try and find some place for a survivor when they’re looking to exit their situation,” Drydek said. “And so we’ve engaged both provincial and federal governments on recommendations for housing, and also trying to get more attention to this issue.”
To get that attention, Drydek said hearing stories of survivors is critical.
“We should be looking to survivors for the solutions as well as better understanding the problem.”
McSpadden is happy to provide that voice, she doesn’t see her work competing with the CCTEHT but complimenting it.
“I just want people who are in vulnerable places to know that they can get help and the more of us sounding that alarm the better,” she said. “But first and foremost, if you are in danger, contact the Canadian Center to End Human Trafficking at 1-833-900-1010.”
That hotline is operated 24/7 and staffed with people who are trauma informed. Drydek said that means they don’t judge or push solutions, but can connect you with services in your community or law enforcement if you so choose.
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