PILLAR 06
Trafficking Response & Family Violence
Children caught in trafficking or family violence situations need a coordinated, survivor-informed response. PROTECT Canada is working to build one.
WHAT IS THIS ABOUT?
Children in vulnerable situations deserve a system that can identify risk early and respond effectively.
Child sexual exploitation and trafficking don’t always look the way people expect. They often happen gradually - through grooming, isolation, and control - and frequently intersect with family violence and instability.
HOW DOES THIS AFFECT YOUR CHILD?
In Canada, systems that identify and respond to trafficking are fragmented. Schools, child welfare, health, and law enforcement often see different pieces of the picture without sharing information or coordinating in a way that puts the child’s safety first.
WHAT CAN YOU DO RIGHT NOW?
Advocacy actions you can take today
Learn the warning signs
Know how exploitation and trafficking can present in children and teens.
Take action for coordinated systems
Tell elected officials that fragmented response systems fail vulnerable children.
Find support resources
Partner organizations and crisis lines can help if you’re worried about a child.
RESOURCES FOR PARENTS
Guides, tools, and where to go next
PROTECT Canada is a policy initiative. For direct support, use partner services. For advocacy, use the action hub.
What this means for your family
If a child you know seems to be in a dangerous situation, the professionals around them should have the tools and training to recognize it and respond.
THE SYSTEMIC PROBLEM
Trafficking identification and response systems are fragmented, insufficiently survivor-informed, and inadequately coordinated across sectors and jurisdictions.
Canada’s National Strategy to Combat Human Trafficking provides a federal framework, but implementation gaps persist - especially integrating child welfare, health, education, law enforcement, and immigration. Survivor-informed approaches are inconsistently implemented.
KEY AREAS OF FOCUS
- National cross-sector trafficking identification protocols
- Survivor-informed service pathway standards, non-criminalizing, trauma-informed, culturally safe
- Integration of family violence and trafficking response systems
- Cross-border coordination and data sharing protocols
- Workforce training standards for frontline professionals
- Data collection agenda for prevalence and outcomes evidence
LEGISLATIVE CONTEXT
Bills, statutes, and policy landscape
Works within the National Strategy to Combat Human Trafficking, drawing on UK Modern Slavery Act, US Trafficking Victims Protection Act, and UN Trafficking Protocol.
WORKING GROUP & RESOURCES
Trafficking Response Working Group
- Trafficking Response Working Group protocols
- Survivor-informed pathway principles
- Cross-sector training standards
LATEST NEWS & UPDATES FOR PILLAR 6
Legislation changes, coalition news, media, new resources for this pillar.
APRIL 2026
Trafficking Response WG aligns with national strategy priorities
Cross-sector protocol development for health, education, and justice.
FEBRUARY 2026
Survivor-informed pathway principles draft
Non-criminalizing, culturally safe standards under review.
Take action on this pillar
Your voice strengthens the push for reform. Share what you’ve learned or contact your representative to let them know child protection is a priority.
Join the working group
We are actively seeking experts from legal, academic, clinical, and survivor advocacy sectors to contribute to policy submissions and research outputs.
