Sex trafficking risk rises in Toronto and Vancouver ahead of FIFA World Cup
A child safety expert warns that the FIFA World Cup will attract traffickers targeting vulnerable youth in Toronto and Vancouver. Parents are urged to watch for warning signs.
Child safety expert flags trafficking threat as World Cup crowds descend on Canada
With the FIFA Men's World Cup days away, Toronto and Vancouver are bracing for a surge in international visitors — and, according to a leading child safety advocate, an elevated risk of youth trafficking.
Lisa Tomlinson, CEO of the Children's Aid Society of Toronto, told cp24.com that large-scale events like the World Cup create openings that traffickers actively exploit. "There is opportunity to bring in tourists, opportunity for pre- and post-parties, opportunity to really look at trafficking some of our young folks into those events, primarily for sex trafficking," she said in an interview on CTV Your Morning Friday.
Tomlinson noted that traffickers are organized and deliberate, targeting youth who are marginalized or face emotional difficulties. Their methods often involve financial inducements designed to build trust with minors. "I'm gonna buy you lunch, I'm gonna buy you food. Here is some money. Here's some clothing. Here is an opportunity to be part of a party," she said, describing the approach traffickers use.
She stressed that no community is insulated from the threat. Young people from both rural and urban settings are at risk, and the movement of victims does not stop at city limits. "We're also working with our colleagues in British Columbia, because we know young people are taken — which is an opportunity to travel, see the world kind of thing, or see Canada," Tomlinson said. "They're taken across provinces, into other areas, to other events as well."
Social media and smartphones add another layer of difficulty. Tomlinson said it is particularly hard for parents to monitor what children and teenagers are doing online, and traffickers use those platforms to make contact.
Parents and guardians should watch for specific warning signs. Tomlinson identified sudden possession of unexplained gifts — new clothing or money — and extended, unaccounted-for absences as key indicators that a young person may be in a dangerous situation.
She urged families to establish concrete safety plans before their children go out. "Can they call you at any time when they need to get home in an emergency? Is there somebody else that they can contact? Because sometimes kids don't want to get in trouble — is there somebody else in their life, whether it's a family friend?" Tomlinson said.
The Children's Aid Society of Toronto has published guidance on its website for parents and guardians who are concerned about trafficking risks during the World Cup period.
Source: Google News CA — Crime (EN)