First, Canada would need to use the definition of the Protocol, which is very clear. In my opinion, the law we have here in Canada is inaccurate. The interpretation of the Protocol in the law is incorrect. Therefore, this law needs to be changed so that it may be compatible with what is available on the international level.
In Sweden, we have been working for a very long time against prostitution and trafficking. During the 1970s, we began asking ourselves how we could do something, especially for the victims. This is when we decided to develop a law that would criminalize the buyers of sexual services. We also enacted a very stringent legislation on procuring. In 2002, we decided to establish a legislation on human trafficking because we had ratified the Protocol.
As is always the case for laws in Sweden, the government begins by working on a draft. Next, this draft is sent to all the agencies working on this issue. They discuss it, and the rough draft is amended following this consultation in writing.
Nevertheless, we notice that the law on trafficking, which is now available, is not stringent enough. Indeed, when women over the age of 18 are involved in trafficking, it is very difficult at this stage to lay charges against traffickers, especially because judges do not understand the situation of these victims. They think that these women are working voluntarily in the brothels and that this is something they want to do.
Furthermore, not only will we reinforce the law, but at the same time, we have decided to better educate judges and prosecutors. We can't simply make a law. It's very important to really educate judges.
In Sweden, all traffickers are convicted according to the law on procuring; they are not free. However, prison sentences are shorter for procuring than for trafficking. I could provide you with all the details later on, because it's a bit complicated.
The Canadian law is not stringent enough. According to statistics, there are between 600 and 800 victims of trafficking in Canada. This is impossible because this is a big country. In the smaller countries of the European Union, there are many more.
This is the situation in Canada because of the distinction between women who come here voluntarily, and who are considered as such because they have exotic dance visas, for example, and those who are forced to come here. This way of defining the word "force" doesn't work. This is why I said that we needed to insert in the law, for example,
abuse of a person's vulnerability