Violence against women and young girls is a big problem in Canada. Unfortunately, statistic shows the increase in reports related to violence against women for the last decade. Manitoba had one of the highest rates of reported violence against girls and young women in 2017, according to a new Statistics Canada report.
Our own Winnipeg is recorded as having the third-highest rate among Canadian cities, according to the report. Thunder Bay was posted at the top of the list.
There were a total of 2,635 per 100,00 population cases reported to police in Manitoba during 2017. Saskatchewan topped that, sitting with the highest provincial rate of violence against girls and young women with 2,769 reported cases last year.
In urban areas, 387 girls aged 11 years old or younger were victims of police-reported violent crimes, according to the report conducted in 2017. In rural areas, that number increases to 929 cases reported to police.
The sex trade and human trafficking is still a big problem in our time all over the world and, unfortunately, Canada is not an exception.
Winnipeg police collaborated with a number of other police agencies across Canada as part of Operation Northern Spotlight, a law enforcement outreach operation aimed at identifying and providing support to those who may be at risk of human trafficking or are suspected of being forced into the sex trade. The whole last week, from Monday, October 15th to Sunday, October 21st had investigated sex trade and sex abuse cases and reached to some believed to be victims of such criminal activity. As a result of this operation, seven people between 19-56 years of age were arrested for obtaining sexual services for consideration, and seven vehicles were also seized under the Highway Traffic Act for prostitution-related offenses.
“The Winnipeg Police Service takes the safety and security of all women seriously,” said police in a release. “Police will continue to investigate and hold those responsible for these crimes accountable. Nationally, the operation resulted in 52 charges laid, including some for human trafficking. 10 people, including two children, were removed from potentially exploitative situations.
Police are asking for public assistance in Winnipeg, anyone with information that might help investigators is asked to contact the Counter Exploitation Unit at 204-896-3464 or email [email protected].
Hopefully, this issue will be resolved, so we don't have to read in the news about sex-trade-related cases in our city or human trafficking crimes in Canada.