International students are falling victim to sexual exploitation and are being used to traffic drugs in the Greater Toronto Area, Canada, an NGO has said. Sunder Singh is the executive director of the Elspeth Heyworth Centre for Women, an organisation that supports women in the Toronto community. The PIE has also found numerous massage parlours that are advertising services from international students in the Greater Toronto Area. The cost of living is extremely high and the students who are coming are paying four times more in their fee expenses.
Canada has seen over , international students arrive in — an increase of almost a third in one year, according to government data. The PIE reported last week on female international students needing more support to prevent exploitation by employers. The PIE News has identified a number of massage parlours around Toronto are openly saying they use Indian students for sex work.
Singh told The PIE that in one of the Brampton hospitals, about 18 to 20 girls are going for abortions every month. Singh said it is hard to say exactly how many students are being affected, due to the fact that many do not want to come forward to speak about their experiences.
Last year, the centre met with approximately 80 students, all facing financial challenges and currently it sees over 12 students every week who come for food and clothing. Elspeth Heyworth Centre for Women has also become aware of landlords and employers who have exploited female students.
The girls cannot afford it, you know, they have to pay their fees. They have a limited income. Elspeth Heyworth Centre for Women currently works with local banks, who say sometimes a young female students share pass codes with boyfriends.
