July 30 is the United Nations’ World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, and local organizations are marking the day with information events.

Participants in the Association for New Canadians’ SEA project gathered at MUN Botanical Garden Friday in an effort to highlight the issue of human trafficking through special doorway art installations. Intricately painted doors were used to mark the experience of newcomer women in relation to human trafficking.

The Association’s SEA project was conceived in response to an observed rise in reported instances of human trafficking among association clients.

Project lead Geraldine Ankrah says a lot of people still believe trafficking is only trans-national smuggling of humans.

She says harbouring, exploiting, or recruiting someone for your own gain can be human trafficking. She says it can happen and is happening here in Canada and Newfoundland and Labrador.

She says newcomer women and girls are at a higher risk of human trafficking.

She says usually the end result is sex or labour exploitation.