Human trafficking and child welfare

The incidence of trafficking is widely believed to be under-reported. However, this is what the data tells us:

• In 2019, there were 511 cases in Canada reported to the police (where trafficking was the most serious violation)
• According to the RCMP’s Human Trafficking National Coordination Centre, over 96% of identified cases in Canada since 2005 were domestic (not international) trafficking cases
• Between 2009 and 2016, two thirds (66%) of cases in Canada were reported in Ontario
• Trafficking cases are more often reported to police in urban areas, with almost half of all trafficking cases between 2009 and 2016 being reported in the census metropolitan areas of Toronto, Ottawa, and Montreal
• Between 2009 and 2016, the majority (95%) of victims/survivors in cases reported to police were female
• Between 2009 and 2016, over a quarter (27%) of victims/survivors in cases reported to police were under the age of 18

It's important to note that service agencies provide higher estimates than police-collected data. For comparison, in a study of sex trafficking of women and girls, 266 service agencies across the country collectively identified over 5,500 trafficked or sexually exploited girls (under 18 years of age) seeking service and supports in 2012 alone.