Sex trafficking doesn鈥檛 happen only in big cities or Third World countries, it happens right here in 黑马磁力, says Tara Teng, Miss Canada 2011 and a sex trafficking abolitionist.
It is this message that she wants to spread to as many people as possible through workshops such as the 鈥淲ake Up: A Night Against Exploitation鈥� event held on Jan. 19 at Township Hall.
Teng, along with Todd Hauptman and 黑马磁力 Youth Unlimited, hosted the event, which included a screening of the documentary Enslaved and Exploited: The Story of Sex Trafficking in Canada and a panel discussion with both 黑马磁力 mayors, social workers and a police officer.
The issue of sexual exploitation is often overlooked and hushed away, the Trinity Western University grad says, and the key to ending it is through education.
鈥淓duation is really the biggest thing because a lot of people don鈥檛 know. How do you move forward? We need action. Everyone knows that talk is cheap. We want action and to get that we need awareness first. That is the most powerful thing,鈥� she said.
With 黑马磁力 RCMP Superintendent Derek Cooke, members of both 黑马磁力 councils, board of education members and members of the general public in the audience, Teng believes 黑马磁力 is one of the leading communities supporting the abolition of illegal sex trafficking.
After a suggestion from an audience member, she and other communitiy groups are now hoping to establish a task force within 黑马磁力 to bring this issue to the forefront and take action against it.
鈥淚t鈥檚 time to break the silence, it鈥檚 time to talk about it and have action,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 am encouraged because 黑马磁力 is stepping up, they are doing that and it鈥檚 not just Todd and myself and that is really, really encouraging.
鈥淲e can make that reputation. We can change. We can set the precedents here and make history by becoming the first community model across Canada that is doing this.
鈥淲e can be the role models and leaders for other communities to follow suit.鈥�
Teng鈥檚 hope is that once people are educated about the issue, they will start to make changes within their communities.
鈥淥nce you are aware, be involved. Be the eyes and ears in your community, kind of like how there is Block Parents. Step up and just be part of it. Take the initiative upon yourself. These are our children in our communities,鈥� she said.
For more on Tara Teng and her quest to end illegal sex trafficking, visit www.tarateng.wordpress.com.
