‘Not In My City’ – Country music artist vows to wipe out human trafficking

CALGARY (660 NEWS) – You know his music, you know his name but you might not know about the fight he’s been battling to end one of the fastest growing crimes in Canada.

Two years ago, country music star Paul Brandt launched a campaign titled ‘Not In My City,’ aimed at raising awareness on human trafficking, especially among children.

“This happens in the shadows, in the darkness, on the web,” said Brandt. “As people start to discuss it and talk about it, we can start to see change happening.”

Unfortunately, Brandt admits that the issue is often misunderstood with many he’s spoken to thinking it’s a problem that only exists in third world or developing countries.

“The idea or the words human trafficking, it invokes an image of children being trapped in boats and trains and shipped at night across distant borders. It’s important to call it what it is; this is the sexual exploitation of children.”

Brandt saw this crime first hand during a trip to southeast Asia a number of years ago.

“I was in an area where there was a California based businessman who was constructing a three-storey building to be used as a sex destination hotel, to bring busloads and planeloads of men from around the world to sexually exploit kids. I met a little girl in that tiny town who was only 5-years-old, who was being sold six to eight times a night.”

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That encounter prompted him to look at human trafficking in Canada and was alarmed to find out it’s not only prevalent here, but growing.

Statistics show that 93 per cent of human trafficking victims in Canada are Canadian citizens.

Brandt hopes he can change the story around human trafficking with his campaign.

“It’s been incredible over the last two years to see the momentum that has built. It’s exciting to see people now having the conversation, and it’s starting to make a difference in the fight against trafficking.

As a way to help spread the awareness, Brandt has partnered with a local designer to create yellow rose pins, with all proceeds going towards the campaign.

“The rose is beautiful, but it also has thorns. It’s a difficult topic, and yellow can be a difficult colour for some people to wear. Not everybody can wear it. It doesn’t look good on everybody. We wanted to bring that symbolism and also be able to use this bright symbol so we can have that conversation.”

You can find out more about the campaign at NotInMyCity.ca.

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