The ICPC took part in the Traffik Analysis Hub (TAHub)’s January meeting, a network of 116 organizations across the globe, including the ICPC, whose goal is to contribute to the eradication of human exploitation of all kinds. This meeting included a presentation of new indicators that facilitate the analysis of current tendencies in human trafficking. The American organization Polaris whose mandate is to fight human trafficking also presented a data collection project focused on the U.S.-Mexico agricultural setting. Thanks to the implementation of a hotline, this organization has been able to collect information directly from victims, mostly undocumented Mexican workers, thus widening their impact in the community.
New Guide – DataJam Against Exploitation: Participant Handbook
As part of the DataJam Against Exploitation 2021, the first online innovation competition in Canada, a “Participant Handbook” was developed and published. The event, financed by the Government of Canada, was organized in partnership between the ICPC, Fundación Pasos Libres, IBM, and the UNODC.
The handbook was adapted and translated collaboratively by the Fundación Pasos Libres, the ICPC and the UNODC from an earlier version published by Fundación Pasos Libres, with the support of IBM Corporate Social Responsibility, as part of the training materials for the DataJam Pasos Libres Online 2020, the first international contest of its kind, also on human trafficking.
The DataJam Against exploitation, held in May 2021, aimed to develop technological solutions to spot and fight human trafficking in Canada, especially the trafficking of youth, indigenous people, and members of the LGBTQI+ community. The contest also hoped to increase public awareness of human trafficking, to improve participants knowledge and resources, and to further intersectoral and interdisciplinary collaboration. The handbook contains three explanatory modules offering the reader an introduction to human trafficking in Canada and related issues, an overview of data’s importance in the fight against this crime, and case studies.
The first module, Introduction to Human Trafficking, discusses means of exploitation, risk factors, and recruitment and control methods. It also takes a brief look at different forms of legislation aimed at the prevention of human trafficking.
The second module, Human Trafficking and Data, explores the importance of data in the fight against human trafficking. It gives a few examples of key industries and compelling data as well as certain data security and protection considerations.
The last module, Case Studies / Cases of Success, is on three organizations and initiatives that used the power of data and collaboration to prevent and fight human trafficking.
Download: DataJam Against Exploitation: Participant Handbook
The ICPC joins the Traffik Analysis Hub
The ICPC was recently invited to join the Traffik Analysis Hub (TA Hub), which is aimed at global human trafficking prevention. It is a joint effort from across different sectors and industries, governments, and NGO partners, all committed to sharing data and knowledge in order to help the fight against human trafficking.
On May 28th, the ICPC took part in the Analyst monthly call, along with representatives from multiple partners of the TA Hub. At the meeting, some new features of the platform were presented, and some of the practical challenges were discussed as well as possible avenues to overcome them.
Winners of the DataJam Against Exploitation revealed
Friday June 4th, at the end of the DataJam Against Exploitation that brought together 75 participants of 16 different nationalities, the winning teams were announced. In first place came Buyer Resist from Vancouver who created a web app that helped track traffickers by comparing the text from escort agency adds across Canada. They will receive a monetary prize and a spot in the IBM Incubator Program to help them further develop their project. They will also be invited to participate in the DataJam Pasos Libres 2021 that will take place on a world-wide scale in the fall, and lastly, their project will be promoted by all the co-organizers of the DataJam Against Exploitation.
Team Scotiabank AMA from Toronto, 5 data scientists from Scotiabank Anti-Money Laundering Models and Analytics (AML), came in second place, and the third place went to CDL Team from Montreal and affiliated with Montreal Institute of Learning Algorithms (Mila). This event marked the official ending of the competition.
The ICPC presents the “DataJam Against Exploitation” as a means of preventing human trafficking
On the 21st of May at The Cybersecurity Revolution 2021 event (SECREV) hosted by SERENE-RISC, the ICPC participated in a conference on cybersecurity with the Fundación Pasos Libres. They presented the DataJam Against Exploitation 2021 as a technological innovation and a means of prevention against human trafficking.
SECREV is a free annual online event who’s goal is to facilitate the international exchange of information on cybersecurity.
The conference is available in on YouTube.
Upcoming Events – May
The DataJam Against Exploitation, an online event being held May 7-17, 2021, aims to increase public awareness of human trafficking, enhance the technical and physical capacity of participants, and strengthen collaboration across interdisciplinary sectors to prevent this crime in Canada.
This competition, funded by the Government of Canada, is offered in partnership with the ICPC, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Fundación Pasos Libres, and IBM. With the objective of developing innovative technological solutions, participating teams will have access to expert presentations, workshops, and mentoring to learn about the issue.
To this end, there will be sessions open to all, which you can attend without having to take part in the competition. As the event is taking place across Canada, please note that the official languages of communication for these sessions are French and English.
Here is the agenda of the sessions open to the public:
Saturday, May 8, 2021, 10:30-11:15 a.m. (EST) – Session in French and English
OPENING REMARKS AND WELCOMING MESSAGES
Speakers:
- Mark Schindel, Director of Public Safety, Public Safety Canada
- Panagiotis Papadimitriou, Team Leader, Technical Cooperation, UNODC
- Ann Champoux, Director General, ICPC
- Claude Guay, President and General Manager, IBM Canada
- Sebastián Arévalo Sánchez, Co-founder, Fundación Pasos Libres
Saturday, May 8, 2021, 11:15 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. (EST) – Session in English
DATAJAM PREVISOUS EXPERIENCES
The objective of this session is to provide participants with specific examples of the dynamics and outcomes of previous DataJam competitions.
Speakers:
- Keltoum Laghjibi, Global Public Health and Informatics Student, University of Virginia
- Laura Rodriguez Rodriguez, Student in Computer and Systems Engineering, University of the Andes, and co-founder of Aleph Mind.
Saturday, May 8, 2021, 12:00-1:00 p.m. (EST) – Session in English
CONFERENCE: ALBERTA’S RESPONSE TO HUMAN TRAFFICKING
The objective of this session is for participants to understand the importance of partnerships to provide high quality services to victims of human trafficking.
- Speaker:
- Jane Fox, Director General, REACH
Saturday, May 8, 2021, 12:00-1:00 p.m. (EST) – Session in French
CONFERENCE: VICTIMS OF SEX TRAFFICKING IN THE AMERICAS
This session aims to provide participants with a better understanding of how the issue of human trafficking has been addressed by seven countries in the Americas, including Canada.
Speaker:
- Fernando A. Chinchilla, Ph.D., Senior Analyst, ICPC
Saturday, May 8, 2021, 2:00-3:00 p.m. (EST) – Session in English
CONFERENCE: HUMAN TRAFFICKING RESEARCH IN CANADA
The objective of this session is to increase participants’ awareness of the challenges of data collection on human trafficking.
Speaker:
- Kathy AuCoin, Chief, Analysis Program, Canadian Centre for Justice and Community Safety Statistics, Statistics Canada
Saturday, May 8, 2021, 2:00-3:00 p.m. (EST) – Session in French
CONFERENCE: HOW TO DEVELOP TOOLS THAT HELP PREVENT TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS: WHAT TO DO AND WHAT NOT TO DO?
The goal of this session is to help participants understand and appreciate the importance of measuring the effects and implications (intended and unintended) of their anti-trafficking solutions.
Speaker:
- Josée Mensales, Co-founder and coordinator of the Survivors Program, Service de police de la Ville de Montréal (SPVM)
Saturday, May 8, 2021, 3:00-4:30 p.m. (EST) – Session in French and English
PANEL – TRAFFICKING AND VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES: HUMAN AND TECHNOLOGICAL CHALLENGES
This panel invites participants to better understand why certain communities are more vulnerable to human trafficking and what are the technological and human challenges to curb the phenomenon. Two survivors will also contribute to the discussion.
Speakers:
- Nathalie Khlat, Co-founder and Director of Projects, Le Phare des AffranchiEs
- Diane Redsky, Executive Director, Ma Mawi Wi Chi Itata
Saturday, May 9, 2021, 1:00-2:00 p.m. (EST) – Session in English
CASE STUDY: HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND DATA ANALYSIS
At the end of this session, participants will know how the first ever global data hub to facilitate the sharing of information about human trafficking across industries works.
Speaker:
- Neil Giles, Director, Traffik Analysis Hub
Saturday, May 9, 2021, 1:00-2:00 p.m. (EST) – Session in English
CASE STUDY: PROJECT SHADOW
At the end of this session, participants will have an overview of Project Shadow and some of the most advanced analytic capabilities to combat human trafficking.
Speakers:
- Joseph Mari, Director, Financial Intelligence Unit and External Partners, Scotiabank
- Vishal Gossain, Vice President, AML/ATF Analytics
Upcoming webinar on risks and trends in online child exploitation
The ICPC launches a competition to combat human trafficking in Canada
Press Release: The ICPC commits to combating human trafficking in Canada
Upcoming Event: Launch of the 2021 DataJam Against Exploitation
