128.107. Continue effectively implementing its action plan to combat human trafficking and further promote gender equality in the country with an increase in funding for the protection and promotion of women’s rights (Cambodia);
Source of position: A/HRC/24/11/Add.1 - Para. 40
Supported D27 Prohibition of slavery, trafficking
A46 National Plans of Action on Human Rights (or specific areas)
F12 Discrimination against women F11 Advancement of women
S05 SDG 5 - gender equality and women's empowerment S16 SDG 16 - peace, justice and strong institutions Affected persons:
- general - women
Implemented.
Comments: In June 2012, the Government of Canada launched the National Action Plan to Combat Human Trafficking, which includes the four pillars of prevention, protection, prosecution and partnerships. The National Action Plan expired in March 2016, but federal anti-human trafficking efforts are ongoing, including: law enforcement training; general and targeted public awareness campaigns;
research; support for victims through funding of not-for-profit and local agencies; and coordinating with and engaging provinces/territories. The formal evaluation of the National Action Plan concluded in October 2017. Its results will help determine next steps to advance the government’s work to combat human trafficking in Canada.
Relevant information can also be found under
recommendations 108 and 109 below and in paragraphs 37 to 41 of Canada’s report on measures to protect and promote women’s rights.
128.108. Continue placing special emphasis on the victim-oriented approach to address the challenges of human trafficking in the country (Thailand);
Source of position: A/HRC/24/11/Add.1 - Para. 40
Supported D27 Prohibition of slavery, trafficking B53 Support to victims and witnesses
S16 SDG 16 - peace, justice and strong institutions Affected persons:
- general
Implemented.
Comments: The Government of Canada has supported projects that protect victims of human trafficking in Canada and has provided them with essential services. In partnership with community organizations and non-government partners, projects have been implemented to help survivors of human trafficking through protective and restorative housing, healing and rehabilitation; mental health and addiction supports; employment and training; life skills development and empowerment, including financial literacy and parental skills.
Canada’s immigration officers may issue temporary resident permits to foreign nationals who are believed to be victims of human trafficking, which also renders them eligible for Interim Federal Health Program coverage. Immigration measures are also available to foreign national victims of
trafficking to apply to remain in Canada on a permanent basis.
In an effort to address human trafficking, Canadian banks, the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada (FINTRAC), and federal, provincial and municipal law enforcement launched Project Protect in 2016. Project Protect supports the identification and reporting of financial transactions that are suspected of being related to human trafficking for sexual exploitation.
The Canadian Victims Bill of Rights came into force in 2015 affirming rights for victims of crime, including human trafficking victims, in four areas – information, protection, participation and restitution. Under Canada's criminal law, victims of trafficking have the right to request testimonial aids when appearing as a witness in criminal proceedings, to present a victim impact statement at sentencing, and to have a court consider making a restitution order which can cover financial losses resulting from bodily or psychological harm caused by the crime.
Provincial and territorial governments have measures that address and provide services to victims of human trafficking, for example, by providing support to community agencies directly addressing the specialized needs of victims (Alberta); legislation aimed at enhancing the ability of victims of sex trafficking and sexual exploitation to seek civil remedies from those who have recruited, harmed and profited from them (Manitoba); working through coalitions that include government, police and non-governmental representatives (Newfoundland and Labrador); and human trafficking education and awareness campaigns (Nova Scotia).
In May 2017, the Government of Ontario passed the Anti-Human Trafficking Act, 2017. This bill enacted the Anti-Human Trafficking Awareness Day Act, 2017, and the Prevention of and Remedies for Human Trafficking Act, 2017, which creates a tort of human trafficking, and will enable victims or
other persons on their behalf to seek restraining orders against a respondent to prevent human trafficking.
Relevant information can also be found under recommendations 107 above and 109 below.
128.109. Intensify efforts made so far to identify and eradicate trafficking in children and women for the sex trade (Holy See);
Source of position: A/HRC/24/11/Add.1 - Para. 40
Supported D27 Prohibition of slavery, trafficking F13 Violence against women F19 Girls
F33 Children: protection against exploitation
S05 SDG 5 - gender equality and women's empowerment S16 SDG 16 - peace, justice and strong institutions Affected persons:
- children - girls - women
Implemented.
Comments: The Criminal Code contains six indictable offences that specifically address human trafficking. In force since 2014, the Protection of Communities and Exploited Persons Act, criminalized the purchase of sexual services, receiving a material benefit from the sale of others’ sexual services, advertising the sale of others’ sexual services and modernized the existing procuring offences. These legislative reforms are aimed at reducing the demand for sexual
services, which has been shown to reduce the incidence of human trafficking for sexual exploitation. They were complemented by new funding ($20M over 2015-2020) for social programming for those who wish to leave the sex trade as well as human trafficking victims.
The Protection of Communities and Exploited Persons Act also added mandatory minimum penalties to the main human trafficking offence in the Criminal Code, and increased the maximum sentences and added mandatory minimum penalties to the material benefit offence and the documents offence when they involve the trafficking of children.
Other recent measures complement these legislative measures. The Government of Canada developed a local diagnostic tool to assist with the identification of populations most at risk of human trafficking and related forms of exploitation.
Canadian police partners and the RCMP have participated in national/international anti-human trafficking operations, such as Operation Northern Spotlight, to address domestic human trafficking in the sex trade.
Relevant information can also be found under recommendations 107 and 108 above.
128.110. Establish mechanisms and procedures for the protection of rights of child victims of human trafficking (Uzbekistan);
Source of position: A/HRC/24/11/Add.1 - Para. 40
Supported D27 Prohibition of slavery, trafficking F33 Children: protection against exploitation A42 Institutions & policies - General
S16 SDG 16 - peace, justice and strong institutions Affected persons:
- children
Implemented.
Information related to the sexual exploitation of children can be found under recommendation 109. See also
recommendation 111 for information on procedures and training related to trafficking.
128.111. Develop mechanisms and procedures to better protect the rights of children victims of trafficking, and provide training for police and prosecutors in this regard (Republic of Moldova);
Source of position: A/HRC/24/11/Add.1 - Para. 40
Supported D27 Prohibition of slavery, trafficking F33 Children: protection against exploitation A53 Professional training in human rights S16 SDG 16 - peace, justice and strong institutions Affected persons:
- children
- judges, lawyers and prosecutors - law enforcement / police officials
Implemented.
Comments: Published in 2015, the Handbook for Criminal Justice Practitioners on Trafficking in Persons, endorsed by the Federal/Provincial/Territorial Ministers Responsible for Justice, provides criminal justice practitioners with guidance in the investigation and prosecution of human trafficking cases.
The RCMP, with the collaboration of Canadian police partners, delivers human trafficking training to Canadian and international police officers at the Canadian Police College as well as other enforcement agencies and non-governmental organizations. Furthermore, the RCMP has delivered advanced human trafficking training courses facilitated by United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and Interpol throughout Central America and the Caribbean.
Information related to trafficking and sexual exploitation of children can be found under recommendations 107, 108 and 109 above.