One year from now, people from around the world will gather in Vancouver for the 2010 Winter Olympics. 

But as the final plans for Thursday's countdown celebrations are ironed out, some fear Vancouver will be welcoming more than just athletes and fans. There is a concern that human trafficking is set to increase. And one group is taking action.

Major Brian Venables of The Salvation Army opens the door to room 712 of its latest safe house.

"This is one of the rooms; it'll eventually have three beds," he said.

They already provide shelter for recovering addicts, abuse victims and refugees, but these rooms are different. Ten beds on one floor will be reserved for victims of human trafficking.

It's a problem The Salvation Army feels is about to get worse when the world arrives next year for the 2010 Games.

"There are young people who are taken advantage of. They're imprisoned, there's no escape for them," Major Venables said. "When you bring the world stage to a city, the demand for sex slaves goes up."

And the vulnerable need a place to hide, he added.

"They're found in hotel rooms and condos, and if the police were to raid one of these trafficking centres, and all of a sudden eight young girls are needing a place to stay, we'd have a place for them."

Read the whole story at CTV British Columbia

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On Monday, January 16, 2023, Bali Guide said:

Thx for sharing

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