Resource for Human Trafficking Survivors
Following the success of YourChoice.TO, a Toronto Police Service website that provides information for sexual assault survivors, the Human Trafficking Enforcement Team of Sex Crimes collaborated with community agencies to create a website focused on human trafficking.
The user-friendly site features a robust Question & Answer section, touching on topics from the signs of grooming and human trafficking to reporting to police.
The Toronto Police Service respects a survivor’s right to choose the outcome that best suits their needs. As a result, the website also provides survivors with a direct link to the Community Asset Portal, a geo-locating services that connects the user to healthcare, legal assistance and resources other than law enforcement.
“Coming forward to police is not something everyone is prepared to do, especially those in situations where they feel vulnerable,” said Detective Sergeant David Correa. “We want survivors to know they can trust us with their experiences and that we will hold traffickers responsible. It’s just as important for survivors to get the help they need and that’s why we created this website.”
Visit HTSurvivors.TO to learn more
The website was made possible by a grant from the Government of Ontario. Various community agencies can be accessed directly on the website such as Covenant House Toronto, BOOST Child & Youth Advocacy Centre, Illuminate, Project iRise, Native Women’s Resource Centre of Toronto, Victim Services Toronto, Native Women’s Association, Canadian Centre to End Human Trafficking, Toronto Crime Stoppers, Canadian Human Trafficking Hotline, La Maison, and Aura Freedom International.
“It is our hope that this website will grow and evolve as we continue to meet the needs of all human trafficking survivors,” said Detective Jason Reynolds, an investigator with the Human Trafficking Enforcement Team and the website’s creator. “By updating the content, adding more community partners and making information in multiple languages are all ways we plan on growing this website.”
The Toronto Police Service would like to thank its Community Consultative Committees, its Aboriginal Peacekeeping Unit, and the City of Toronto for providing information support, as well as the Toronto Transit Commission for sharing the news of the website on its digital platforms across the transit system. The information videos available on the website are courtesy of the A21 Campaign, a non-profit organization dedicated to fighting all aspects of human trafficking at a local, national and international level. Visit their website at a21.org.
