Walk in Saskatoon wants to end human trafficking in the city

Human trafficking isn’t just happening overseas, it’s happening right here in Saskatoon.
 
That’s according to Cindy Reimer with A21 Walk for Freedom, which was held Saturday morning with 200 people at River Landing.
 
“I don’t know exactly where in the city it’s happening,” she said. “To protect those involved in it I don’t think I could say, but it is happening here.”

Saskatoon police couldn’t be reached for comment to confirm if they’re dealing with this problem.

“The police are very involved in this issue,” Reimer said. “They have a special area that looks after these incidents.”

At last year’s walk former prostitute Sheila Poorman said she was introduced to the world of human trafficking at the age of 13 when a man got her drunk and paid her to have sex against her will.

A21 is a non-profit organization who believes that together, we can end human trafficking.

“These victims don’t have a voice, so I’m their voice,” Reimer said. “I’m not OK with 12 and 14-year-olds being trafficked.”

93 per cent of trafficked victims in Canada are Canadian and runaways are often picked up by traffickers within 24 to 48 hours.

“A lot of victims don’t actually know they’re a part of it (human trafficking) until it’s too late,” she said.

250 cities around the world did this walk at the same time to promote abolishing slavery and human trafficking.

“The whole point of these walks is to bring awareness because a lot of people don’t think it can happen in their backyard, but guess what it’s happening,” Reimer said.

Walk for Freedom has begun in #yxe @A21 over 200 people have come out, according to Cindy Reimer 12 year olds being trafficked in #skpoli pic.twitter.com/NQI47eZ2nl

— JT Marshall (@jtmarshallCKOM) October 15, 2016