Brock University’s Human Rights and Equity Office and TOES Niagara are inviting the local community to observe the United Nations World Day Against Trafficking in Persons on Wednesday, July 30.

Through Brock’s Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) partnership with TOES Niagara, the two organizations collaborated on the launch and endorsement of a Code of Conduct for Human Trafficking Prevention in the Niagara region that was released in June. TOES Niagara received funding from the Government of Canada’s Women and Gender Equality (WAGE) office for the project.

“Human trafficking is a pressing human rights concern that demands comprehensive responses,” says Katie Keays, Manager of Gender and Sexual Violence Intake at Brock. “Recognizing this day and building these resources reflects our commitment as a University to equipping community members with the knowledge and tools to prevent and combat trafficking.”

Keays, who served on the steering committee for the project, assisted with the development of resources for a pilot training program that will launch this fall.

Led by TOES Niagara and supported by Brock’s Professional and Continuing Studies (Brock PCS) division, the program will provide baseline training to individuals and companies who have adopted the Code of Conduct, equipping them with the tools to recognize, respond to and prevent instances of human trafficking within the community.

“TOES Niagara is proud to collaborate with Brock University on this essential training initiative,” says Executive Director of TOES Niagara Nyarayi Kapisavanhu. “Together, we are fostering a community-wide approach to human trafficking prevention, ensuring that our efforts are informed by best practices and tailored to local needs.”

Brock’s Human Rights and Equity Office is also offering a related training opportunity for the University community on responding to disclosures of all forms of gender-based and sexual violence using trauma-informed principles. The session takes place July 30 from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. in Sankey Chamber and additional details are available on ExperienceBU.

For more information on the upcoming Code of Conduct training program and Brock University’s initiatives against human trafficking, visit the TOES Niagara website and stay tuned for updates from Brock’s Human Rights and Equity office.