Canada’s first national conference on human trafficking

Ottawa, ON, March 29, 2011 - The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and the Human Trafficking National Coordination Centre have partnered with the Ottawa Police Service, in collaboration with the Canadian Chiefs of Police Association (CACP), to host Canada’s first national conference on human trafficking.

Titled "Moving Forward Together - An Integrated Response to Human Trafficking”, this conference is bringing together law enforcement, prosecutors, victim services and non-governmental organization representatives from across the country as well as provincial and federal partner agencies.

“Human trafficking is a global problem that requires both domestic and international solutions. This conference will help everyone involved to strengthen partnerships, identify solutions for challenges as well as share best practices and learn about the emerging trends," said RCMP Commissioner William Elliott.

The national conference will feature Paul Brandt, as its Ambassador and Keynote Speaker. Mr. Brandt is the most awarded Male Canadian Country Artist in history and he is actively involved in various charitable organizations.

"I am honored to have been asked to participate in and speak at the RCMP's National Human Trafficking Conference. There have never been as many people enslaved in history as there are today, and I applaud the RCMP in their continued efforts to fight this tragedy both domestically and internationally," says Paul Brandt.

Human Trafficking involves the recruitment, transportation or harbouring of persons for the purpose of exploitation (typically in the sex industry or for forced labour). Traffickers use various methods to maintain control over their victims, including force, sexual assault, threats of violence and physical or emotional abuse. Vulnerable populations at risk of becoming trafficked include migrants, new immigrants, at-risk youth and those who are socially or economically disadvantaged. This group might include youth, teenage runaways or those who may have been lured to urban centres or who have gone of their own free will with the hopes of bettering their lives. Recent convictions for human trafficking for the purpose of sexual exploitation demonstrate that Canadian girls and women are often victims. However, anybody can become a victim of human trafficking.

For more information regarding the conference, please visit the CACP website at www.cacp.ca

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More information
Please contact RCMP Media Relations
613-993-2999