The following is an except from Invisible Chains, by Benjamin Perrin.
Myth: Trafficking involves crossing an international border with the victim or assisting in the victim’s being transported across a border.
Reality: Trafficking is about victim exploitation and need not involve a border crossing.
Myth: Canadian citizens cannot be trafficked.
Reality: Victims include Canadians as well as foreign nationals.
Myth: Individuals know what they are getting into, so they cannot claim to have been trafficked.
Reality: Victims may have low self-esteem and be forced or deceived into compliance. Even when they have foreknowledge of the situation, they may lack the power or ability to leave and end their exploitation.
Myth: The individuals committed unlawful acts, so they are not trafficking victims.
Reality: Traffickers often force their victims to commit unlawful acts such as prostitution or immigration offences. Trafficked persons are victims of crime and should be treated with compassion, dignity, and respect.
Myth: The individual was paid for services.
Reality: Many trafficking victims never keep any of the money paid for their exploitation; traffickers may provide others with small amounts of money to keep them compliant but not enough to allow them to leave.
Myth: The individual had freedom of movement and so is not a trafficking victim.
Reality: Some traffickers forcibly confine their victims; many more control them using threats, psychological coercion, and manipulation. In many cases, traffickers are also able to make credible threats against the family members of the victim. Physical violence used against victims can easily convince them that these threats are serious.
Myth: Individuals who did not seize opportunities to escape are not trafficking victims.
Reality: Victims are often under threats that make escape impossible or are under control similar to that experienced by victims of domestic abuse.
Myth: The trafficker’s actions were culturally appropriate. Who are we to question such practices?
Reality: Individual liberty is a right inherent to all people; countries across the globe consider human trafficking to be a serious problem that cannot be excused or justified.
Myth: Traffickers and recruiters are always men.
Reality: Women also recruit victims, enforce discipline for traffickers, and in some instances are traffickers themselves.
Myth: It can’t be trafficking if the trafficker and victim are related or married.
Reality: This is like the old fable that it is legally impossible for a husband to rape his wife. Being married or related does not give someone the right to victimize another. Some victims have agreed to marry their exploiters in the false hope of lessening or ending their abuse.
