Backgrounder
Backgrounder Amanda Testani September 23rd, 2014 CEPR 110/AA1 Fundamentals of Public Relations
Runners Against Human Trafficking Runners Against Human Trafficking is a Canadian organization that holds annual marathons across Canada with the goal of raising public awareness about human trafficking and to raise money for Canadian victims. Human trafficking is an unfortunate event that still transpires in the present day and effects thousands of people worldwide. Many Canadians still believe that slavery is a thing of the past or that it only happens in underdeveloped countries; however, the truth is, human trafficking is still a large problem, even in Canada. Ø According to the UN office on Drugs and Crime, human trafficking is the world’s fastest growing global crime. (stopthetraffik.org) Ø An estimated 600-800 people in Canada have been trafficked in the last year. Ø 50% of reported human trafficking cases in Canada have involved Canadian citizens. (allianceagainstmodernslavery.org). Ø There are 3 main forms of human trafficking in Canada: (1) Forced prostitution, (2) Forced Labour, and (3) Forced Marriage. (allianceagainstmodernslavery.org) Ø A recent poll suggests that 58% of Canadians do not believe human trafficking is a problem in Canada. The objective of Runners Against Human Trafficking is to dispel common myths about human trafficking, specifically in Canada. Dr. Jessica Conner, the founder of the organization, has aimed to educate Canadians with real facts on modern slavery and aims to help Canadian victims who have been affected by human trafficking. The marathons held every year across Canada have heightened public awareness by almost 50% since they began and have successfully raised millions of dollars for victims. Around 20,000 people across Canada participate each year, and enter into different race levels, the highest being 40km. Runners Against Human Trafficking works closely with the Canadian government to fund research and to discuss ways to protect citizens from human trafficking. They also work closely with their most important sponsors: Alliance Against Modern Slavery (AAMS), and Walk With Me Canada Victim Services.
HISTORY Runners Against Human Trafficking was founded in 2007 and held its first marathon in Montreal, Quebec. The marathon event quickly gained popularity from the public and gained recognition from the Canadian
government. By 2009, only two years after its creation, Runners Against Human Trafficking started hosting marathons in nine cities across Canada. Over the last seven years, the annual marathons have raised over 100 million dollars for human trafficking awareness and for human trafficking victims. Founder Dr. Jessica Conner had always wished for a world free from slavery, and she knew from a very young age that her purpose in life was to make a difference. Graduating from Concordia University with a degree in Human Development and a PhD in Humanitarian Affairs, Dr. Conner successfully started a career working for the United Nations office on Drugs and Crime in 2004. Dr. Conner always enjoyed running marathons to support different issues, so she decided to create Runners Against Human Trafficking in 2007, to host marathons around Canada to raise awareness about the problem of human trafficking. Co-Founder Richard Foster co-founded Runners Against Human Trafficking alongside his partner Dr. Jessica Conner who he met while working for the United Nations office on Drugs and Crime. Foster studied Sociology and Criminology at McGill University, and is a current PhD candidate in History. Like Dr. Conner, Foster has a love for running and was eager to help create Runners Against Human Trafficking. For more information please visit runnersagainsthumantrafficking.org Please join our online community
Runners Against Human Trafficking Runners Against Human Trafficking is a Canadian organization that holds annual marathons across Canada with the goal of raising public awareness about human trafficking and to raise money for Canadian victims. Human trafficking is an unfortunate event that still transpires in the present day and effects thousands of people worldwide. Many Canadians still believe that slavery is a thing of the past or that it only happens in underdeveloped countries; however, the truth is, human trafficking is still a large problem, even in Canada. Ø According to the UN office on Drugs and Crime, human trafficking is the world’s fastest growing global crime. (stopthetraffik.org) Ø An estimated 600-800 people in Canada have been trafficked in the last year. Ø 50% of reported human trafficking cases in Canada have involved Canadian citizens. (allianceagainstmodernslavery.org). Ø There are 3 main forms of human trafficking in Canada: (1) Forced prostitution, (2) Forced Labour, and (3) Forced Marriage. (allianceagainstmodernslavery.org) Ø A recent poll suggests that 58% of Canadians do not believe human trafficking is a problem in Canada. The objective of Runners Against Human Trafficking is to dispel common myths about human trafficking, specifically in Canada. Dr. Jessica Conner, the founder of the organization, has aimed to educate Canadians with real facts on modern slavery and aims to help Canadian victims who have been affected by human trafficking. The marathons held every year across Canada have heightened public awareness by almost 50% since they began and have successfully raised millions of dollars for victims. Around 20,000 people across Canada participate each year, and enter into different race levels, the highest being 40km. Runners Against Human Trafficking works closely with the Canadian government to fund research and to discuss ways to protect citizens from human trafficking. They also work closely with their most important sponsors: Alliance Against Modern Slavery (AAMS), and Walk With Me Canada Victim Services.
HISTORY Runners Against Human Trafficking was founded in 2007 and held its first marathon in Montreal, Quebec. The marathon event quickly gained popularity from the public and gained recognition from the Canadian
government. By 2009, only two years after its creation, Runners Against Human Trafficking started hosting marathons in nine cities across Canada. Over the last seven years, the annual marathons have raised over 100 million dollars for human trafficking awareness and for human trafficking victims. Founder Dr. Jessica Conner had always wished for a world free from slavery, and she knew from a very young age that her purpose in life was to make a difference. Graduating from Concordia University with a degree in Human Development and a PhD in Humanitarian Affairs, Dr. Conner successfully started a career working for the United Nations office on Drugs and Crime in 2004. Dr. Conner always enjoyed running marathons to support different issues, so she decided to create Runners Against Human Trafficking in 2007, to host marathons around Canada to raise awareness about the problem of human trafficking. Co-Founder Richard Foster co-founded Runners Against Human Trafficking alongside his partner Dr. Jessica Conner who he met while working for the United Nations office on Drugs and Crime. Foster studied Sociology and Criminology at McGill University, and is a current PhD candidate in History. Like Dr. Conner, Foster has a love for running and was eager to help create Runners Against Human Trafficking. For more information please visit runnersagainsthumantrafficking.org Please join our online community
