Quebec girls, teens advertised for prostitution on U.S. site

A U.S.-based classifieds siteis on the radar of police in Quebec for selling sex withboth young women and teenagers.

• Quebec teenage girls in care targeted by street gangs, prostitution rings
• Girl, 13, lured on Facebook and forced into sex trade: Toronto police

Backpage.comis used to buy and sell productsand services and is popular among escorts in both Canada and the U.S.

As controversy swirls around a Laval group home linked to a string ofrunaways, experts have raised concern about how social media can beused to lure vulnerable girls into prostitution.

Montreal police say theyare overseeing cases involving minors being advertised on Backpagewhile Laval police confirm they are aware of the website.

"We got a few cases here and there that are linked to thatwebsite," Montreal policeCmdr.Ian Lafreniresaid.

"We are talking about juveniles posted on thatwebsite."

Laval police wouldn't comment on specific cases involving the website.

'You will find kids, adolescents'

Advertisementsare posted dailyfor young women, some of whom look no older than 14,in the areas of Montreal, Laval, the South Shore and the West Island.

Backpagehas guidelines prohibiting human trafficking of exploitation of minors but someof the advertisements even use special wording to sell under-age teenagers.

The nondescript websitefeatures hundreds of advertisements for an array ofsexual services. Postingsare detailed withprice lists, the age of the escort, a gallery of photos and which services the escort is willing or not willingto perform.

The majority of ads also demand contact be made through text message.

Ren Morin, a spokesperson for theCanadian Centrefor Child Protection, says the organization is aware of the website.

"You will find kids, adolescents in the same category in the grid of sexual servicesand it shows the extent of which theinternet facilitates the selling of these minors," Morin said.

Calls for change

Backpagehas been controversial for years south of the border, where the CEO was subpoenaedby U.S. Senate to appear last November. He did notnot show up to thecommittee hearing.

Maria Mourani, a former MP and criminologist, says Canada and Quebec need to act on the laws surrounding human trafficking and prostitution.

"There is absolutely nothing being done as we speak," Mourani told Radio-Canada.

"I ask why theprosecutor of Quebec and the minister of justiceon are waiting to act on this file not even about the ads but at the level of clients."

Backpage.com did not respond to request for comment.