This article is a critical analysis of the dominant discourse on human trafficking in Canada. In 2000, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime adopted the Palermo Protocol offering a shared terminology of human trafficking for the signatory countries. This definition added in the protocol is the result of a compromise between pro-right and neo-abolitionnist groups who have their own completely different definition of sex trafficking. According to scholars, a dominant discourse on sex trafficking is portrayed through media and anti-trafficking campaign largely impacting politics and legislation on human trafficking. Hence, this article describes the dominant discourse and its consequences. It is followed by the analysis of the government bill C-452, the Immigration and Refugee protection act and the National Action Plan on human trafficking to see if it reflects the dominant discourse. The consequences of the discourse is the portrayal of an image of the “ideal victim” that is not representing the majority of the victim. We also note a hardening of the border control under the pretext of protecting the vulnerable people to human trafficking although it pushes them to use alternatives routes to cross the border putting them in harms’ ways. © 2018, Polymedia Meichtry SA. All rights reserved.

Human trafficking discourse sex trafficking Canadian legislation

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