Human Trafficking Series

healthy talks for young adults human trafficking series

What do working conditions, consent, and healthy relationships have in common? How can I stay safe? What can my friends and family do to help eliminate human trafficking? What can I do? In our Healthy Talks Introduction to Human Trafficking Series we answer these and other questions you may not have even thought about!

Human trafficking is a complex issue and we’re here to help you unpack it. We break down some of the myths and misinformation that circulate in popular stories and representations of human trafficking that you’ve encountered on TV and in the news and establish a strong foundation for you to identify and challenge some of the root causes of trafficking in your own life and the world around you. We do this through the lens of consent, sex positivity, healthy relationships, and fostering safe, respectful work environments and we demonstrate the importance of anti-oppressive, anti-racist, harm reduction approaches. Unsure what this means? Don’t worry, we’ve got this!

Along the way, you’ll learn about what these words mean and what they look like in practice. You will also learn about some of the forms of inequality, racism, and discrimination that are the root causes of human trafficking and how you can address them in your day-to-day life.

To get started, check out Episode 1, where Dr. Nicole D. McFadyen will introduce you to some of the myths and facts about human trafficking in Canada and provide you with some important tips for addressing consent and safety in your daily life.

In Episode 2, Carina Raven shares her experiences as an Indigenous woman and survivor of human trafficking, including racism, the importance of consent, and the differences between trafficking and sex work.

In Episode 3, Dr. AnnaLise Trudell discusses sex positivity and harm reduction approaches to supporting survivors of sexual and gender-based violence, as well as consent, healthy relationships, and supporting sex workers.

Episode 1 – Unpacking Human Trafficking in Canada: An Introduction

“How we think about human trafficking impacts and shapes the solutions we imagine.” – Dr. Nicole D. McFadyen

Dr. Nicole D. McFadyen is a social anthropologist and researcher who is currently contract faculty in the Department of Anthropology at York University and a researcher with the Centre for Research & Education on Violence Against Women & Children at Western University.  She has been researching human trafficking, migrant worker rights, sex worker rights, LGBTQ2S+ rights, and related issues for over 10 years.

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Episode 2 – Carina Raven’s Experiences Surviving Human Trafficking

“The police just completely failed me.” – Carina Raven

Carina Raven is an Indigenous woman originally from the Northwest Territories who is currently living and working in Toronto, Ontario. She was brought into a trafficking situation not long after turning 18 and escaped months later. She has worked in the sex industry, online and offline, for the past eight years, and is committed to educating people about Indigenous issues, sex work, consent, and her trafficking experience. In the future, she hopes to return to school to pursue a degree in the social sciences.

Episode 3 – Sex & Choice: What do they have to do with trafficking?

“We don’t rescue people. We don’t go into other peoples’ lives and rescue them. They rescue themselves if that’s something that they think they need and we are there and we show up with the resources that they need to do that.” – Dr. AnnaLise Trudell

Dr. AnnaLise Trudell is a gender-equity consultant and the manager of Education, Training & Research at Anova, the women’s shelter and sexual assault centre in London Ontario. She brings extensive analysis of the causes and impacts of gender-based violence and of prevention programming through her doctoral and postdoctoral research at Western University. As Manager at Anova for over a decade, she has overseen the facilitation, curriculum development and evaluation of youth anti-violence programming and professional trainings. She is a seasoned public educator and facilitator with over 500 lectures and presentations engaging youth, professionals & post-secondary students through public education.