Film: Tricked (against human trafficking)

POST UPDATED WITH LETTER FOR YOUR MP

Surely a most urgent and important need is to work together against human trafficing and sexual slavery. I did not know of the current desperate reality of this situation, until I recently watched the film "Tricked" (currently on Netflix Canada).

Tricked takes us respectfully through the manipulation, mistreatment and imprisonment of babies, girls, boys and women in human trafficing, within the United States and Canada.

From the film website:

"Modern-day slavery is alive and well in the United States as thousands of victims are trafficked throughout the country to satisfy America’s $3 billion a year sex trafficking industry. "

I urge you to watch this film, and organize to take action forward immediately. Some furthers actions could include: informing yourself via many Canadian websites devoted to this topic; writing to your local, provincial and national law makers to ensure systemic change needed for victims and abusers; and seeking guidance on how to speak to children or parents near you concerning the dangerous reality of this social epidemic.

Please feel free to copy-paste the letter that I wrote to my MP:

Dear [name of your MP here],

I am a constituent of the [name of your district here] district, in [name of your city]. I am writing to you today to bring to your attention a matter of great concern, in which I would request your help and action.

In particular, I am writing about human trafficking in Canada. In our own neighbourhood, we must acknowledge that human trafficking--in the form of street prostitution, escort services and massage parlours--is occurring every morning, afternoon and evening. We witness human slavery every day, and yet little concerted effort is being made to eradicate this growing problem and help the women and girls enslaved in these practices.

[This paragraph is optional / Insert your own experience here]

There is one young lady that we watch over in our neighborhood. We do not know her name, only that she works as a street prostitute for someone on the street-corners near our home. We see her get in and out of cars and walk down back alleys with local men. One afternoon, we observed the back of her dress spotted with blood. Troubled by this, we called a local social organization for sex workers called Stella. They advised us on what to do for this unfortunate person... but I feel there must be more.

This is why I am writing to you today. The fact of human trafficking is taking place in Canadian cities and towns is an emergency. No person should be coerced, threatened, beaten or emotionally manipulated into sexual slavery.

As our MP, I request that you bring this to urgent attention of your party and to Prime Minister Stephen Harper. Clearly an immediate and comprehensive approach is required. I request that an efficient task force be assembled to implement action that addresses: perpetrators (pimps), abusers (johns), victims (prostitutes/strippers/masseuses), law enforcement, social services, community organizations, de-stigmatization efforts and necessary changes to our legal code.

Thank you for your attention to this matter. More web resources can be found here:

Web Resources on Human Trafficking in Canada

Global Alliance Against Traffic in Women ~ http://www.gaatw.org

Report from Canadian Women "End Sex Trafficking" ~ http://canadianwomen.org/trafficking

Film "Tricked" (currently on Netflix) ~ http://www.trickedfilm.com

Best wishes to you as you serve our community,

Sincerely,

[Your name here]