Magdalene House Society partnered with the City of Red Deer last night to host an event recognizing the Annual Day of Awareness on Human Trafficking.
 
It's the second largest growing criminal activity in North America and according to the Canadian Women's Foundation, world-wide profits from sex trafficking are around 99 billion dollars U.S.
 
But you don't have to look far to see the impact of human trafficking, in fact it exists right here in Central Alberta.
 
Executive Director Tammy Rogers says Red Deer acts as a hub between Calgary and Edmonton.

“Traffickers will meet in Red Deer to move girls from one of the larger centres, so that they don’t stay in one spot for long periods of time because then they become known and it becomes easier for them to find somebody that’s willing to help them, so we become sort of that transition point."

Rogers says 98% of victims worldwide are women and girls.

“Basically what happens is a relationship is formed based on coercion and people think they are in a relationship with that person and then they become exploited over time. Sometimes there is abuse, sometimes there becomes a reliance on substances, it can take all kinds of different forms."

Overtime the woman's ability to make decisions for themselves gets taken away and they become victims of their traffickers.
 
Magdalene House works with victims once they've escaped to help them learn new skills, cope and live independently.
 
To learn more about this issue or to get involved http://magdalenehouse.ca/