First Baptist Church in P.A. will host a talk on cybersex trafficking (Facebook/First Baptist Church)

By Michael Joel-Hansen

Exploitation

Church to host talk on sex trafficking

Apr 23, 2019 | 4:53 PM

A Prince Albert Church is hoping to encourage the public to discuss a serious issue.

First Baptist church will be hosting a public discussion on the topic of cybersex trafficking, specifically the children targeted by traffickers.

David Pollendine, who serves as a director of development and church mobilization with the International Justice Mission Canada, will be speaking on the issue.

Pollendine told paNOW his talk will be looking at the issue from a wide range of perspectives, including what cybersex trafficking is, and what options are available to fight it.

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The International Justice Mission Canada is part of a wider international organization which aims to help people in developing countries seek justice and also works to rescue victims of violence.

Pollendine explained cybersex trafficking, which often involves youth being abused over the internet.

“Essentially it’s live-stream sex exploitation of children viewed over the internet,” he said.

In most cases Pollendine said the children who are abused are generally located overseas in developing countries like the Philippines, where he has done extensive work to help combat the issue.

When it comes to these kinds of crimes, Pollendine said the abuse is generally streamed to people in more developed nations.

“That third party tends to come from places like Canada, the U.S., U.K., and Western Europe,” he said.

Overall, Pollendine said part of the work he and his organization do is to raise awareness about the issue and bring it to the public’s attention.

He said people need to understand the issue is one which involves people in areas across the country and people across a variety of social classes.

“We do have responsibility to actually do something about it,” he said.

Pollendine said the government has not made the financial resources available to groups and agencies who are working on the issue. Specifically, Pollendine would like to see more coordination between Canada and countries where the abuse is occurring.

“We’re asking for liaison officers to be stationed in Manilla, who can coordinate between the Philippians national police and the RCMP,” he said.

Chris Neudorf, associate pastor of youth and worship for First Baptist Church noted he felt the issue of cybersex trafficking is one that needs to be talked about and welcomed the learning opportunity.

“We don’t know nearly as much, he’s [Pollendine] right in the midst of this kind of thing and so for him to just kind of make us aware and share the information and what we can do about it with our church, that’s wonderful,” he said.

The discussion is scheduled to take place Wednesday night at 6 p.m at the church.

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MichaelJoel.Hansen@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @mjhskcdn