Tomorrow (Saturday, Feb 22nd) is human trafficking awareness day and Victim Services of Renfrew County wants you to know that this is an ongoing issue even here in the Ottawa Valley. Anti-Human Trafficking Coordinator, Lisa Oegema, says it’s important to remember these victims are forced into that lifestyle and stay due to the circumstances. Oegema says Human Trafficking Day is about trying to prevent and raise awareness about this issue.
Oegema says this is the 3rd Human Trafficking Day to be held in Ontario. Oegema adds they want people to know they’re not alone, help is available and she encourages anyone who has questions or suspects it’s happening to reach out to victim services. Human trafficking is the recruitment, transfer, harbouring and selling of a human for sexual purposes or forced labour.