If you suspect trafficking

Sex trafficking is complicated. It is not easy to understand how young people are lured and why they cannot leave once trafficked.

Educating yourself will help equip and empower you and your child. Learn more about the warning signs of luring, grooming and trafficking.

You can start by creating a safe space to talk to your child. This means establishing an atmosphere for dialogue that is relaxed, compassionate and open to listening. It can be a hard task and requires patience.

Some caregivers find it helpful to discuss the best approach with their partner so that they are on the same page. You may hesitate about what to say or be afraid of how your child may react. Be prepared to hear descriptions that seem unfamiliar and feel uncomfortable. Your child may disclose information that surprises you and so, if possible, plan how you would like to respond to your child.

It can be helpful for your child to see that you can manage difficult information. There's also a chance they won't want to talk at all.

When you are ready to address your concerns with your child, try to be frank and open. Talk about the red flags you're seeing that concern you.

Here are some non-judgmental statements to help begin the conversation:

• “I know this is an awkward conversation, but I'm worried.”
• “I'm getting the sense you're in a jam right now.”
• “I'm seeing this but I don’t want to make assumptions right away.”
• “You may not think you can trust me, but I'm concerned.”
• “I care about you.”
• “Sometimes we get into a situation that spirals out of control.”
•  “I don’t want anything bad to happen to you.”
• “My gut is telling me something isn’t right. You can tell me if I'm wrong.”

When we get angry or worried, scripts can be helpful because they're not emotional. They can help you in that moment to say the right thing.

Depending on the situation, sometimes it helps to name the issue. “Sex trafficking is a reality, and at the risk of embarrassing you, I need to push you into this conversation.”

Pay attention to their non-verbal cues as the conversation continues. Avoid pretending you know what they're talking about. Ask questions and get the clarity you may need. You may reassure them that they're not alone and that you're here for them. This can help keep the doors of communication open, so they see you as someone they can approach for support.

If possible, agree to keep the dialogue open no matter how the conversation goes.

Both female and male victims of trafficking can experience feelings of shame or guilt. They may be threatened and are afraid of what their trafficker might do if they tell someone.

Don't be surprised or take it personally if your child refuses to talk.

Here are some ways to work within this scenario:

• If your child is not ready to talk, you can let them know that you want to help and will be there for them when they're ready.
• You can also encourage them to talk to other adults they trust and provide them with community resources for support.
• Some caregivers find using educational materials helpful when talking about sensitive topics like this. You can share this downloadable postcard (PDF) with your child to help facilitate the conversation or leave with them to read on their own.

There are many reasons why victims may not feel ready to talk about their situation. Here is a resource to learn more about why victims may find it hard to exit trafficking.

It may be helpful to revisit or establish boundaries for behaviour with your child. You may express that while the doors for continued dialogue are open, there will be boundaries based on the behaviours you're seeing.

These might include boundaries around curfew, attending school or showing receipts for new purchases.

Establishing healthy boundaries can help keep your child, as well as other family members, safe. Boundaries can also allow young people the opportunity to reflect on their situation and start taking charge of their behaviours.

Depending on what your child reveals or says, it will affect what you do from here.

• If your gut feeling was right and your child is in an exploitative situation, or if you are still unsure, you can click here to get help or read this resource for more information.
• If your child is not being trafficked, you may still want to consider safety planning to protect your child. Click here for more information on how to keep your child safe.