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Youth Sexual Exploitation and Human Trafficking Workshop Draws Large
Audience
Prince Rupert BC
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2010-11-10 09:36 PST
The Prince Rupert Human Trafficking Committee hosted a workshop on
Youth Sexual Exploitation, Internet Luring and Human Trafficking on
November 3 - 4, 2010 in Prince Rupert, BC.
On November 3, 2010, the Children of the Streets Society performed
for over 1100 Prince Rupert and Port Edward students. There were two
morning sessions for high school students were they incorporated
skits and monologues to get across heavy messages dealing with all
forms of sexual exploitation. They spoke about prostitution,
sexting, pornography and internet safety with the students. In the
afternoon they presented to all grade six students in the area about
healthy relationships, boundaries and internet safety.
On
Thursday, November 4 the Children of the Street Society made a
special presentation for all hotel/motel staff and managers; twelve
people attended this workshop. It focused on how staff can recognize
signs of youth exploitation and human trafficking that may be
occurring in their businesses.
The workshop on November 4, 2010 comprised of various speakers
speaking about sexual exploitation, prostitution, human trafficking
and internet luring. The speakers were from a variety of backgrounds
but everyone of them was passionate about their topics and a few had
the audience in tears or close to tears during their presentations.
One of the resounding messages of the day was centered around trying
to change people's attitude around pornography, strip clubs,
prostitution, and escort services. Each one is a form of sexual
exploitation and the victims involved are there out lack of choice,
not choice. As a society we need to eliminate the demand for these
forms of sexual exploitation and to do that there needs to be a
shift in the way people perceive them. Two of the presenters offered
the following advice on what people can do now to stop sexual
exploitation:
1. Talk to the men in your life about pornography, strip clubs,
prostitution and educate them about their realities
2. Volunteer
in your community, or donate to charities that are working on
eliminating violence against girls and women and sexual exploitation
3. Write articles or voice your opinion in all forms of media to get
people talking about the issues
4. Get information on the Swedish
Sex Purchase act that is criminalizing the people purchasing sex not
those being exploited
5. Write MPs, MLAs, about the changes you
want to see in laws around sexual exploitation and human
trafficking.
A big thank you to RCMP victim service worker, Marlene Swift, and to
the Prince Rupert Human Trafficking
Committee
for bringing these topics to light in our community.
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