Sex for sale

By Alyssa Horrobin

Cases of sex trafficking make headlines across North America, but local police and anti-human trafficking advocates say this is an issue in Windsor.

Illegal activity involving the sex trade is an ongoing issue becoming more and more prevalent in Ontario and Windsor is no exception according to Windsor police. Although awareness of this issue is becoming more widespread, officials say women are still being lured into the sex trade.

Constable Peter Mombourquette with the Windsor Police Morality Unit said street prostitution still happens in Windsor, but the trade has moved mostly to motels and people make arrangements to hook up on websites such as Backpage.  According to Mombourquette, what starts out being a woman’s choice could lead them into working for someone illegally.

“Behind closed doors, the public officers…we can’t really see what happens at that point,” said Mombourquette.  “At that point you can see people that exert control coerce people into being in the sex trade. It may have happened before in prostitution on the street, but now because it’s behind closed doors you can really see different levels and that’s where the human trafficking comes in – where people are coerced into doing something that they didn’t intend to do.”

Coercion can take many forms.  A lot of it involves manipulation, fear and deceit.  Mombourquette said sometimes girls get involved in a physical or online romantic relationship with a pimp.  In other situations, a girl could be addicted to drugs and needs more substances or money, or maybe the person she works for has threatened her in some way.

The law used to be if you were soliciting, you were arrested.  In January 2015, the law was changed.  Now police can build trust and positive contact with girls who previously saw them as the enemy and the charges can now be laid on the “Johns,” people driving around looking to pick someone up or on the pimp who is receiving material benefit.  Since it has moved largely to online arrangements, police need women to come forward and make a statement in order to arrest someone who is making money off them illegally.

“Because of the nature of what we’re dealing with, a lot of girls don’t want to come forward and provide that,” said Mombourquette.  “Sometimes, you know, they believe that they’re doing it voluntarily when in fact…they’re being coerced into doing it but the person that’s involved believes, because of the different relationship they have with this individual, that what they’re doing is independent.”

Mombourquette said many people are under the misconception that sex trafficking or women involved in the sex trade come from overseas if it is happening here, but the reality is a number of these women involved are born and raised in Canada.  According to him, it is extremely prevalent in Toronto and the GTA and even Windsor.

“Trafficking is known as a ghost crime.  The biggest thing that makes it an issue here is that it is out of sight,” said Maureen Thrasher with Legal Assistance of Windsor, Anti-Human Trafficking Project Coordinator with WEFiGHT.

“It is either behind closed doors or our community members are not aware of the crime and quite frankly often do not want to believe it’s a crime so it gets ignored,” said Thrasher. “Traffickers are aware of this and this keeps their business thriving. I would say the most important area is awareness. This is happening in our neighbourhood and we have to start talking about it.”

WEFiGHT is a network across Ontario providing training to agencies to learn the signs of trafficking and educating students entering the work force to do the same.  The organization does outreach at agencies where a person who is being trafficked or is at risk of being trafficked can seek help.

Thrasher said each case is handled specifically to the victim and the help and resources given throughout their journey to exit their situations are chosen by the victim.  She said the most important thing they can give to an individual is their freedom.

“When speaking specifically about working with individuals in sex trafficking, we look at each individual and create a plan of care that is right for them,” said Thrasher.  “This could be anything from providing our information and number and taking a few more times to gain trust, to someone who is in immediate crisis and needs assistance with income, housing and basic needs. We provide support with visits to appointments such as health care providers, police and the court system. We provide counseling to address issues of trauma and support individuals in moving forward.”

Another resource for women who want to exit the sex trade or just need help in some way is the Welcome Centre Shelter for Women.  Director of Community Engagement Remy Boulbol said their main focus is safety.  Boulbol said any individual identifying as a woman can seek help from the shelter.

For more information, visit well-comecentre.com or wefight.ca.  If you or someone you know may be involved in a case of human trafficking, please contact the police or someone who can help.