The Region of Peel’s Anti-Human Sex Trafficking (AHST) Program is a unique, first of its kind program in Canada. With its three-pillar approach, the Peel AHST Program seeks to combat human trafficking through: 1) Prevention – aims to increase awareness and education of sex trafficking through advocacy and training initiatives, community engagement, and education/awareness events; 2) Intervention – aims to increase access to dedicated wrap-around services and supports for victims, survivors, and individuals at-risk through the integrated services hub; and 3) Exits/Housing – aims to increase access to dedicated, safe, and supportive housing for victims and survivors. The Peel AHST Survivor Remuneration Framework acknowledges that the voices of survivors and expertise of survivor leaders must be at the forefront of the anti-trafficking movement. In doing so, the framework advances an equitable and ethical approach to meaningfully engage with survivors by integrating a best practice model for remunerating those with lived experience based on the principles of being non-tokenistic, trauma informed, and preventing further harm. The framework provides guidelines based on identified best practices for compensating survivors of sex trafficking and maintains that organizations cannot expect survivors to offer their time and expertise pro bono. Ethical financial compensation is the only way anti-trafficking organizations can value and acquire vital survivor expertise. Increasing the ethical inclusion of survivor expertise in all aspects of programming, service delivery, policy development, and client pathways is critical to improving anti-trafficking efforts. At the same time, organizations must be cognizant of the ethical, equitable, and meaningful inclusion of survivors into organizational processes.
Trigger Warning: This presentation contains information (written, spoken, or visual) that may be triggering or (re)traumatizing to attendees.
Zoli Kertesz is a Policy Advisor with the Region of Peel and supports the Peel Anti-Human Sex Trafficking Program in various capacities. His experience includes previously working with the Toronto Police Service – Court Services Division where he worked closely with perpetrators of human trafficking. He also taught in the Bachelor of Social Sciences, Criminal Justice Studies program at Humber College.
Samantha MacNeill is an Advisor for the Region of Peel’s Anti-Human Sex Trafficking Program and a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner with Chantel's Place - Trillium Health Partners, the Regional Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Care and Treatment Centre. Samantha also teaches at Sheridan College in the Faculty of Applied Health and Community Studies, Practical Nursing program.