Temple gives red light on human trafficking

From today through Sunday, the community is invited to learn more about the global industry, and ways to slow it down, through speakers and panels featuring some of the country's most noted experts on the subject. On March 22 at 7:30 p.m. Victor Malarek, author of The Natashas: Inside the New Global Sex Trade, will speak about the current status of human trafficking worldwide and in Canada. He will also address the need to uphold prostitution as an illegal activity and the need to end the demand for paid sex. On Friday at 8:15 p.m., Winnipeg MP Joy Smith, a leading voice in the fight against human trafficking/sexual slavery, will be guest speaker at Shabbat services, and on Saturday at 10:30 a.m. the services will feature 'Religious Response to Human Trafficking'. Father John Walsh will join Rabbi Leigh Lerner to discuss what Jewish and Christian texts, stories and traditions say about human trafficking, prostitution, sexual enslavement, gender equality, oppression of women and more. Services will be followed with a buffet lunch. The cost is $10 and reservations must be made in advance by phoning 514-806-8910. The program will continue at 1:30 p.m with a panel discussion moderated by Malarek, featuring Dr. Jacqueline Oxman-Martinez of Université de Montréal, Montreal police officer Leslie Potts, Sgt. Jacques Morin of the RCMP, Maria Mourani, MP for Ahuntsic, a criminologist and author of 'La face cache des gangs de rues', and Lynn Dion, a case worker. On Sunday at 2:30 p.m., Mark Krupa, a Montreal actor, photographer and writer, will host a new group for men 16 and older, 'BAM! Be a Man against human trafficking'. He will be joined by Lawrence Thierry-Bernard, who has personal knowledge of human trafficking. Rabbi Lerner will lead the discussion. There is no charge for any of the presentations. Simultaneous translation to French will be available. Temple Emanu-El-Beth Sholom is located at 4100 Sherbrooke St. W. For more information phone 514-806-8910.