“YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO BE PROTECTED FROM WORK THAT IS DANGEROUS OR MIGHT HARM YOUR HEALTH OR EDUCATION.” 

- Article 32 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child   

Did you know that forced labour is the second most common form of trafficking in Canada, after sexual exploitation? In this week’s Inside Human Trafficking in Canada episode, we explore the often-overlooked world of forced labour. 

Forced labour can take place across industries, including agriculture, construction, and domestic labour, and it was at play in the largest human trafficking case to date in our country. Michael Sacco of ChocoSol and Shelley Gilbert of Legal Assistance of Windsor and W.E.C.E.N shed light on this lesser known form of trafficking, with a specific focus on the chocolate industry.

Michael Sacco is a writer, strategist, designer, eco-preneur, and founder of ChocoSol, a social enterprise that transforms cacao into small-batch, bean-to-bar, artisanal dark chocolate. ChocoSol, founded in 2004, aspires to a future where the global food system is socially just, and supports community-focused ecological regeneration, inspiring the craft chocolate industry to improve operations and work in partnership with indigenous communities across the Americas.

Shelley Gilbert has worked at Legal Assistance of Windsor since 1993. She is currently the Coordinator of Social Work Services and the Chair of the Windsor Essex Anti-Human Trafficking Action Group, W.E.C.E.N. Shelley conducts training and workshops for both NGOs and law enforcement to help identify and provide service to trafficked persons across the country. She has presented models of collaboration, policy gaps, and best practice approaches at national and provincial conferences. She was awarded the Inspirational Leader Award by the Ontario Association of Social Workers in 2014 and the Attorney General Victim Services Award of Distinction in 2016.   

To learn more about ChocoSol, visit: chocosoltraders.com

To learn more about W.E.C.E.N, visit: wecen.ca (website coming soon!)    

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To read podcast transcripts and find more resources, visit: insidehumantraffickingincanada.wordpress.com

If you’d like to ask questions, or continue this podcast conversation online, please tag us on social media using #InsideHumanTrafficking. Inside Human Trafficking in Canada is a podcast created by the Manitoba Advocate for Children and Youth and Youth Troopers for Global Action.   

To learn more about the Manitoba Advocate for Children and Youth, visit: https://manitobaadvocate.ca/   

To learn more about Youth Troopers for Global Action, visit: https://ytga.com/  

Special thanks to our audio producers: Daniel Chavez from Sisepuede Productions (https://www.sisepuedeproductions.ca/) and Darshan Dorka from Nexstanza; as well as Prophix Software (https://www.prophix.com/) for providing financial support to YTGA.