Invisible Chains: Canada's Underground World of Human Trafficking

by Benjamin Perrin

Just outside Toronto, a 14-year-old Canadian girl was auctioned on the internet for men to purchase by the hour. A young woman was taken by slave traders from an African war zone to Edmonton to earn greater profits by exploiting her in prostitution. A gang called Wolfpack recruited teenagers in Quebec and sold them for sex to high-profile men in the community. The global problem of human trafficking is only beginning to be recognized in Canada, even though it has been hidden in plain sight. In Invisible Chains, Benjamin Perrin, an award-winning law professor and policy expert, exposes cases of human trafficking, recording in-depth interviews with people on the front lines—police officers, social workers, and the victims themselves—and bringing to light government records released under access-to-information laws.

Genres: Nonfiction, Canada, Crime, True Crime, Social Science, Psychology, Politics

320 pages, Hardcover

First published October 5, 2010

Reviews

[Jennifer Lucking · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an eye-opening book about human trafficking in Canada (and Canada's influence in human trafficking abroad). A comprehensive book that starts with a glimpse of human trafficking and the sex trade abroad and then continues to outline Canadian laws and policies (or lack thereof) regarding the internet, human trafficking within our own boarders, prosecuting human traffickers, and treatment of victims.

Some of the most shocking details included the following:

- States like New York have policies that allow sex offenders to be kicked off of social networking sites (like Facebook), but Canada has no similar laws (page 72-73)

- The provincial governments' (but mainly I'm speaking from an Ontario perspective) and federal government's failures to really address human trafficking issues in this country is absolutely unacceptable. For example, on page 102, Perrin says the following: "In November 2009, the issue of human trafficking finally made its way to Queen's Park when an Opposition member ask the government to explain why, unlike several other provinces, Ontario lacked a program tailored to the needs to trafficking victims. Rick Bartolucci, Ontario's minister of community safety and correctional services, dodged the question, bizarrely accusing the Opposition of failing to support provincial and municipal police. Later the minister reportedly told the media that human trafficking raises a lot of complex 'federal issues,' adding, 'They're immigration.'" Perri later goes on to say, "At a meeting with Premier Dalton McGuinty in February 2010, after having set out this serious problem, I called on him to do the right thing and implement a system in Ontario to help victims of human trafficking. As this book goes to print, the provincial government has made no announcement." (Page 102)

- Human trafficking did not become a Canadian Criminal Code offense until 2005 (Page 118). While human trafficking is a huge problem in Canada affecting hundreds (if not thousands?) of victims and their families, only 5 people had been convicted (though 30 charged) of human trafficking. Not only that, but the sentences for these 5 people are laughable as most of them received "two-for-one" sentencing, meaning that the time spent in custody before the trial was counted. This meant that some sentencing periods were as lenient as a couple of days or weeks to only a couple of years for terrorizing lives.

- Many victims are treated with little dignity and justice. Some are kept in detention facilities since there is not a comprehensive system to deal with victims of sex trafficking. The training the many police services and immigration officials receive is not adequate for dealing with the human/sex trafficking psychological and social complexities they encounter.

- Countries like the United States, Belgium and Italy have policies that help victims rather than traumatize them even more. For instance, human trafficking victims in the United States are eligible for the Witness Protection Program. Perrin says, "President Bill Clinton signed the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 (TVPA) into law just six weeks before the United States committed to the Palermo Protocol. Moreover, the TVPA has been reviewed and updated in 2003, 2005, and 2008 in response to ongoing monitoring of results and increased understanding of the program... By comparison Canada, which signed the Palermo Protocol one day after the United States, has yet to enact any federal legislation remotely as comprehensive as the TVPA." (Page 205)

I am very passionate about human trafficking issues in Canada, and I really appreciate that such a comprehensive book has been written about Canada's specific challenges with this devastating issue.

I challenge those who are equally moved by this book to find ways to make a difference - volunteer with an organization that helps advocate for or assist human trafficking victims or write your MP or MPP challenging them to change the system. Our government's response (or lack thereof) to this growing problem is unacceptable and embarrassing. Canada should be showing the global community that we are actively fighting again human trafficking and are working to bring justice for the victims.

[Brooke · Rating 4 out of 5]

All I have to say is - wow, this book is eye opening.

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Readers beware: you will be fuming with anger while reading this. “Invisible Chains” takes a hard look into the world of human trafficking both internationally and here in our own backyard (Canada). One thing I know for sure is that humans make me sick!
More surprising than human trafficking in Canada is our government’s lack of action in preventing it. Perrin does a great job of uncovering Canada’s failures and offers ample suggestions for improvement. Seeing as this book is 10-years-old, I’d be curious to know how much has changed since then. I hope a lot!
I loved that this novel specifically touches on the disproportionately high victimization rates of our indigenous population— I will always vouch for a book that brings more awareness to this issue! I was also very interesting in the discussion of whether legalizing prostitution can in any way help to reduce human trafficking (spoiler alert, it does not). This is something that I’ve always questioned, and is something that I have always had mixed feelings about.
This book unpacks a lot, but it is so so important! In addition to being a great conversation piece, this book offers suggestions for readers to get involved and help spread awareness.

[Cow · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very important. Very depressing, but so important. I think a lot of people have no idea just how pervasive this problem is in our society; I think everyone will be shocked by at least a few of the things in this book. It's leaving me with a lot t

My only complaints are these: first that the organization of the book felt troubled at times; it seemed like a lot of things just got repeated over and over, and stories would get split in weird places (half of the story of a person appearing in, say, chapters 6 and 16); and second, that it doesn't seem to have any idea on what individual readers should do to help.

Still, this is a book of amazing and groundbreaking research, and it's creates a challenge to all of us.

[Vee · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book until the last third of it because explicitly anti-sex work(er) and refused to distinguish between human trafficking and sex work. It took a very sex workers have zero agency approach which was a disappointing turn.

[Lisa · Rating 2 out of 5]

Perrin's book was useful in rounding out my knowledge of sex trafficking, but was just...well a bit boring. It was well researched, and the personal stories where there, but I felt like he talked in circles and sometimes repeated concepts. I skimmed a lot. However, it was still worth a read and I still learned stuff.

[Alexa · Rating 3 out of 5]

In some ways, this book is phenomenal and it is something I will definitively be recommending to people. But in a lot of ways this book was a disappointment as well.

I want to explain these thoughts thoroughly so this will probably be long..

The content was great (as terrible as the topic is) it covered so many bases, from a bunch of different perspectives. The layout could have used some work (or to be honest a lot of work). It would have been better in my opinion to open up with all the survivor stories, having them grouped together, followed by testimonials from parents, who are or did go through this situation. Then followed by any social services testimonials or police statements ect. Put all the people first and foremost in the book, - minus all the technical and legal jargon - to really draw in your reader/ audience.

While it is insensitive to say, I picked up this book because of the survivor stories, I wanted to hear from the people about their life journey, the horrible things they went through, how they survive during and after, what their lives look like now. When I started the book and then couldn't find these, I was tempted to just put the book down.

The next problem that got to me was; the saturation of legal terms and the style of the language. It got to be so dry, like reading a textbook or a manual. I have read plenty of informative books that dodged this bullet, and while the author is a lawyer, I feel like a really good editor could have helped him change the format, to be more reader friendly.

I am a huge reader, I have taken a law course and a couple higher level English classes, and it almost killed me to get through the book. Getting information out of a paragraph, retaining what I was reading, understanding what I was reading. Was exhausting, it prompted me to put the book down and not want to continue over and over (I am honestly really surprised I even finished the book). Way too much detailed info was repeated - periodically with different wording that seemed to contradict what I had "come to understand" - I took copious notes (that I referred to again and again), I had my phone for a dictionary and still it was a struggle.

Facts would have been easier to process had they been removed from the main text and displayed visually in charts, graphs or bullet points. We kept jumping all over the world with the information, organizing the book into clear sections; abroad (country by country), provincially East to West or vice, versa, and then going into the broader topic of Canada, dealing with this Federally.

It is a shame that this is really not a book for the masses. Because it had great information and education. Again just not at all reader friendly.

[Brayden · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would like to start off by saying I am not a fan of non fiction so take my opponion with a grain of salt. This book was very eye opening about the lack of laws in Canada regarding human trafficking (although it was written at least nine years ago so I'm hoping that has changed.) I found it to be super repetitive to the point where I was quite bored quite often, but I don't know if that is common for the genre or if this book was particularly bad. I have read a lot of dark fiction involving human trafficking so none of the victims stories were surprising to me, but definitely reinforced how very real these cases are. I feel like society as a whole has a very narrow minded view of women in these situations and tends to look down there nose at them or ignore the issue and I feel like this book could be combative in changing that. I do hope Canada has implemented some of the changes suggested in this book so human trafficking can cease to exist in our country as well as all others.

[Holden Roy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is pretty dry. The subject matter is super serious so I understand why it's dry but it's worth noting as this is a book and that matters.

Benjamin did something pretty incredible by investigating and creating a powerful asset to be used to force legislators to move. With that, it feels like a lawmaker in Ottawa is more the target audience than I.

Okay enough about the tone, it's a lot of facts and snippets of anecdote that pieces together a reality that many ignore. Granted this book is in 2010 and some of the stuff has improved, I really like the action plan stuff at the end. Gives you a real something to do after reading it.

Worth reading for the knowledge.

[Niamh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Perrin has written an important book shedding light on some of Canada's darkest corners. Every Canadian should learn about the fundamentals of human trafficking and this book does just that. Unfortunately, Perrin dilutes his message through repetition. This book could be half the length through tighter editing.

Also, a warning to future readers: this book is extremely disturbing. The stories told in this book are absolutely shocking and will likely make you nauseated. Proceed with caution.

[Dan Stern · Rating 4 out of 5]

Invisible Chains describes, in detail, the Canadian side of human trafficking - of all manner of frightened and disandvantaged human beings - many of whom thought they were coming to a better life.

I appreciated the index at the back of the book to volunteer associations in every Canadian province.

[Morrisa Graham · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have never been disappointed to live and be a Canadian until I read this book. The government at all levels need to wake the hell up and start helping to protect and save our children.

This book is not a narrative book but more of a documentary.

I would suggest to everyone to read this book, it is time we take our heads out of the sand and wake up.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This reveals a completely hidden aspect of crime and victimization in Canada. It was filled with stories and statistics which were compelling and astonishing. I would never have suspected the level of trafficking present in Canada. It makes me wonder what has been done since and whether this call to action has (hopefully) made an impact.

[Véronique · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even if this book was written almost 10 years ago, it is still relevant today. A lot of new research has been done on the subject since, but I would still recommend it for people that are looking for a better understanding of what human trafficking is.

[Kendra M · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is so eye opening to what's been going on in Canada however I am not that surprised. Women should never be reduced to feeling that they are strictly there for a man's satisfaction, yet it happens every day.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well researched, well written, and overall a really informative read. Unfortunately, parts are a bit dated (it has been 14 years). This is the second book I've read by this author and both were really worth it.

[Huguette Larochelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book should be in every school,
every one should read this .
this is horrible that s gong on , that is the worst crime .
men that paid for sex ,are responsible ,for this to continue.
if there no demand the crime will stop .

[Laura McGowan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Human trafficking explained in a Canadian and global context, Cultural/societal values which make it continue, And what needs to be done to stop it

[Diana · Rating 5 out of 5]

We like to think these scenarios aren’t occurring in our neighbourhood - but they are. This is an important book that sheds a light on a complex subject within a Canadian context.

[Kristyn Kathleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

An eye-opening book!
Unfortunately it has some outdated information, but that’s to be expected when writing about statistics and policies.

[Nicole Murray · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Having heard all of this, you may choose to look the other way, but you can never again say that you did not know."

[Congrégation de Notre-dame · Rating 4 out of 5]

Many very good books have been written on human trafficking in the last few years. I would highly recommend those written by Richard Poulin, Victor Malarak, Somaly Mam, Isabel Vincent, Melissa Farley. The one I want to comment though is INVISIBLE CHAINS, by Benjamin Perrin.*
It happens often that one takes a decision in life and is led to a path that was not clearly defined at first. It seems to me that such was the case for Mr. Perrin. While talking with his university friends, he became aware of human trafficking. He and his friends decided to study seriously the issues of this terrible way of making money, founded The Future Group, and before going into a business career, headed for Cambodia and got involved with the people in that country.
Benjamin Perrin’s book is not easy to read. You will be moved to tears, it will break your heart, you will even get very angry while you read about Thérèse, Manuela, Luisa, Natalie, Crystal, Jessie, Eve and many others. But compassion is not enough unless you cross the road. Perrin did it when he worked in Cambodia, and would not quit when returning home. He had learnt that the traffickers in Cambodia were from North America, Western Europe and Australia. He had learnt that trafficking is a national and international issue and that Canada has a responsibility in this human tragedy. Perrin was determined to prove it. I believe that it is with this intention that upon returning to Canada, he did extensive research about what was going on in his own country. Knowledge is a powerful and needed instrument.
With him, we travel across Canada and the roads lead us to other disturbing facts. We learn about the difficulties in trying to act against trafficking, the barriers one encounter, the forces at work everywhere. We learn more disturbing stories. Real people, young, innocent, afraid and alone. We are reminded of the vulnerable situation of the First Nations as prime easy preys to being trafficked.
We learn about laws, about the Canadian Civil Code, about the Palermo Protocol. As Perrin writes, laws are not enough to bring changes but they do define the values of a nation and in the long run, they can make a difference.
We are introduced to the traffickers’ methods, the huge amount of money this “industry” brings. We also learn about the efforts made by different groups, the good initiatives of the NGO’s, the operations deployed by the police force to save the victims and to prevent trafficking.
The work done never seems enough but Perrin dos not leave his readers in despair. In fact, I wonder if the National Plan to fight trafficking that the Canadian parliament just launched is not a result, at a certain level, of his thorough research and of other books and projects. How can facts be denied and overlooked forever? No, Perrin does not leave us helpless and hopeless. This book is a book of action.

Sister Pierrette Boissé, CND

[Josephine · Rating 4 out of 5]

You know, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “Deep in our history of struggle for freedom, Canada was the North Star.”

After reading Benjamin Perrin’s “Invisible Chains,” I really doubt that victims of modern-day slavery and human trafficking can view Canada in the same light.

Interestingly, Perrin’s book was what prompted me to start reading up on modern-day slavery — I heard him on the radio with John Tory and decided to check his book out.

It just happened that I wound up reading Kevin Bales’ book first — and I think it helped to provide a really solid understanding of how slavery still exists today.

What’s completely mind-boggling is how slavery exists here.

I mean, sure, to a certain extent, you can understand how people are victimized in developing nations such as Cambodia or India, but here? In Canada?

I just felt this increasing sense of shame and disgust as I learned more about human trafficking and how it exists here.

“What drives human beings to treat others as less than human?” Perrin asks. “The predatory behaviour of human traffickers seems to extend well beyond a means of control to encompass sadism, brutality, torture, and psychological cruelty.” (p. 109)

The cases he talked about? They just fill you with horror — and it never lets up because you soon learn that our government and our justice system aren’t taking the issue of human trafficking seriously enough and have allowed human traffickers to get away with rape, torture, and murder.

It makes you ashamed to be Canadian — especially when you read about how other countries like Belgium, Italy, Sweden and even the United States have made a real focused effort in helping victims and ensuring that justice is fully served.

[Dianne Kaucharik · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was an enlightening and startling exposé of human trafficking of persons for the sex trade and for labour. Perrin shares numerous stories and facts to demonstrate that the problem is pervasive here in Canada, the "true north stong and free", but that our failure to adequately address the problem and to support its victims serves to perpetuate modern day slavery both here and abroad. I found the book to be a thorough and well written overview as well as a call to action with numerous, specific suggestions for government, NGOs, private sector organizations, parents and all Canadian citizens. Readers may also be interested in Somaly Mam's book The Road of Lost Innocence: The True Story of a Cambodian Heroine and a 2012 feature movie called "Trade of Innocents", written and directed by Canadian film-maker Chrisopher Bissette.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book a lot and it was really interesting to read. The solutions were way too focused on higher penalties for traffickers and purchasers as well as services after the fact than on tangible prevention. Perrin says the driving factor behind trafficking is money, which is true in some ways but I would say the factors are (among others) sexism, racism, and classism - particularly with sex trafficking. Exploitation stems from the way we value groups of people in our society, and until that starts to shift it will continue to happen, regardless of legislation and police action.

[Jenn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A excellent and comprehensive book about Canada's complete incompetence when it comes to combating trafficking of persons. If sure there are plenty of people trying to do their best with what they have in terms of resources but it is incredible how inadequate of a response there is by all levels of government. The research is thorough and it's a great jumping off point for anyone that wants to learn more about the issues.

[Suzanne Benner · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hard hitting book about human trafficking in Canada. Made me more aware of the horrible truth. Gripping stories. I think the book could have been shorter - seemed like a lot of repetition, but maybe that's what it takes to get people to pay attention.

[Myriam · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very good start if you are looking into this theme . Poorly written, but is an excellent reference book.

[Anne Hopkinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stunning content in this book. I just didn't know Canada was so LAX on human trafficking! One of the pedophiles arrested and convicted was the parent of two little boys I taught in Grade 3.

[Melissa · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not the type of book I thought it was going to be.