Human trafficking still happening in Nunavut, researcher says

A researcher who released a report about human trafficking in Nunavut two years ago says it's still a problem in the territory.

Helen Roos, an Iqaluit-based consultant, says as many as 15 to 20 per cent of Nunavut youth could be victims of trafficking. That includesforced sexwork or labour.

"For people to think it's not happening is just,under-educated," saidRoos.

She says human trafficking is akin to "modern day slavery." It can be a situation where someone is forced into prostitution or where they are forced into working for the purpose of exploitation.

Roos' November 2013 reportwas prepared for the Department of Justice and was largely anecdotal - itwas also met with some disbelief when it was first published.But Roossaysafter talking more with people, she believes human trafficking is stillhappening in Nunavut.

She cited Inuit communities asvulnerable because of the high rates of extreme poverty,shortage of housingand levels of abuse.Roos said that makes women and girls more susceptible to being lured by the promise of work in the South, when instead they might find themselves forced into prostitution in Winnipeg or Ottawa.

"It's an underground crime," she said. "Unless you're living in that milieu, unless you're working at the frontline with that type of demographic, 99 per cent of Canadians are oblivious to this happening."

NunavutRCMPsaythey have not had any human trafficking reports or investigations over the past couple of years,aside from the one in early 2013. A femalecharged in that case was not convicted.

Traffickingan 'epidemic'

Roos says human trafficking victims are oftenpoor, homeless, young or struggling with addictions.

Simone Bell, who provides support for survivors of human trafficking in Ottawa and has worked with Inuit women from Nunavut, saystrafficking is a real concern.

"It's everywhere," Bell said."It's honestly just becoming an epidemic."

She says people who move south fromNunavut by themselves are more vulnerable to it.

"To have no family, to come into a big city how easy that must be to fall victim to trafficking."

Roos saysthere's a lackof resources available to victims of trafficking in the North. She says some of the best programs are available in Ottawa, including a peer-mentoring program with survivors of trafficking, where Bell works.

"I think there's still a lot of work to be done, and the work to be done is the training, the awareness," Roossaid.

Nunavut's Department of Family Services says it'sstrengthened itschild protection legislation. It's also workingwith other groups to raise education and awareness about the issue.