Tools of Empowerment for Success (TOES Niagara)

Published purpose

Through this 40-month project, Tools of Empowerment for Success (TOES Niagara) will develop and put in place a code of conduct to prevent human trafficking in the hospitality and tourism industry in the Niagara region to strengthen the GBV sector, based in part on ECPAT International's The Code of Conduct for the Protection of Children from Sexual Exploitation in Travel and Tourism. It will address the need to provide awareness, tools and support to the hospitality and tourism industry to prevent human trafficking of vulnerable populations (e.g., women, racialized, newcomers) working and living in the Niagara region. To do so, the project will establish a multi-stakeholder steering committee that will develop and adapt a local Code of Conduct based in part on the ECPAT model with input from the community including survivors and at-risk populations. The local Code will be implemented among pilot organizations and policy development support and training will be provided to these organizations to facilitate a successful implementation. An external evaluator will measure and assess the impact of the promising practice. TOES Niagara will organize outreach events to share information on the promising practice with key employers in major border cities so that they may replicate it or expand upon it within their own organizations. The supplemental funding will be used to review and update training modules for specific target populations, to deliver in-person training to front-line municipal employees and to increase knowledge mobilization activities by traveling to additional locations within the Niagara region. With the supplemental funds and extension provided in early 2026, TOES Niagara will 1) undertake applied research to assess the practical implementation and behavioural impacts of the Code of Conduct for Human Trafficking Prevention; 2) enhance training modules using evaluation evidence and feedback from early Code adopters; and 3) produce targeted knowledge products to support stakeholders in applying the Code. Through this, they will further advance Gender Equality.