By R. Renee Yaworsky
Impunity Watch Reporter, North America
WINNIPEG, Canada—For the first time in Manitoba, human trafficking charges have been laid after a young aboriginal woman was forced into prostitution. Police rescued the victim Monday night after she created a disturbance.
Theresa Peebles, a 38-year-old woman, has been charged with forcible confinement, assault and three counts of human trafficking. According to Jason Michalyshen, a police spokesman, the 21-year-old victim had recently moved to Winnipeg from northern Manitoba and was quickly befriended by Peebles. The older woman is said to have stolen the victim’s identification and clothing before confining her against her will, beating her, and forcing her to have sex for money.
“We have a [victim] whose human rights were violated to the extreme,” Michalyshen said.
While she was under Peebles’ control, the younger woman was given meals, shelter, alcohol and illegal drugs. The money that the victim made performing sex acts was taken by Peebles.
Police became aware of the situation after the victim became intoxicated and began screaming from the roof of the duplex where she was being held. The fire department responded and rescued her with a ladder.
Grand Chief Ron Evans of the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs is convinced that there are many more cases of forced prostitution in the area. “It’s probably happening more frequently than we are aware,” he said. He believes that aboriginal females are especially at-risk of being victimized.
Michalyshen expressed hope that this case will make people realize that human trafficking can be closer to home than people assume. “In this particular case,” he said, “it becomes very localized. It’s happening in our own backyard.”
Benjamin Perrin, an expert on human trafficking at the University of British Columbia, said he knows of at least 36 similar cases in Canada. “We can only hope that the young woman who was exploited is getting the help that she needs,” he said, adding that Canada should institute a national action plan and create more safe houses while focusing on education and prevention.
The section of the Criminal Code against human trafficking was added in 2005 and describes traffickers as those who exploit “another person if they cause the victim to provide labour or service for fear of their safety or the safety of someone known to them.”
For more information, please see:
Toronto Sun-Alleged pimp ‘trafficking in persons’-24 September 2010
Winnipeg Free Press-Human trafficking count laid-24 September 2010
CBC News-Winnipeg woman charged with human trafficking-23 September 2010
