United Nations has marked July 30th as World Day Against the Trafficking In Persons. The theme for 2021 is “Victims’ Voices Lead the Way.”
“Many victims of human trafficking have experienced ignorance or misunderstanding in their attempts to get help. They have had traumatic post-rescue experiences during identification interviews and legal proceedings. Some have faced revictimization and punishment for crimes they were forced to commit by their traffickers. Others have been subjected to stigmatization or received inadequate support,” according to the United Nations website www.un.org/en/observances/end-human-trafficking-day
We, at Crime Stoppers Guelph Wellington (CSGW), encourage residents of the City of Guelph and County of Wellington to take this opportunity to learn more about this crime. While human trafficking is a global crime, it is also found in our back yards. We also need to increase awareness of the agencies that can assist these victims.
There are local resources available, specifically Victim Services Wellington www.vswguelph.on.ca and Guelph Wellington Women In Crisis www.gwwomenincrisis.org. You can also reach out to Guelph Police Service or Wellington County OPP who will help connect you to these services.
The new #HTinWC partnership with Victim Services Wellington, Wellington County OPP and CSGW is a useful resource to educate yourself and bust some myths on human trafficking. It will also remind you that it IS happening here. Check out www.htinwc.com or our social media on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Finally, CSGW is here to help people who want to stop Human Trafficking. If you are aware of someone who is trafficking individuals, you can safely and anonymously report this crime. Not only will you help keep your community safe, but you will also stop the suffering for a victim who is being exploited. You CAN do something.
Remember, if you have information about a crime and wish to remain anonymous, submit a tip at www.csgw.tips or call 1-800-222-TIPS. Your information is confidential and if your tip leads to an arrest, you receive a cash reward of up to $2,000.
For more information on CSGW, go to www.csgw.tips.
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