It is inconceivable to me that slavery exists in any civilized society. There were stories of young blonde women who were kidnapped and whisked off to become the trophies of rich Arab Sheiks. And the sex slave trade in parts of Asia is a well documented fact. But to find out that we have slaves here in Toronto is something that I still can’t wrap my head around.

However, Toronto lawyer, Amina Sherazee says that it is so and that she has proof of this travesty. Women from Nigeria, Cameroon, Namibia, Djibuoti, and the Ivory Coast are being kidnapped by smugglers. They are issued fake documents and illegally trafficked through 2 or 3 countries in a series of safe houses. From there they are smuggled into Canada where they are forced to work as domestics, nannies, or prostitutes.

Several women in Toronto have applied to remain in Canada legally and the stories that they relate about their ordeals can only be described as absolute horror. Some end up contracting AIDS as a result of being forced into prostitution. They are concerned for the safety of their families if their identities become known.

According to Federal immigration spokesperson Karen Shadd-Evelyn, the victims are not required to testify against their traffickers to obtain status in Canada. They are eligible for a temporary resident permit that allows them to stay in Canada for up to 180 days and they can also apply for a work permit and get health-care benefits.

In 2004, the RCMP estimated 600 to 800 people were trafficked into Canada annually. But the reality is that there is no way that we really know the magnitude of the problem. What we do know is that this is a crime against humanity and must be stopped. We all know of illegal domestics and nannies. Does this make you wonder?