Sudbury-based group developing court education videos for human trafficking survivors

A Sudbury-based organization that supports human trafficking survivors is producing a new video series to help people navigate Ontario's court system.

Angels of Hope Against Human Trafficking has received over $280,000 from the Law Foundation of Ontario to fund the project. Cristina Scarpellini, the group's founder and executive director, said the videos will help survivors understand their rights and what's involved in the legal process.

She said many survivors accessing services ask what the legal process will be like when trying to hold perpetrators to account, and she tells them how court can be especially "re-traumatizing" during cross-examinations.

"I want them to be more comfortable and prepared for these questions and be aware that you know opposing counsel. This is their job to do. This is to cross examine the victim or survivor and victim blame and shame to get their client off on these charges and not to take it personally, although it's extremely hard," Scarpellini said. 

The videos, set to be released in English and French in July 2027 will be led by survivors who have already been through the court system.

"Survivors are the experts in this," Scarpellini said. "They've lived through it, so they're the best ones to explain this to other survivors."

The project is being developed in partnership with Timea's Cause, a survivor-led organization based in southern Ontario. Founder Timea Nagy was trafficked from Hungary into Canada when she was 21.

'Court process was long and painful'

Nagy said she was trafficked for three months, in hiding for a year and went to police a year after that. 

In the end, she spent six years involved in court proceedings. 

"The court process was long and painful, and most importantly, even at the best try of the police officer, I really barely understood half of it, how it works, and most often, I felt kind of lost," Nagy said. 

Nagy said the goal of the video series is to prevent confusion for other survivors so they can understand what's happening at every step of the legal process. 

"That way, they feel more empowered to make informed decisions when it comes to facing their traffickers or perpetrators in court," she said. 

Scarpellini said the Angels of Hope originally focused on northeastern Ontario, but now supports survivors across the province. She added that Sudbury remains a hotspot for human trafficking by criminal organizations. 

"After the illegal drug trade, human trafficking is the second most lucrative market," she said. "It's not going anywhere."