Fanshawe to host human trafficking conference

Header image for Interrobang article CREDIT: LAM LE
A series of talks at Fanshawe hopes to shed light on the ugly reality of human trafficking.

On Feb. 28, Fanshawe College will host a conference discussing human trafficking, featuring various speakers on the subject from London, Ont. The conference will run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Alumni Lounge.

The topic of human trafficking has become a hot-button issue in the last few years, and many concerns have arisen in the London area concerning the safety of women and girls.

The conference, organized by Fanshawe’s Social Science Speakers Series, aims to shine a light on the topic with talks from seven different speakers including keynote speaker, Kelly Franklin. Franklin will discuss her organization, Courage for Freedom (previously Farmtown Canada). The organization is based in Aylmer and provides awareness to the community on prevention strategies for human trafficking. Franklin will provide students with education on the topic, and equip them with the skills they need to protect themselves and others from the ugly truth of trafficking.

Navigator. Londons student lifestyles magazine.

Organizer Dr. Amanda Zavitz said that students have a lot to learn about the topic of human trafficking.

“It’s happening within our own community,” she said. “My hope is that the students will come and they’ll come to understand who’s involved in human trafficking, and the extent of human trafficking.”

The event also hopes to educate attendees on what to look for in the community when it comes to human trafficking.

“I’m hoping that they [students] can also walk away with an understanding of what they can do if they see someone who they think is being trafficked,” said Zavitz. “I think there’s so much they can learn from the day of presentations.”

While the event sold out in almost 48 hours, Zavitz said that the talk being given by Elyssa Rose from Atlohsa Family Healing Services is open to all those who wish to attend, in room D1060, from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.

Zavitz said the issue has only been growing in recent memory, and that it’s important to keep the conversation going.

“I’ve been a sociology professor for a really long time,” she said. “And human trafficking is something that I only really started hearing a lot about within the last five years. So I think it’s something that’s growing in numbers. More and more girls are being trafficked and it’s happening in our own community, so I think it’s something that it’s important to have an understanding about.”

Becky Elliot from the London Police will also provide a talk on what the police in London are doing to prevent human trafficking. In late 2016, the London Police established the Human Trafficking Unit, and the following year laid 16 human trafficking charges. According to londonpolice.ca, statistics show that cases are growing, and they too believe that awareness and preventive measures are the best ways to protect the community. According to the International Labour Organization, human trafficking globally generates an estimated $150 billion in profits.

This is Fanshawe’s first human trafficking conference. Zavitz said she hopes that students will come away with a better understanding and awareness for this taboo issue. It’s happening globally, every day, but it’s also happening right here in London, and as the speakers at this event will surely tell, prevention and awareness are the best ways to combat it.