A small group of parents and students have a few things to think about following an information session at St. Joseph’s High School in Renfrew Friday night on Human Trafficking.
The community awareness session was a joint presentation of the Police Services Board, the OPP and Victim Services of Renfrew County.
Two presenters, both with life experience with the topic, shared their personal stories.
Simone, with the Ottawa Police Service and Christine, with the Eastern Ontario-based Hope Found Project provided a Human Trafficking 101.
Their almost two-hour presentation covered victimology, difficulties like trauma-bonding that impede one’s escape from exploitation, and the assistance sympathetic ears can render by validating the victim’s experiences.
Victim Services spokesperson Faye Cassista says local awareness of the issue is catching up with the times.
There are thirty known victims of Human Trafficking in Renfrew County.