Good morning, Chair and members of the committee. I speak with gratitude from the unceded territory of the Algonquin people.
As mentioned, I'm Superintendent Kim Taplin, director general of the RCMP national crime prevention and indigenous policing services. I'm joined today by Corporal Jennifer Demers, a member of the national human trafficking section.
Thank you for inviting us here as part of your study on the human trafficking of women, girls and gender-diverse people. I would like to begin by explaining the mandate and work of the RCMP, and specifically the national human trafficking section, and by sharing some key points on human trafficking in the Canadian context.
The RCMP across Canada supports the Government of Canada's national strategy to combat human trafficking and remains committed to addressing human trafficking in collaboration with federal and provincial governments and agencies, non-government organizations and law enforcement partners. These networks are crucial for police and non-government organizations to identify and help victims of human trafficking.
The national human trafficking section centrally facilitates the RCMP's efforts in countering human trafficking through awareness, education and community outreach, building and enhancing partnerships, supporting operations, advancing operational policy and internal and external reporting. The national human trafficking section does not conduct specific investigations, but rather supports investigators and acts as a policy centre to educate and raise awareness on human trafficking.
For example, recently, on March 9, the RCMP hosted the human trafficking and sexual exploitation of men and boys training workshop for the RCMP, the Canadian Armed Forces, Public Safety, CBSA and other police services and included other government departments and service providers. This event focused on assisting law enforcement on the human trafficking modus operandi in relation to male victims, and gender-diverse victims were part of the subject matter covered during the workshop.
Anyone can become a victim of human trafficking. However, factors such as age, geographic location, socio-economic background and ethnicity can contribute to unique challenges that put certain populations at particular risk.
As my colleague from CBSA shared, human trafficking does not necessarily require the crossing of borders or any movement at all. Exploitation, as defined by the Criminal Code, is the key element of the offence. Exploitation occurs when someone forces another person to provide labour or a sexual service by having them fear for their safety and/or the safety of someone known to them.
It is domestic human trafficking when all stages of the crime occur in Canada and there is no international cross-border movement. It is international human trafficking when the victim crosses an international border in the process of being trafficked.
The full extent of human trafficking is difficult to assess due to the clandestine nature of these offences and the reluctance of victims and witnesses to come forward to law enforcement. In some observed cases, it is apparent that some victims may not have been aware that they were being exploited.
The RCMP conducts proactive outreach initiatives and investigative probes into potential human trafficking offences. One of the most important sources is the lived experience experts: the survivors. Our partnerships help to empower them to tell their stories and educate law enforcement to recognize the signs of human trafficking.
It is also important for law enforcement to have knowledge of the strategies employed by traffickers when conducting their investigations. In 2022, the RCMP attended an Ontario penitentiary to interview an inmate who had been incarcerated for charges related to human trafficking. The intent of the interview was to get a trafficker's perspective of how he became a trafficker and why he committed these crimes. The interview was recorded and will be incorporated into training for law enforcement.
The RCMP collaborates with domestic and international partners to ensure a coordinated approach to detecting, investigating and combatting human trafficking. The RCMP also helps build prevention initiatives and refers victims to victim services and community-based resources, where available, for assistance and support.
Human trafficking is an important topic and a grave offence. Corporal Demers and I are pleased to be here to answer your questions and to provide information on the projects, initiatives and products that our team has been working on within the past few years.
We also appreciate the work you are doing. Thank you for continuing to bring attention to this crucial area that impacts the lives, health and well-being of women, girls and gender-diverse people.