Victim Blaming and Impact on Survivors
Human trafficking is a heinous crime that robs individuals of their freedom and dignity. It occurs when someone is coerced, deceived, or forced into exploitative situations.
It is crucial to understand that human trafficking does NOT discriminate based on age, religion, culture, race, or community. Anyone can fall victim to this crime, especially when vulnerabilities are exploited. This exploitation can take various forms, including being forced into marriage, forced to engage in sexual acts, or subjected to abusive working conditions without fair compensation. Research from the South Asian Legal Clinic of Ontario sheds light on forced marriages within the Muslim community in Canada, revealing that of the 219 cases analyzed, 103 of the individuals identified as Muslims. While faith is not the cause of exploitation, these findings highlight a concerning trend within the community.
There are significant gaps in data on human trafficking, and these gaps are even more pronounced within the Muslim communities. Victim blaming plays a substantial role in contributing to these data disparities, as it involves holding survivors accountable for the crimes committed against them.
Victim blaming occurs when individuals or communities imply, say, or act in ways that point to the victim as the reason for their own exploitation. This diverts the blame away from the perpetrators and towards the victim. Victim-blaming statements like "she should have known better" or "she must have been asking for it if she was dressed like that" only serve to further traumatize survivors and discourage them from seeking the help they need. Survivors may feel isolation from their community and feelings of self-doubt.
Other victim-blaming statements include:
“What did she expect, walking alone at night?”
“Why didn’t she just leave the relationship?”
"If she had been more careful, she wouldn't have ended up like this."
"It's her fault for trusting the wrong people."
It is important to highlight that no one can consent to being trafficked. Yes, even if the victim said "yes” anytime during their trafficking. This is because of the manipulative nature of human trafficking. Victim blaming not only hinders survivors from accessing support and justice but also perpetuates harmful stereotypes and misconceptions within the community.
To create a supportive environment for survivors, we must challenge victim-blaming attitudes within our communities. Instead of questioning survivors' actions, we should focus on providing support and empathy. By amplifying survivors' voices and acknowledging the injustice they have experienced, we can help them reclaim their autonomy and begin the healing process.
Starting conversations about human trafficking and actively listening to survivors' experiences are essential steps toward dismantling stigma and fostering a culture of support and understanding. Together, we can work towards helping survivors feel empowered to seek justice and reclaim their lives.
Written by Laila Alfadhli - Pathy Foundation Fellow with Sakeenah Homes as a community partner. I aim to create safe spaces where members of the community can discuss sensitive topics relating to human trafficking. I love to experiment with making different flavours of chili oils.
About Sakeenah
Sakeenah Canada, a national charitable organization, was founded in 2018 in response to a gap in culturally and religiously sensitive services available for women and children facing domestic violence and homelessness. Since then, our services have expanded to include mental health therapy and counseling. Sakeenah has also started The People’s Market, a food program that helps combat food insecurity, and has become the first licensed foster care agency for Muslim children in all of North America. We currently operate 8 transitional homes across Canada: Toronto, Brampton, London, Montreal, Ottawa, Winnipeg, and Regina, in addition to the first long-term housing program for Muslim women and children in Canada, in Windsor.
