Education
Understanding the Risks of Human Trafficking in the Digital World
Protecting Yourself from Online Exploitation
Protecting Yourself from Online Exploitation
Human trafficking can happen anywhere — and social media is no exception. Predators often use these platforms to target unsuspecting women, making it crucial to stay informed and vigilant. To help you stay safe online, consider these five important tips:
- Set Strict Privacy Settings – Keep your posts private and avoid accepting friend requests from strangers.
- Don’t Overshare – Avoid posting personal details about special occasions, vacations, or your daily routine.
- Beware of Strange Friend Requests – If you don’t know them, don’t accept them.
- Stay Vigilant – Report suspicious pages or activities. If you see something, say something.
- Be Wary of Too-Good-To-Be-True Offers – Scams that seem too perfect often have dangerous motives.
By being aware of this, you can reduce your risk and help create a safer online space for everyone.
Our educational sessions are facilitated by Katarina MacLeod, a survivor of 15 years of commercial sexual exploitation, and Sheila Howlett, a mentor and life coach who has supported Katarina since 2011. Together, they bring powerful, first-hand experience to the training.
Why Education Matters
Education plays a vital role in preventing human trafficking. Many people are unaware of how prevalent commercial sexual exploitation is — even in their own communities. It’s common for individuals to believe this issue only occurs in far-off countries or tourist destinations.
By learning what trafficking looks like and understanding the tactics traffickers use, we can better protect ourselves and others. Students, in particular, gain crucial knowledge on how to recognize if they or their friends are being groomed.
Katarina presenting our educational materials
Education Sessions with Rising Angels
Rising Angels offers tailored awareness and education sessions for:
✅ Schools
✅ Town halls
✅ Church groups
✅ Youth organizations
✅ And more
These sessions cover key topics such as:
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Understanding what commercial sexual exploitation looks like in Canada
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How traffickers lure and groom vulnerable girls and women
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Recognizing the signs that someone may be trafficked or groomed
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Where traffickers target their victims
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The role that media and pornography play in fueling exploitation
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What you can do to help prevent trafficking
Sessions are age-appropriate and typically run 45 to 60 minutes, depending on content requests.
For more information or to book a session, please contact us at info@risingangels.net.
“Rising Angels works with survivors of sex trafficking, led by a woman who has lived experience. We know that those who work on the frontlines and lead frontlines services, who have lived experience, see significantly higher success rates when it comes to helping women and girls exit and rebuild their lives. The reality for many survivors is that access to therapy is incredibly limited. Mentoring, while not replacing trauma therapy, is a brilliant trauma support that Rising Angels gives to help exploited women recover. We are proud to have Rising Angels as colleagues and allies in the work of ending sexual exploitation.”
Wendy Lowe
Executive Director, Defend Dignity
Human Trafficking in Canada: The Hidden Crisis
Did you know the true scope of human trafficking in Canada is underestimated at 2,977 reported incidents?
These figures fail to capture the countless cases that go unreported. Several factors contribute to this:
Why Incidents Go Unreported
- Lack of Awareness: Victims may not realize they are being trafficked.
- Vulnerability: Those in precarious situations may feel trapped.
- Distrust of Authorities: Fear or skepticism prevents victims from seeking help.
- Immigration Concerns: Victims may worry about deportation or job loss.
- Threats and Intimidation: Traffickers often use fear tactics to silence victims.
Raising awareness and providing education are crucial steps toward addressing this hidden crisis.
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