The End Migrant Worker Unfreedom Project

The End Migrant Worker Unfreedom (EMWU) project is a historical and ongoing initiative aimed at dismantling the systemic conditions that keep migrant workers unfree and undermine their dignity.

The project challenges employer-tied labour migration systems, directly attacking state-imposed risks of rights violations, forced labour and human trafficking.

RHFW advances this work through a two-pronged strategy.

First, it pursues impact litigation challenging employer-tying immigration restrictions as unjustifiable state violations of workers’ fundamental rights to equality, liberty, life and security of the person. Their constitutional class action seeks a court declaration invalidating federal restrictions on the right to change employers and monetary damages, both to compensate for the harms caused and to deter future, similar rights-infringing conduct by the government.

At the same time, RHFW supports and amplifies advocacy efforts of survivors, migrant worker groups and their allies to push the legislature to adopt a more just and sustainable labour migration system recognizing basic rights for migrant workers.

Rather than treating human trafficking like isolated cases of abuse, the RHFW’s EMWU project confronts the legal and policy structures that enable coercion, forced labour, and trafficking.

Learn more about RHFW’s EMWU project

Check back soon for our next featured organization.

There is a better way to fight human trafficking

Why Learning a Better Way to Fight Human Trafficking Matters

Want to make sure your anti-trafficking efforts are truly making a difference?

There’s a better way to turn your concern, time, donations, and actions into meaningful change.

Alongside the Global Alliance Against Traffic in Women Canada, discover organizations across the country that are effectively working on prevention and response to address violence, exploitation, and trafficking.

There’s a Better Way

Here are a few individuals and organizations we can vouch for—people who are rolling up their sleeves, doing meaningful work in their communities, and making a real difference that meets victims’ and survivors’ needs—often on a shoestring budget, or sometimes with no funding at all.

You’ll find a wide range of individuals and organizations doing meaningful work listed here, such as the Association for the Rights of Household and Farm Workers (RHFW) based in Montreal.

Visit an organization’s website by clicking its name on the map.

Some may not label their work as “anti-trafficking,” but this includes individuals and organizations providing direct services as well as those involved in systemic advocacy, policy change, and efforts to address the broader structural factors that increase systemic vulnerability to violence, exploitation, or trafficking.

If human trafficking does occur, these organizations are already trusted supports, equipped to respond in ways that respectfully centre dignity and meet victims’ and survivors’ needs.

Making Your Actions Count

These individuals and organizations value your care and concern.

Contact them directly to learn about their work and how they ensure impact, accountability and transparency in using your time, attention or donations.

This is a living document. We will update this list regularly and rotate individuals and organizations to highlight others making a difference across Canada. Ask us about organizations in regions not yet featured or check back for new additions that can ensure your efforts make an impact.

Visit an organization’s website by clicking its name below:

Association for the Rights of Household and Farm Workers

Collaborative Community Solutions

Cooper Institute

Disarm the Dark

FCJ Refugee Centre

Gracia Younes Anti-Trafficking Strategic Advisor

Red Response

Rogers Counselling and Consulting

Sex Workers of Winnipeg Action Coalition

Standing Together

SWAN Vancouver

Yellowknife Women’s Society