Indigenous Women and Girls are Overrepresented in Sex Trafficking and Canada Is at Fault

Abstract

Indigenous women and girls are being disproportionately trafficked for sex in Canada, making up around half of the victims, despite being a very small percentage of the total population. This high rate of victimization is due to negligence in protecting Indigenous women and girls through education, and by failing to address the systems and effects of colonization. Educational programs to educate Indigenous women and girls about the risks of sexual exploitation have not been implemented nationwide. Canada's failure to mend the systemic effects of colonization, like high child apprehension rates, sexual abuse, and poverty, ensures women and girls will continue to be vulnerable to sexual exploitation. While there is a distinct lack of research on the perpetrators of sex-trafficking, and some would say focusing on the perpetrators would help reduce the number of Indigenous women and girls being trafficked, Canada has also failed to achieve success prosecuting traffickers in any meaningful way. The lack of results through the justice system indicates that focusing on prevention education and repairing systems broken by colonization must remain a priority.

Co-winner of the 2024 Intersectional Social Justice Essay Prize (1^st year category)