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Conservative MP Joy Smith will introduce a private member's = bill that=20 targets human trafficking, the lucrative organized-crime racket = that=20 typically lures boys, girls and women from small towns and turns = them into=20 sex slaves.

"Everyone thinks this crime was stopped in the 1800s, but it = has taken=20 on a new form and targets children," said Mrs. Smith (Kildonan-St. = Paul).=20 "We're taking a closer look at halting the rights of pedophiles = and making=20 sure the rights of ordinary citizens are protected."

The initiative comes two weeks after the worldwide manhunt and=20 apprehension of Canadian teacher Christopher Paul Neil, who is = accused of=20 sexually abusing at least 12 boys in Asia.

But travelling for the purposes of such alleged crimes is only = part of=20 a wider scourge that is regarded by non-governmental organizations = as both=20 a domestic and international embarrassment.

"There are at least 27 million people trapped in various forms = of=20 slavery, and that is more people than were trafficked from Africa = 400=20 years ago," said Jamie McIntosh, executive director of the = Canadian branch=20 of the International Justice Mission. "It's snuffing out our = brothers and=20 sisters around the world."

Mrs. Smith's proposal, which would amend the Criminal Code, = takes aim=20 at the supply and demand of trafficking, including sexual tourism: = transmitting, distributing, or advertising any information for the = means=20 of sexual exploitation would be illegal. The most serious offence, = providing information on how to exploit a child or where to do it, = could=20 bring a maximum jail sentence of 15 years.

To combat trafficking from the demand side, Mrs. Smith is also=20 preparing a bill that would further monitor the movement of = convicted=20 pedophiles in Canada.

In the event of travelling abroad, they would have to let = authorities=20 know their destination a week in advance and would need to check = in within=20 three days of their arrival.

As it stands, the perpetrators can leave the country without=20 notification. If they plan to stay longer than two weeks, they = must report=20 by the 15th day.

Experts say that in contrast to many prostitutes, victims of = human=20 trafficking have much less choice in determining their fates.

Approximately half of them are underage, according to U.S. = State=20 Department estimates.

Often lured to a different country or a big city under a false = pretext=20 by gangsters, they are coerced into the trade by threats of = retaliation=20 against family, beatings, torture or drugging unless they submit = to=20 customers. To keep them indentured, bosses -- who are often called = boyfriends -- loan them money at usurious rates.

About 80% of the slaves are female, and nearly 50% are = underage,=20 according to U.S. State Department analysis.

Because trafficking is an underworld activity, estimates on its = scope=20 vary wildly. The UN Office on Drugs and Crime estimates that on = any given=20 day 2.5 million people throughout the world are victims of human=20 trafficking, the vast majority of them for sexual purposes. = Experts=20 believe the US$32-billion the industry generates in revenue makes = it=20 second only to drugs and guns on the black market.

Most of its victims come from Asian countries such as Cambodia, = India=20 and Thailand, and Eastern European countries such as Ukraine and=20 Moldova.

The extent of the crime in Canada remains disputable. RCMP = figures say=20 it ranges from 800 to 1,200 victims a year, while non-governmental = organizations place the numbers at closer to 15,000.

In Toronto alone, the RCMP estimates that 100 girls are being = supplied=20 yearly to the sex trade. They yield around $5-million for their=20 bosses.

Most of the women trafficked into the country are from the = Asia-Pacific=20 region, in particular from the Fujan region of China and South = Korea.=20 Within Canada, victims can often come from Aboriginal = reserves.

Dianna Bussey, chairwoman of the Salvation Army's = anti-trafficking=20 network, said there is a reserve just north of Winnipeg facing a=20 mini-crisis.

Following a universal pattern, outsiders are parachuting into a = small=20 village, honing in on financially or emotionally vulnerable girls, = and=20 duping them.

"The predators pose as tourists, asking local girls for nice = places to=20 hunt and fish, then they start showering them with gifts. Then = they say,=20 'come down to Winnipeg.' "

Critics of Canadian law point out that a lax history of = prosecution=20 makes the country an easy target for organized crime, and also a=20 well-positioned launchpad for crime into the United States.

"Canada has not convicted a single person of the offence of = human=20 trafficking, while the United States has successfully prosecuted=20 hundreds," said Benjamin Perrin, assistant professor of law at the = University of British Columbia.