A new collaborative community project is being launched to help combat human trafficking in Niagara.TOES, or Tools of Empowerment for Success Niagara is working in partnership with Brock University Professional and Continuing Studies to develop a code of conduct to increase awareness of human trafficking and provide resources, including prevention strategies, for hospitality and tourism businesses and organizations in the region.
The Welland-based non-profit organization — which supports and promotes the empowerment of women, with a special focus on marginalized and racialized women and youth — has received funding from the Government of Canada’s Women and Gender Equality office to bring the project to fruition.
The initiative will build on an existing promising practice that has come out of the European Union to prevent human trafficking. The practice engages key stakeholders in the community to develop a code that local industry members may adopt to support workers in the travel and tourism sector in identifying and preventing human trafficking.
The project will look to support vulnerable populations in the Niagara region, including newcomers to Canada, through the development of a code of conduct that will be brought to local businesses and organizations, particularly in the hospitality and tourism industry, for adoption. Stakeholders will be consulted throughout the document’s development to ensure it is applicable for the Niagara region.
Brock will work with TOES Niagara to create the policy and educational materials for local businesses. The tools and resources for prevention of human trafficking will be developed and delivered over the next three years. For more information about the project, contact info@toesniagara.ca or ce@brocku.ca
