Safe & Accepting Schools

Sex trafficking is a form of sexual exploitation and is a crime under the Criminal Code. It can include recruiting, harbouring, transporting, obtaining or providing a person for the purpose of sex. It involves the use of force, physical or psychological coercion or deception.

Traffickers take advantage of the vulnerabilities of children and youth to lure them into sex trafficking. They begin with the tactic of identifying unsuspecting victims and grooming them by fulfilling unmet needs, such as love, affection, a sense of belonging and basic needs like food or shelter, to create a sense of dependency. In addition, traffickers also use threats, physical violence, and control to exploit children and youth for financial gain.

Tactics used by traffickers include befriending children or youth on online platforms or encouraging a student to leave a rural/remote community to come to a city for work. Traffickers use coercion and manipulation to isolate the victim from family and friends, and then normalize abuse through a grooming process.

Most individuals who are sex trafficked are women, girls, and gender diverse individuals, but all people may be targeted. While any student can be sex trafficked, some groups are at higher risk due tovulnerabilities arising from systemic inequities, discrimination, and barriers. Groups with increased vulnerability to trafficking include:

• a disproportionate number of Indigenous and Black children and youth in care due to systemic racism and discrimination, whose circumstances make it difficult for them to form consistent relationships with adults and peers;
• newcomer youth who face language barriers, isolation, economic disadvantage or lack of community;
•  students with disabilities who experience bullying and isolation in addition to having difficulty understanding the intention of others;
•  2LGBTQIA+ identifying students who experience higher rates of bullying, assaults and sexual abuse, and often experience isolation or displacement due to rejection from their family or community.

Changes in behaviour, physical appearance, belongings, and relationships with family and friends can be signs that someone is a victim of sex trafficking. Signs or indicators of a child or youth involved in sex trafficking include:

• repeatedly missing from home
• staying out more often or later
• frequent school absence, or decline in school performance
• withdrawal or isolating from family or friends
• anxious, depressed, submissive, tense, nervous or paranoid (avoid eye contact or fearful of police)
• new boyfriend, girlfriend, or friend who they won't introduce to family or friends
• spending time with an older person or people
• new clothing or jewelry that they can’t afford to buy
• malnourished or lacking medical care
• signs of physical abuse, such as bruising, cigarette burns or fractures
• tattooing or branding symbols, particularly names
• new or second cell phone with a secret number
• don’t have their own belongings or money, and don’t control their own passport or travel documents

*This list presents a comprehensive overview of the warning signs of sex trafficking, but there may be others that are not listed. These signs should be considered in the context of each individual, and they do not always indicate that sex trafficking is occurring.

In addition to the above list, it is important for caring adults to consider signs related to the child or youth’s use of technology, such as frequency and any secrecy around content accessed or contacts.

• If you are a student, contact a trusted adult
• If you or someone you know needs help, call Canada’s confidential Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-833-900-1010 for information and support, visit canadianhumantraffickinghotline.ca. If the person is Indigenous, call, chat or text 1-855-554-4325
• If there is immediate danger or if you suspect a child under 18 is being trafficked, call 911 or the Niagara Regional Police Service.

DSBN staff will take all required steps to ensure the immediate physical and emotional safety of students involved in sex trafficking. Supports are provided using a culturally responsive and trauma-informed approach that takes into consideration the unique needs or circumstances of each student. DSBN central and school teams will work collaboratively with students, parent(s)/caregivers and community partners where appropriate to provide the necessary emotional and academic accommodations, as well as culture specific supports.