“Is it trafficking?”
From 2023-2026, GAATW Canada conducted a research project exploring experiences of women in domestic work, agriculture, hospitality, and sex work across Canada.
The research found that these women experience very similar forms of violence and exploitation, yet the responses from governments and service organizations can be vastly different.
Why are some cases considered human trafficking, but not others?
Who decides?
How does this impact funding decisions and direct services for those experiencing abuse and violence?
Read the full report to learn more about the blurred boundaries and inconsistencies that exist across experiences of precarious, informal, and non-standard work, and the impact that the use—or not—of the trafficking label has on victims and survivors.
“Is it Trafficking?” Examining Gender-Based Violence Among Racialized and Migrant Women in Precarious, Informal, and Non-Standard Labour. (2026). GAATW Canada. 59 pp.
GAATW Canada would like to thank Women and Gender Equality Canada for funding this project.