Gendered Based Vulnerabilities and Human Trafficking: The Crisis for Indigenous Women Across Canada, New Zealand, and Australia

By Rayna Klugherz, Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative

The trafficking of Indigenous women and girls reflects a profound failure of state protection, where long-standing structural inequalities have made exploitation both predictable and preventable. Human trafficking of Indigenous women and girls has become a widespread and deeply entrenched crisis, fuelled by the enduring effects of colonisation and the structural vulnerabilities it has created. Indigenous women and girls in many countries, including Canada, New Zealand, and Australia, are disproportionately victims of violence and crimes stemming from a history of colonisation that forced systems of racism and patriarchy upon Indigenous communities.

Violence within families, communities, and institutions — including physical abuse, sexual violence, and long-term neglect — creates conditions of vulnerability that traffickers actively exploit. Human traffickers typically target individuals who are already coping with instability, marginalisation, or harm, making those exposed to such violence at significantly higher risk of being trafficked. Consequently, Indigenous women and girls that have suffered abuse and violence are at a high risk of exploitation, including being trafficked. In addition to human trafficking, other examples of gendered colonial violence include forced sterilisation, sexual abuse, and family violence. It is therefore vital that when addressing human trafficking, policymakers also address the violence against Indigenous women and girls. 

Canada

In July 2025, a Thomson Reuters report analysed the trends of disappearances of Indigenous women and girls across Canada, and found that “[d]espite being only 5% of the population, Indigenous women and girls account for over 50% of trafficking victims.” Based upon the findings, several key recommendations were proposed, including: addressing the gaps in reporting and ensuring that data is comprehensively collected; prioritising investigative resources in known city hotspots like Winnipeg and Edmonton; and enhancing cross-border international collaboration. 

The Canadian government recognises that “Indigenous women and girls continue to be disproportionately targeted by sex traffickers.” The National Strategy to Combat Human Trafficking launched in 2019 directed funding to, and supported efforts by, organisations that assist Indigenous peoples and seek to end human trafficking; however, based on the ongoing problems cited in the Thomson Reuters report, work is still needed to address this issue.

New Zealand

Like in Canada, human trafficking victims in New Zealand are overwhelmingly Indigenous Māori and Pasifika women and girls. While they make up about 16% of the New Zealand population, Māori and Pasifika women represent over 31% of those in the sex trade. They also often work for the lowest pay and in the most dangerous places, and they are at higher risk of experiencing violence and abuse. Additionally, there is inadequate documentation of sex trafficking victims in New Zealand because these crimes may be reported as “family abuse” or unreported entirely, as they are “sold” by family members to foreign workers. 

In 2021, New Zealand published its “Plan of Action against Forced Labour, People Trafficking and Slavery,” taking an approach of prevention, protection, and enforcement to address this problem. The plan acknowledges that Māori and Pacific peoples, particularly women and children, are especially vulnerable to serious exploitation and people trafficking within New Zealand. The plan states a “key goal…is to take steps to identify, assist and support [these] victims…This includes raising broader awareness of what forced labour, people trafficking and slavery look like; taking action to proactively identify potential victims; and providing them with appropriate protection and support.”

Australia

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women experience violence at a rate more than three times that of non-Indigenous women. While there is no available data detailing the specific rate of human trafficking affecting Indigenous women, a similar pattern exists, showing disproportionate rates of overall violence against Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women resulting from ongoing impacts of colonialism, racism, and gender inequality in Australia. 

The Australian government implemented the “National Action Plan to Combat Modern Slavery 2020-25” in 2020 to broadly combat human trafficking and modern slavery. The plan pays particular attention to the disproportionate effects on women and girls. Australia works with global organisations and the Australian Federal Police to prevent human trafficking, raise awareness for people at risk, enforce laws against modern slavery, and offer support for all trafficked people. 

This pattern of exploitation against Indigenous women and girls remains a key issue that must critically be addressed in Canada, New Zealand, Australia, as well as other countries, to prevent the continuation of egregious crimes including human trafficking. It is important to work with Indigenous women and amplify their voices to best develop solutions to end this violence. Effective violence prevention should not only be Indigenous-led, but also culturally supportive, strengths-based, and holistic. Strategies may include funding support for victims and survivors to regain control and independence and increased awareness and capacity-building efforts to prevent victimisation.