A new Thomson Reuters report has uncovered a strong link between the disappearances of Indigenous women in Canada and human trafficking for sex work. Despite comprising only about 5% of the population, Indigenous women account for 51% of all female sex trafficking victims and are heavily represented in online sex ads.Â
The report, which analyzed cases from 2010 to 2024 and over 3,400 sex ads, found that some women reported missing were later found advertised for sex in major cities—sometimes within minutes. Researchers also uncovered evidence of cross-border trafficking, with Canadian contact details appearing in U.S. listings.
