Survivors of human trafficking have shared their experiences in a new Ontario Native Women’s Association Report.
One of the messages found in the report from a survivor suggests teaching women at a young age what good love is.
Others shared how important it is for girls who are considering getting out of a human trafficking situation to see and hear from survivors.
Over 3,360 people shared their stories dealing with human trafficking.
250 of those individuals self-identified as human trafficking survivors.
Their input and stories helped create the report entitled “Journey to Safe Spaces: Indigenous Anti-Human Trafficking Engagement.”
14 recommendations came out of the report including creating a culturally-based gender-based trauma-informed approach that would include traditional healing for survivors.
Other suggestions for helping sex workers transition to a different life includes funding for emergency travel, relocation, ID and name change, tattoo removal and other safety needs.
The report calls for better training for staff about Indigenous and mainstream services in key skills such as cultural safety, understanding colonialism and racism and harm reduction.
Officials would like to create a promising practices portal that would house tools, templates, protocols, program descriptions, and other resources to support service providers, survivors, and families.
Part of the study included creating a Grandmother Earth Dress that represents violence Indigenous women endure every day of the year
