Sex trafficking involves force, fraud, and coercion. It is something someone does to a person as they profit from them, and it involves manipulating individuals into sexual exploitation. 

This can occur anywhere, in any community. Victims are often isolated, threatened, or emotionally manipulated. Many are coerced into compliance by someone they know or trust, such as a romantic partner, family member, or friend who exploits their vulnerabilities.

At its core, sex trafficking is the recruitment, harbouring, transportation, or control of a person for sexual purposes through means of control—physical, emotional, psychological, or financial.

Human trafficking and the sex industry are inextricably linked. Trafficking can also occur in Alberta’s many brothels, body rub establishments, illicit massage parlours, escort services, and through online exploitation.

Social media platforms can also be used to recruit, groom, and control victims. Traffickers may pose as friends or romantic interests, exploit insecurities, or use promises of love, work, or money to build trust and gain control.

Sex trafficking disproportionately affects:

  • Women and girls

  • Indigenous women and girls

  • 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals

  • Youth facing housing insecurity

  • People with prior experiences of abuse, poverty, or trauma

  • ​​93%

    of individuals trafficked in Canada are women and girls.

  • 1 in 5

    trafficking victims are 17 or younger.

  • 30%

    of victims were recruited by men they considered to be their boyfriends.

At the Alberta Centre, we are committed to raising awareness of these realities, disrupting cycles of exploitation, and ensuring survivors have access to timely, coordinated, and compassionate support.