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Trafficking in Persons

Interdepartmental Working Group on Trafficking in Persons (IWGTIP)

Description
IWGTIP activities
Links to IWGTIP member departments and agencies

Description

The federal Interdepartmental Working Group on Trafficking in Persons (IWGTIP) is co-chaired by the departments of Justice and Foreign Affairs and is composed of the following participating departments and agencies:

Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA)
Canadian Heritage (CH)
Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA)
Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS)
Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC)
Department of Justice Canada (JUS)
Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT)
Health Canada (HC)
Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC)
Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC)
Passport Canada
Privy Council Office (PCO)
Public Safety Canada (PS)
Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP)
Statistics Canada
Status of Women Canada (SWC)

The Interdepartmental Working Group on Trafficking in Persons is tasked with co-ordinating federal activities to address trafficking including the development, promotion and implementation of a comprehensive anti-trafficking strategy, in keeping with Canada’s international commitments.

IWGTIP activities

In 2003, the Interdepartmental Working Group on Trafficking in Persons produced an information booklet in fourteen languages that warns potential victims of the dangers of falling prey to traffickers. The booklet is being distributed through Canadian missions and non-governmental organizations abroad.

On March 8th and 9th 2004, the Department of Justice Canada, in collaboration with the International Organization for Migration, organized a seminar on trafficking in persons for Canadian police, Crown prosecutors, immigration, customs and consular officials. This professional training session brought together Canadian and international experts on trafficking in persons to exchange information on best practices to combat this crime.

On March 30th 2004, the Canadian Ethnocultural Council (CEC), in partnership with the Department of Justice and Status of Women Canada hosted in Ottawa the Forum on Trafficking in Persons, Especially Youth, Children and Women. This Forum brought together non-governmental organizations and academics from across the country. The objectives were to educate and increase public awareness about the situation of victims of trafficking, especially youth, children and women and explore strategies for community driven initiatives to prevent and combat this scourge. A poster entitled People for Sale in Canada? The answer will shock you was also launched at the Forum.

On March 31st 2004, federal government policy makers met with NGOs and academics from across Canada to discuss various elements of a potential federal anti-trafficking strategy. This event was funded by the Departments of Justice and Status of Women Canada. It was facilitated by Metropolis, a consortium of federal departments and agencies that promote research on diversity and migration-related topics.