Dharm Makwana

p. 3.

Upfront

Prof gets nod for fighting human trafficking

Sex trafficking may be hard to find in Canada but that doesn't mean its not happening, warns an expert in human trafficking.

To combat the problem of modern-day slavery UBC prof. Benjamin Perrin demanded the federal government create a national action plan to deal with human trafficking in a coordinated effort with provinces and non-governmental organizations.

"Traffickers have preyed on vulnerable under-age women," he said. "That's their primary market."

Perrin renewed his call to action yesterday at the U.S. Consulate where he was honoured as one of nine international heroes working to end human traffickingin the ninth annual U.S. Trafficking in Persons Report.

The report ranks countries on a three-tier scale based on governments' full compliance to minimum standards to combat human trafficking. Canada is listed in the highest-ranking tier.

Perrin noted aboriginal girls could be at particular risk around the Lower Mainland because traffickers view them as easy targets.

– Dharm Makwana, 24 Hours