HomeMy WebLinkAboutGoderich Signal Star, 2017-03-22, Page 88 Signal Star • Wednesday, March 22, 2017
Human trafficking victim says during
workshop rural areas and cities are at risk
Shaun Gregory
Postmedia Network
Some refer to 'I'imca Nagy
as the "face" of human traf-
ficking, although she consid-
ers herself more of an expert;
the former sex -trade victim
hosted a full day workshop
in Seaforth dubbed to shed
light on the crime.
Hosted by the Victim
Services Huron County on
March 8 at the Seaforth Dis-
trict Community Centre, for-
a fee of $40, participants
were taught how to recog-
nize human trafficking
through demonstrations.
The main objective was to
pool resources by providing
the most ideal support possi-
ble for victims of human
trafficking and sexual exploi-
tation in Huron County.
flailing from Budapest,
Hungary, Nagy immigrated
to Canada in 1998 in search
of a better life and poten-
tially securing a decent pay -
i n g employment
opportunity.
Instead, a "nightmare
unfolded" in a low-priced
motel where traffickers
forced her into the sex
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industry.
Later, after escaping the
turmoil Nagy would start an
organization to help victims
stuck in the dangerous world
of human trafficking and go
on to win several awards
including, the Prime Minis-
ter's Volunteer Award, and a
Queen Elizabeth Diamond
Jubilee Medal.
She later spoke to the
Huron Expositor and said in
the past people have ques-
tioned her choice in presen-
tations to smaller outlets
similar to small-town Sea -
forth and told her they
would rather see her focus
more on the larger areas like
Toronto and Kitchener.
"Usually that question
makes me wish that there
was 1000 of me going
around, because it means
that a lot of people still don't
understand or refuse. to
understand that Iluman
Trafficking doesn't just hap-
pen in Thailand and big cit-
ies," she said through emails.
"Human Trafficking is about
luring a young or vulnerable
individual away from their
support system."
Nagy said 97% of the
Canadian female victims are
from the ages of 12-21 and
that all regions are vulnera-
ble to this sex crime.
On hand and helping in
some of the activities, Huron
County, OPP Const. Jamie
Stanley said he had learned
several techniques from this
event.
"(I) learned how to con-
verse with that person, how
Contributed photo
On left is former sexual trafficking victim Timea Nagy; she held
an all -day workshop March 8 in Seaforth to better understand the
crime.
to make them feel comforta-
ble and how to build that
connection with that per-
son," stated Stanley after the
workshop. "I understand
they are not going to want to
tell us something right
away."
What surprised Stanley is
how many support systems
are actually available in the
region. During the event
Nagy asked all the agencies
to stand up on the stage and
identify themselves and say
what organization they rep-
resent. "That's reassuring to
know that those resources
are here; in Huron County.
Sexual trafficking is some-
thing that is emerging in
rural parts says Stanley and
the OPP are looking for
"pimps" involved in this.
trade.
"It's something we need to
be more aware of; some-
times it's maybe hidden and
unless you have some (of)
this training to start with, it
might be something an
officer or a service provider
wouldn't be able to recog-
nize," he said.
It's events like this that
Stanley tips his hat to
because it gives citizens a
knowledge base to see the
signs.
"There are probably a lot
of hidden victims out there,"
Stanley said.