Bill C-36 Media Watchlist - you can help!
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CityLife on MaTV, A16 Show #10
Program description from the show Facebook page:
"Over the last year we've heard multiple stories of teenage girls being lured into prostitution. The Quebec government even launched an investigation into the problem. This week on CityLife we look at how pimps are able to recruit young women. Former sex worker Melanie Carpentier of La Maison de Mélanie inc. joins panelists Sandra Wesley of Chez Stella and cybersecurity expert Terry Cutler - The Ethical Hacker to discuss the issue."
The video can be seen by clicking on this link (starts at 24:00):
http://matv.ca/montreal/mes-emissions/citylife/videos/5238159077001
Program description from the show Facebook page:
"Over the last year we've heard multiple stories of teenage girls being lured into prostitution. The Quebec government even launched an investigation into the problem. This week on CityLife we look at how pimps are able to recruit young women. Former sex worker Melanie Carpentier of La Maison de Mélanie inc. joins panelists Sandra Wesley of Chez Stella and cybersecurity expert Terry Cutler - The Ethical Hacker to discuss the issue."
The video can be seen by clicking on this link (starts at 24:00):
http://matv.ca/montreal/mes-emissions/citylife/videos/5238159077001
Policy Brief: The Decriminalisation of Third Parties
http://www.nswp.org/resource/policy-...-third-parties
Submitted by NSWP on 13th March 2017
Download this resource:
PDF icon Policy Brief The Decriminalisation of Third Parties, NSWP - 2016.pdf
Year: 2017
This global policy brief summarises the research on the decriminalisation of third parties. It sets out in detail why NSWP and its members call for the decriminalisation of third parties. It explores some of the key harms that are caused to sex workers as a result of the criminalisation of third parties. The paper concludes by reviewing available evidence, showing that the decriminalisation of third parties protects sex workers rights, enabling them to challenge abusive and exploitative working conditions and exert greater control over their working environment. A community guide will be available soon.
Contents include:
You can download this 12 page PDF above. This resource will be available in Chinese, French, Russian, and Spanish.
http://www.nswp.org/resource/policy-...-third-parties
Submitted by NSWP on 13th March 2017
Download this resource:
PDF icon Policy Brief The Decriminalisation of Third Parties, NSWP - 2016.pdf
Year: 2017
This global policy brief summarises the research on the decriminalisation of third parties. It sets out in detail why NSWP and its members call for the decriminalisation of third parties. It explores some of the key harms that are caused to sex workers as a result of the criminalisation of third parties. The paper concludes by reviewing available evidence, showing that the decriminalisation of third parties protects sex workers rights, enabling them to challenge abusive and exploitative working conditions and exert greater control over their working environment. A community guide will be available soon.
Contents include:
- Introduction
- Who are third parties?
- Criminalisation of third parties obstructs HIV prevention
- Criminalisation of third parties forces sex workers to compromise their safety
- Sex workers are prosecuted under third party laws
- Family and friends of sex workers can be prosecuted under third party laws
- Third party laws can be used by the police to limit sex workers’ ability to access services such as housing
- Third party relationships under decriminalisation
- Conclusions and recommendations
You can download this 12 page PDF above. This resource will be available in Chinese, French, Russian, and Spanish.
Sex workers facing increased safety risks
Working alone, fear of police, inability to properly screen clients the norm since Bill C-36 passed 2 years ago
By Amanda Silliker
01/30/2017|Canadian Occupational Safety
http://www.cos-mag.com/ohs-laws-regulations/32364-sex-workers-facing-increased-safety-risks/
Jade is going into a client meeting alone. She does not have a lone worker monitoring device and knows very little about the client. These meetings often occur after hours and out of public view. Like many jobs, she is at risk for a variety of occupational health and safety issues, such as workplace violence, mental health problems and musculoskeletal disorders. But unlike other workers, Jade does not have health and safety legislation to protect her. In fact, there is currently legislati**on in place that is exposing her to even more safety risks.
“It infringes on my right to safety and security… And the possibility of working with a network of people for both safety and camaraderie is near to impossible without breaking the criminal law,” says Jade. “I am disconnected from all the supports I previously had and the layers of security are gone.”
Jade is a 50-year-old sex worker who has been operating as an escort north of Toronto for 16 years. In December 2014, the Conservative government put the Protection of Communities and Exploited Persons Act (PCEPA) in place, which made it an offense under the Criminal Code to purchase sexual services, communicate for that purpose and receive material benefit from sex work.
“Many people may believe that Canada’s new laws around sex work are having a big impact on buyers without bringing harm to the workers. But my experience has been the exact opposite since the laws were changed in 2014 and buying sex became a crime,” Jade says in a report by the Canadian Alliance for Sex Work Law Reform.
(...)
Next steps
Since the Liberal government came into power, the new Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada Jody Wilson-Raybould has met with a number of groups about PCEPA, including sex-worker advocacy groups, anti-human trafficking groups, law enforcement and the legal community, according to her press secretary Valérie Gervais.
“The minister has specifically committed to reviewing whether or not former Bill C-36 addresses all of the issues identified in the Supreme Court of Canada’s 2013 Bedford decision,” she says. “Engagement with groups representing those most affected by C-36 has begun and will continue throughout the review process.”
Gervais was not able to confirm a timeline or specific outcomes at this point.
Working alone, fear of police, inability to properly screen clients the norm since Bill C-36 passed 2 years ago
By Amanda Silliker
01/30/2017|Canadian Occupational Safety
http://www.cos-mag.com/ohs-laws-regulations/32364-sex-workers-facing-increased-safety-risks/
Jade is going into a client meeting alone. She does not have a lone worker monitoring device and knows very little about the client. These meetings often occur after hours and out of public view. Like many jobs, she is at risk for a variety of occupational health and safety issues, such as workplace violence, mental health problems and musculoskeletal disorders. But unlike other workers, Jade does not have health and safety legislation to protect her. In fact, there is currently legislati**on in place that is exposing her to even more safety risks.
“It infringes on my right to safety and security… And the possibility of working with a network of people for both safety and camaraderie is near to impossible without breaking the criminal law,” says Jade. “I am disconnected from all the supports I previously had and the layers of security are gone.”
Jade is a 50-year-old sex worker who has been operating as an escort north of Toronto for 16 years. In December 2014, the Conservative government put the Protection of Communities and Exploited Persons Act (PCEPA) in place, which made it an offense under the Criminal Code to purchase sexual services, communicate for that purpose and receive material benefit from sex work.
“Many people may believe that Canada’s new laws around sex work are having a big impact on buyers without bringing harm to the workers. But my experience has been the exact opposite since the laws were changed in 2014 and buying sex became a crime,” Jade says in a report by the Canadian Alliance for Sex Work Law Reform.
(...)
Next steps
Since the Liberal government came into power, the new Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada Jody Wilson-Raybould has met with a number of groups about PCEPA, including sex-worker advocacy groups, anti-human trafficking groups, law enforcement and the legal community, according to her press secretary Valérie Gervais.
“The minister has specifically committed to reviewing whether or not former Bill C-36 addresses all of the issues identified in the Supreme Court of Canada’s 2013 Bedford decision,” she says. “Engagement with groups representing those most affected by C-36 has begun and will continue throughout the review process.”
Gervais was not able to confirm a timeline or specific outcomes at this point.
Quebec creates multi-force squad to fight prostitution, human trafficking
Montreal Gazette, Published on: April 21, 2017 | Last Updated: April 21, 2017 11:15 AM EDT
http://montrealgazette.com/news/local-news/quebec-creates-multi-force-squad-to-fight-prostitution-human-trafficking
Saying the problem of prostitution isn’t limited to a single jurisdiction, Public Security Minister Martin Coiteux announced on Friday the creation of a multi-force squad to aimed at fighting prostitution and human trafficking.
Flanked by officers from the Montreal police department and the Sûreté du Québec, Coiteux said the squad would be based on the “combined regional squads” — a multi-jurisdictional task force first used in Quebec during the criminal biker wars in the 1990s.
The anti-prostitution squad would be based in Montreal and include investigators from Montreal, Laval, Quebec City, Gatineau, Longueuil, the SQ and the RCMP. While operational costs would be borne in part by police department budgets, the province would also provide the squad with $6.4 million over the next five years.
More to come.
Montreal Gazette, Published on: April 21, 2017 | Last Updated: April 21, 2017 11:15 AM EDT
http://montrealgazette.com/news/local-news/quebec-creates-multi-force-squad-to-fight-prostitution-human-trafficking
Saying the problem of prostitution isn’t limited to a single jurisdiction, Public Security Minister Martin Coiteux announced on Friday the creation of a multi-force squad to aimed at fighting prostitution and human trafficking.
Flanked by officers from the Montreal police department and the Sûreté du Québec, Coiteux said the squad would be based on the “combined regional squads” — a multi-jurisdictional task force first used in Quebec during the criminal biker wars in the 1990s.
The anti-prostitution squad would be based in Montreal and include investigators from Montreal, Laval, Quebec City, Gatineau, Longueuil, the SQ and the RCMP. While operational costs would be borne in part by police department budgets, the province would also provide the squad with $6.4 million over the next five years.
More to come.
The first challenge of the new prostitution law began this Monday in London Ontario
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/london/london-ontario-bill-c-36-prostitution-laws-1.4520736
London, Ont. court case to challenge Canada's prostitution laws
Toronto lawyer James Lockyer is representing two people charged after a bust at an escort service
By Kate Dubinski, CBC News Posted: Feb 05, 2018 3:42 PM ET Last Updated: Feb 06, 2018 5:28 AM ET
The case before the court is that of Hamad Anwar and Tiffany Harvey. They face more than two dozen sex-related charges each, including making money from the sex trade, advertising sexual services, and forcing someone into the sex trade.
The charges relate to a bust made by London police at an escort service in November 2015.
The accused are being represented by well-known Toronto lawyer James Lockyer.
Lockyer doesn't dispute that his clients ran an escort agency. But at issue in Tuesday's proceedings are three charges under Canada's three-year-old prostitution law, often referred to as Bill C-36:
Advertising someone else's sexual services
Benefiting financially or otherwise from someone else's sexual services
Procuring a person to offer a sexual service (a charge that can be laid against a pimp, for example).
Lockyer declined several interview requests from CBC News.
'We always knew there would be a constitutional challenge'
Experts have predicted it was only a matter of time before Canada's three-year-old prostitution laws, contained in Bill C-36, were challenged.
The new laws criminalize the advertising and buying of sex — but decriminalize its sale.
Proponents say it's the right model because it punishes people who buy sex, not those who sell it.
But opponents say the laws force sex work further underground and criminalize advertising sex, which allows those in the sex trade to screen their clients ahead of a meeting.
"Prostitution is male violence against women, which is a serious barrier to gender equality and is incompatible with the internationally-accepted principles of human rights," said Megan Walker, the executive director of the London Abused Women's Centre.
"We always knew there would be a constitutional challenge. I think it's good to have some closure on this, although I recognize that getting to the Supreme Court could be years away. It will highlight the issues and I am confident that at the end of the day, the ruling will stand."
Canada's new prostitution laws were passed at the end of 2014.
'Radical feminists versus harm reduction'
On the stand, Atchison characterized the deep divide among those who are for and those who are against the country's new prostitution laws, also known as the Nordic Model, as a difference of opinion between "radical feminists" and those advocating for "harm reduction."
A witness who will testify for the Crown, Maddie Coy, "comes at this from the vantage point of seeing the sex industry as an institution of the patriarchy, and prostitution as violence against women. It's the prohibitionist, radical feminist perspective," he said.
Others, such as Atchison himself, see sex workers as "making choices and engaging in labour."
Studies that show that the sex industry has shrunk in Sweden, which has similar laws to ones enacted here, are conducted by people who have a vested interest in the laws succeeding, and don't reflect reality, Atchison said.
"The fact that there are fewer street sex workers could be attributed to technology. They went off-street with the use of cell phones and the Internet. We've seen a steady decline in the number of people working on the street for the last 20 years."
The court case continues Tuesday afternoon.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/london/london-ontario-bill-c-36-prostitution-laws-1.4520736
London, Ont. court case to challenge Canada's prostitution laws
Toronto lawyer James Lockyer is representing two people charged after a bust at an escort service
By Kate Dubinski, CBC News Posted: Feb 05, 2018 3:42 PM ET Last Updated: Feb 06, 2018 5:28 AM ET
The case before the court is that of Hamad Anwar and Tiffany Harvey. They face more than two dozen sex-related charges each, including making money from the sex trade, advertising sexual services, and forcing someone into the sex trade.
The charges relate to a bust made by London police at an escort service in November 2015.
The accused are being represented by well-known Toronto lawyer James Lockyer.
Lockyer doesn't dispute that his clients ran an escort agency. But at issue in Tuesday's proceedings are three charges under Canada's three-year-old prostitution law, often referred to as Bill C-36:
Advertising someone else's sexual services
Benefiting financially or otherwise from someone else's sexual services
Procuring a person to offer a sexual service (a charge that can be laid against a pimp, for example).
Lockyer declined several interview requests from CBC News.
'We always knew there would be a constitutional challenge'
Experts have predicted it was only a matter of time before Canada's three-year-old prostitution laws, contained in Bill C-36, were challenged.
The new laws criminalize the advertising and buying of sex — but decriminalize its sale.
Proponents say it's the right model because it punishes people who buy sex, not those who sell it.
But opponents say the laws force sex work further underground and criminalize advertising sex, which allows those in the sex trade to screen their clients ahead of a meeting.
"Prostitution is male violence against women, which is a serious barrier to gender equality and is incompatible with the internationally-accepted principles of human rights," said Megan Walker, the executive director of the London Abused Women's Centre.
"We always knew there would be a constitutional challenge. I think it's good to have some closure on this, although I recognize that getting to the Supreme Court could be years away. It will highlight the issues and I am confident that at the end of the day, the ruling will stand."
Canada's new prostitution laws were passed at the end of 2014.
'Radical feminists versus harm reduction'
On the stand, Atchison characterized the deep divide among those who are for and those who are against the country's new prostitution laws, also known as the Nordic Model, as a difference of opinion between "radical feminists" and those advocating for "harm reduction."
A witness who will testify for the Crown, Maddie Coy, "comes at this from the vantage point of seeing the sex industry as an institution of the patriarchy, and prostitution as violence against women. It's the prohibitionist, radical feminist perspective," he said.
Others, such as Atchison himself, see sex workers as "making choices and engaging in labour."
Studies that show that the sex industry has shrunk in Sweden, which has similar laws to ones enacted here, are conducted by people who have a vested interest in the laws succeeding, and don't reflect reality, Atchison said.
"The fact that there are fewer street sex workers could be attributed to technology. They went off-street with the use of cell phones and the Internet. We've seen a steady decline in the number of people working on the street for the last 20 years."
The court case continues Tuesday afternoon.
Except, it's not. What, you think the horrors of human history somehow vanished? Wrong.
Mohamed,
The feminists do play a role but the big players are the social conservatives and evangelical christian fanatics. They are the ones in power hence right-wing conservative parties. They will never allow prostitution as it goes against the teachings of the bible and against traditional family values. The cons want to enforce their version of cheap moralism. The law was made by a conservative. There has been a stready increase of right-wing movement it is only going to get worse. BTW those radical feminists are not true feminists they are in reality social conservative. The greatest feminist statement is "It is my body, my right to do whatever". They are also finding victims where there are none. War prisioners escaped, why can free women not? They are finding victims where there are none to justify their stance. Infantiling women is patriarchal at its finest as in ultra conservative beliefs.
The feminists do play a role but the big players are the social conservatives and evangelical christian fanatics. They are the ones in power hence right-wing conservative parties. They will never allow prostitution as it goes against the teachings of the bible and against traditional family values. The cons want to enforce their version of cheap moralism. The law was made by a conservative. There has been a stready increase of right-wing movement it is only going to get worse. BTW those radical feminists are not true feminists they are in reality social conservative. The greatest feminist statement is "It is my body, my right to do whatever". They are also finding victims where there are none. War prisioners escaped, why can free women not? They are finding victims where there are none to justify their stance. Infantiling women is patriarchal at its finest as in ultra conservative beliefs.
Justin Ling: Governments have failed Canada’s sex workers—and they’re running out of patience. MacLean's, Sept. 6, 2018
https://www.macleans.ca/news/canada...x-workers-and-theyre-running-out-of-patience/
https://www.macleans.ca/news/canada...x-workers-and-theyre-running-out-of-patience/
Forum Research Inc.: More than half want prostitution legalized. January 15, 2015
http://poll.forumresearch.com/post/212/majority-disapprove-of-bill-c36/
In a random sampling of public opinion taken by the Forum Poll™ among 1741 Canadians 18 years of age and older, more than half believe prostitution should be legal for sex trade workers and their clients (54%), and this is a slight increase over levels noted in June 2013, well before the tabling of Bill C36 (50%) and equal to levels noted in June 2014 when the Bill was being debated (54%). Just more than a third disagree prostitution should be legal (34% now, 34% in June 2014 and 36% in 2013). About one seventh don't have an opinion (13% now, 12% in 2014, 14% in 2013).
Donovan Vincent: Poll suggests growing tolerance on key social issues. Sept 28 2015
https://www.thestar.com/news/canada...s-growing-tolerance-on-key-social-issues.html
Has Canada become more tolerant on hot-button issues? That’s what the results of a new Forum Research survey seem to suggest.
When asked “Should prostitution be legal or not?”
49 per cent of Forum poll respondents said yes,
and 38 per cent said no.
Thirteen per cent replied “don’t know.”
Sondage Ekos/La Presse (page A2, Nov 4 2015 "Légaliser la prostitution")
62% of Canadians: buying and selling of sex should be legalized, taxed and regulated
13%: we should keep current law (C-36)
Le sondage a été mené par internet et par téléphone entre le 27 octobre et le 2 novembre auprès de 1227 Canadiens âgés de 18 ans et plus. La marge d'erreur associée à un tel échantillon est de plus ou moins 2,8%, 19 fois sur 20.
http://poll.forumresearch.com/post/212/majority-disapprove-of-bill-c36/
In a random sampling of public opinion taken by the Forum Poll™ among 1741 Canadians 18 years of age and older, more than half believe prostitution should be legal for sex trade workers and their clients (54%), and this is a slight increase over levels noted in June 2013, well before the tabling of Bill C36 (50%) and equal to levels noted in June 2014 when the Bill was being debated (54%). Just more than a third disagree prostitution should be legal (34% now, 34% in June 2014 and 36% in 2013). About one seventh don't have an opinion (13% now, 12% in 2014, 14% in 2013).
Donovan Vincent: Poll suggests growing tolerance on key social issues. Sept 28 2015
https://www.thestar.com/news/canada...s-growing-tolerance-on-key-social-issues.html
Has Canada become more tolerant on hot-button issues? That’s what the results of a new Forum Research survey seem to suggest.
When asked “Should prostitution be legal or not?”
49 per cent of Forum poll respondents said yes,
and 38 per cent said no.
Thirteen per cent replied “don’t know.”
Sondage Ekos/La Presse (page A2, Nov 4 2015 "Légaliser la prostitution")
62% of Canadians: buying and selling of sex should be legalized, taxed and regulated
13%: we should keep current law (C-36)
Le sondage a été mené par internet et par téléphone entre le 27 octobre et le 2 novembre auprès de 1227 Canadiens âgés de 18 ans et plus. La marge d'erreur associée à un tel échantillon est de plus ou moins 2,8%, 19 fois sur 20.
The Pros And Cons Of Legalizing Prostitution. August 31, 2015
http://www.theonion.com/graphic/pros-and-cons-legalizing-prostitution-51209
Several global advocacy groups, including the World Health Organization, Amnesty International, and Human Rights Watch, are calling for the decriminalization of prostitution, but many are fighting to keep the practice illegal, citing the moral, ethical, and practical concerns of condoning the sale of sex. Here are the pros and cons of legalizing prostitution:
PRO
• Creates additional tax revenue to be withheld from women’s health care
• Bold new frontier of Yelp reviews
• Politicians caught soliciting prostitutes can boast about supporting small businesses
• Would free up law enforcement agents to finally win that war on drugs
• Saves us from any chance of a modern reimagining of Risky Business
• Probably a little easier than convincing everyone to stop
CON
• Sex is wrong
• One more group we’re forced to acknowledge as human beings
• Commodifies women without the benefit of a two-year contract from Maybelline
• With legalization of marijuana and gay marriage, news outlets can’t afford to lose another source of endless debate
• Clients will still be terrible people
• If we let consenting adults have sex, who knows what else they’ll want permission to do?
http://www.theonion.com/graphic/pros-and-cons-legalizing-prostitution-51209
Several global advocacy groups, including the World Health Organization, Amnesty International, and Human Rights Watch, are calling for the decriminalization of prostitution, but many are fighting to keep the practice illegal, citing the moral, ethical, and practical concerns of condoning the sale of sex. Here are the pros and cons of legalizing prostitution:
PRO
• Creates additional tax revenue to be withheld from women’s health care
• Bold new frontier of Yelp reviews
• Politicians caught soliciting prostitutes can boast about supporting small businesses
• Would free up law enforcement agents to finally win that war on drugs
• Saves us from any chance of a modern reimagining of Risky Business
• Probably a little easier than convincing everyone to stop
CON
• Sex is wrong
• One more group we’re forced to acknowledge as human beings
• Commodifies women without the benefit of a two-year contract from Maybelline
• With legalization of marijuana and gay marriage, news outlets can’t afford to lose another source of endless debate
• Clients will still be terrible people
• If we let consenting adults have sex, who knows what else they’ll want permission to do?
Controversial decision: Quebec feminist group and prostitution. Radio Canada International, 29 October, 2018
http://www.rcinet.ca/en/2018/10/29/controversial-decision-quebec-feminist-group-and-prostitution/
La prostitution reconnue comme un travail par la Fédération des femmes du Québec. Le Devoir, 29 octobre 2018
https://www.ledevoir.com/societe/540114/la-prostitution-reconnue-comme-un-travail
Clivage en vue à la Fédération des femmes du Québec. Le Devoir, 26 octobre 2018
https://www.ledevoir.com/societe/539896/feminisme-les-grands-desaccords
Interview at CHOI 98,1 Radio X
Le Fédération des femmes du Québec (FFQ) POUR la prostitution: Opinion de Mélodie Nelson [ancienne travailleuse du sexe assumée]. 30-10-2018 // 11:51
La chroniqueuse et ex-escorte Mélodie Nelson nous parle de cette surprenante décision, prise hier par la FFQ.
https://radiox.com/contenu/le-fédér...our-la-prostitution-opinion-de-mélodie-nelson
http://www.rcinet.ca/en/2018/10/29/controversial-decision-quebec-feminist-group-and-prostitution/
La prostitution reconnue comme un travail par la Fédération des femmes du Québec. Le Devoir, 29 octobre 2018
https://www.ledevoir.com/societe/540114/la-prostitution-reconnue-comme-un-travail
Clivage en vue à la Fédération des femmes du Québec. Le Devoir, 26 octobre 2018
https://www.ledevoir.com/societe/539896/feminisme-les-grands-desaccords
Interview at CHOI 98,1 Radio X
Le Fédération des femmes du Québec (FFQ) POUR la prostitution: Opinion de Mélodie Nelson [ancienne travailleuse du sexe assumée]. 30-10-2018 // 11:51
La chroniqueuse et ex-escorte Mélodie Nelson nous parle de cette surprenante décision, prise hier par la FFQ.
https://radiox.com/contenu/le-fédér...our-la-prostitution-opinion-de-mélodie-nelson
Une série d'articles parus cette semaine sur le travail du sexe et l'échangisme à Drummondville. Le journaliste essaie de dépasser les stéréotypes. Un peu mieux que les trucs larmoyants qui paraissent régulièrement dans la presse montréalaise.
https://www.journalexpress.ca/2018/12/05/le-sexe-le-choix-dune-drummondvilloise/
https://www.journalexpress.ca/2018/12/05/le-sexe-le-choix-dune-drummondvilloise/
Longueuil (Quebec) - South shore of Montreal
(in French)
Exploitation sexuelle: Longueuil dévoile un portrait du «commerce du sexe»
24 janvier 2019
https://www.ledevoir.com/societe/54...ueuil-devoile-un-portrait-du-commerce-du-sexe
Le Service de police de l’agglomération de Longueuil (SPAL) a rendu public mercredi le portrait du « commerce du sexe » sur son territoire. Actuellement, 108 personnes sont exploitées ou à risque d’être exploitées sexuellement sur son territoire par près d’une quarantaine de proxénètes présumés.
Le SPAL a dévoilé ce portrait tandis qu’il annonce l’implantation d’une nouvelle équipe pour aider les victimes d’exploitation sexuelle. Celui-ci révèle que la plupart des victimes étaient mineures lorsqu’elles ont commencé à se prostituer. Selon les policiers, elles ont en moyenne 14 ans lorsqu’elles entrent dans la prostitution. Certaines commencent dès l’âge de 12 ans, alors qu’elles viennent à peine d’entamer l’école secondaire.
Si le métro de Longueuil a longtemps été le point de rencontre entre les proxénètes et les jeunes filles, le milieu de la prostitution est en mutation a expliqué le SPAL.
« Il y a eu un changement des façons dont les filles tombent dans l’exploitation sexuelle. Vous ne verrez pas un proxénète assis aux abords du métro attendre deux ou trois filles pour les mettre sur le marché du sexe. Ça n’arrive plus de cette manière-là », souligne Fady Dagher, directeur du SPAL. L’arrivée des réseaux sociaux permet aux jeunes filles d’êtres « mobiles » sur le territoire. Par ailleurs, de plus en plus de jeunes filles gèrent elles-mêmes leurs clients et font du recrutement auprès de leurs amies.
La police de Longueuil a donc annoncé lundi qu’une policière et une coordonnatrice responsable du volet psychosocial se dédieront dorénavant à temps plein à accompagner des victimes d’exploitation sexuelle qui tentent de quitter le milieu de la prostitution. Le projet vise principalement les femmes de 17 à 25 ans, une tranche d’âge, selon les policiers, qui se retrouve souvent dépourvue de services.
« Au moment charnière où les victimes d’exploitation sexuelle atteignent leur majorité, peu ou pas de services s’offrent à elles », explique le directeur du SPAL. « Les policiers ne demandent pas aux victimes qui, où et quand ? mais plutôt de quoi as-tu besoin ? et pour nous, c’est une révolution », ajoute-t-il.
Mais cette nouvelle approche n’écarte pas pour autant le travail des policiers pour démanteler les réseaux de proxénètes.
« Soyez sans crainte qu’on ne lâchera pas prise du côté des proxénètes, ni de celui des clients […] mais on s’est rendu compte qu’en ce qui concerne les filles, il y avait un écart et c’est ce qu’on souhaite combler », explique Fady Dagher, directeur du SPAL.
Le projet bénéficie d’une aide financière de 852 000 $ sur cinq ans du gouvernement fédéral. « Ce financement aide à lever les obstacles associés à l’abandon du commerce du sexe en faisant appel à des activités de sensibilisation et en offrant des services d’encadrement, de consultation psychologique, d’éducation, de développement des compétences et d’employabilité », souligne la députée de Longueuil–Charles-LeMoyne, Sherry Romanado, qui représentait le ministre de la Sécurité publique Ralph Goodale.
(in French)
Exploitation sexuelle: Longueuil dévoile un portrait du «commerce du sexe»
24 janvier 2019
https://www.ledevoir.com/societe/54...ueuil-devoile-un-portrait-du-commerce-du-sexe
Le Service de police de l’agglomération de Longueuil (SPAL) a rendu public mercredi le portrait du « commerce du sexe » sur son territoire. Actuellement, 108 personnes sont exploitées ou à risque d’être exploitées sexuellement sur son territoire par près d’une quarantaine de proxénètes présumés.
Le SPAL a dévoilé ce portrait tandis qu’il annonce l’implantation d’une nouvelle équipe pour aider les victimes d’exploitation sexuelle. Celui-ci révèle que la plupart des victimes étaient mineures lorsqu’elles ont commencé à se prostituer. Selon les policiers, elles ont en moyenne 14 ans lorsqu’elles entrent dans la prostitution. Certaines commencent dès l’âge de 12 ans, alors qu’elles viennent à peine d’entamer l’école secondaire.
Si le métro de Longueuil a longtemps été le point de rencontre entre les proxénètes et les jeunes filles, le milieu de la prostitution est en mutation a expliqué le SPAL.
« Il y a eu un changement des façons dont les filles tombent dans l’exploitation sexuelle. Vous ne verrez pas un proxénète assis aux abords du métro attendre deux ou trois filles pour les mettre sur le marché du sexe. Ça n’arrive plus de cette manière-là », souligne Fady Dagher, directeur du SPAL. L’arrivée des réseaux sociaux permet aux jeunes filles d’êtres « mobiles » sur le territoire. Par ailleurs, de plus en plus de jeunes filles gèrent elles-mêmes leurs clients et font du recrutement auprès de leurs amies.
La police de Longueuil a donc annoncé lundi qu’une policière et une coordonnatrice responsable du volet psychosocial se dédieront dorénavant à temps plein à accompagner des victimes d’exploitation sexuelle qui tentent de quitter le milieu de la prostitution. Le projet vise principalement les femmes de 17 à 25 ans, une tranche d’âge, selon les policiers, qui se retrouve souvent dépourvue de services.
« Au moment charnière où les victimes d’exploitation sexuelle atteignent leur majorité, peu ou pas de services s’offrent à elles », explique le directeur du SPAL. « Les policiers ne demandent pas aux victimes qui, où et quand ? mais plutôt de quoi as-tu besoin ? et pour nous, c’est une révolution », ajoute-t-il.
Mais cette nouvelle approche n’écarte pas pour autant le travail des policiers pour démanteler les réseaux de proxénètes.
« Soyez sans crainte qu’on ne lâchera pas prise du côté des proxénètes, ni de celui des clients […] mais on s’est rendu compte qu’en ce qui concerne les filles, il y avait un écart et c’est ce qu’on souhaite combler », explique Fady Dagher, directeur du SPAL.
Le projet bénéficie d’une aide financière de 852 000 $ sur cinq ans du gouvernement fédéral. « Ce financement aide à lever les obstacles associés à l’abandon du commerce du sexe en faisant appel à des activités de sensibilisation et en offrant des services d’encadrement, de consultation psychologique, d’éducation, de développement des compétences et d’employabilité », souligne la députée de Longueuil–Charles-LeMoyne, Sherry Romanado, qui représentait le ministre de la Sécurité publique Ralph Goodale.
A challenge taking place in Ontario. Charges against Fantasy World Escorts, including human trafficking, were dropped but not the following: "Harvey now faces one charge of materially benefiting from the sale of someone's sexual services. Anwar faces the same charge and a charge of procuring and advertising someone else's sexual services." Does anyone know more about this specific case or about this agency?
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/lond...er-challenge-prostitution-laws-c-36-1.5103551
Kate Dubinski · CBC News · Posted: Apr 23, 2019 4:00 AM ET | Last Updated: 2 hours ago
A London, Ont.-based escort agency's lawyers will argue shutting down the business and charging the owners violated employees' security of the person, a right guaranteed under the charter.
The case brings into the question whether the laws actually endanger workers in the sex trade.
London, Ont. court case to challenge Canada's prostitution laws
Testimony continues in constitutional challenge of Canada's prostitution laws
"We are arguing this case entirely from the perspective of the sex workers," said Toronto lawyer James Lockyer.
He's defending the owners of Fantasy World Escorts, Tiffany Harvey and Hamad Anwar, who were charged in November 2015 after their agency was shut down by police.
Lockyer doesn't deny his clients ran the agency but says they can't be convicted, because the charges are unconstitutional.
"This application, from Day 1, has had nothing to do with the economic rights of the applicants. It has to do with whether the charges are unconstitutional because they infringe on the Section 7 rights of the sex workers," Lockyer said Tuesday in court.
The Crown's position is that prostitution laws aren't meant to protect sex-trade workers, but rather criminalize those who buy sexual services and therefore decrease demand for the work.
Prostitution laws enacted in 2014
Harvey and Anwar were in court Tuesday, along with their family members, as well as representatives from Safe Space, a drop-in and advocacy centre for sex-trade workers in London, Ont..
The two accused initially faced a long list of charges, including human trafficking, but those charges were eventually dropped by the Crown.
Human trafficking charges dropped against London escort agency owners
Harvey now faces one charge of materially benefiting from the sale of someone's sexual services. Anwar faces the same charge and a charge of procuring and advertising someone else's sexual services.
Those three offences are relatively new, brought in under Canada's 2014 prostitution law, Bill C-36, which criminalizes the purchasing of sex but decriminalizes its sale.
Laws 'quite problematic'
The case is being closely watched by those who oppose and champion Canada's prostitution laws, some travelling to Kitchener to observe the proceedings.
Advocates for sex-trade workers have been calling for the new prostitution laws to be repealed since they were brought in by the Harper government.
Opponents say that, by criminalizing people who hire sex-trade workers, the laws put these workers at risk. They argue clients are less likely to give their real names, for example, so sex-trade workers can't screen them before a meeting.
'Confused' prostitution bill can't be fixed, lawyer Alan Young says
"I think the laws are quite problematic. They increase vulnerability to violence," said Chris Bruckert, a criminology professor at the University of Ottawa whose work focuses on the rights of people in the sex trade.
"Third parties (such as escort agencies) are not always excellent, but they provide screening, they ensure that you're in contact with people, quite simply having someone know where you are and that the client knows that someone knows where you are, that reduces risk."
New laws create dangers, lawyer says
The trial for this case was held in London, but due to scheduling conflicts, the judge moved the two-day sentencing hearing to Kitchener.
The defence was expected to take Tuesday for its final arguments, with the Crown making its case Wednesday.
Toronto lawyer James Lockyer is representing Harvey and Anwar in court. (CBC)
Earlier on Tuesday, Lockyer asked Justice Thomas McKay to look at several new studies, research papers and book chapters that look at the effects of Bill C-36 on sex-trade workers.
"Because prostitution laws are less than five years old, there are new studies coming out about its effects," Lockyer said.
The Crown, led by Michael Carnegie, disagrees, saying it's not right to admit new studies without having experts explain them and opening them up to cross-examination.
"The efforts to have a full evidentiary record is laudable, but the evidentiary part of this hearing ended eight or nine months ago," Carnegie said.
The judge said he would have to reserve his decision about the new studies until later.
During the trial, Lockyer called two witnesses, both academics, whose studies he says prove the new laws force the sex trade underground and make it more dangerous.
The Crown's witnesses argued the sex trade is inherently violent and based on a foundation of inequality, and punishing the purchasing of such services reduces demand.
Those who are watching the case closely say it could eventually be decided in the Supreme Court of Canada.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/lond...er-challenge-prostitution-laws-c-36-1.5103551
Kate Dubinski · CBC News · Posted: Apr 23, 2019 4:00 AM ET | Last Updated: 2 hours ago
A London, Ont.-based escort agency's lawyers will argue shutting down the business and charging the owners violated employees' security of the person, a right guaranteed under the charter.
The case brings into the question whether the laws actually endanger workers in the sex trade.
London, Ont. court case to challenge Canada's prostitution laws
Testimony continues in constitutional challenge of Canada's prostitution laws
"We are arguing this case entirely from the perspective of the sex workers," said Toronto lawyer James Lockyer.
He's defending the owners of Fantasy World Escorts, Tiffany Harvey and Hamad Anwar, who were charged in November 2015 after their agency was shut down by police.
Lockyer doesn't deny his clients ran the agency but says they can't be convicted, because the charges are unconstitutional.
"This application, from Day 1, has had nothing to do with the economic rights of the applicants. It has to do with whether the charges are unconstitutional because they infringe on the Section 7 rights of the sex workers," Lockyer said Tuesday in court.
The Crown's position is that prostitution laws aren't meant to protect sex-trade workers, but rather criminalize those who buy sexual services and therefore decrease demand for the work.
Prostitution laws enacted in 2014
Harvey and Anwar were in court Tuesday, along with their family members, as well as representatives from Safe Space, a drop-in and advocacy centre for sex-trade workers in London, Ont..
The two accused initially faced a long list of charges, including human trafficking, but those charges were eventually dropped by the Crown.
Human trafficking charges dropped against London escort agency owners
Harvey now faces one charge of materially benefiting from the sale of someone's sexual services. Anwar faces the same charge and a charge of procuring and advertising someone else's sexual services.
Those three offences are relatively new, brought in under Canada's 2014 prostitution law, Bill C-36, which criminalizes the purchasing of sex but decriminalizes its sale.
Laws 'quite problematic'
The case is being closely watched by those who oppose and champion Canada's prostitution laws, some travelling to Kitchener to observe the proceedings.
Advocates for sex-trade workers have been calling for the new prostitution laws to be repealed since they were brought in by the Harper government.
Opponents say that, by criminalizing people who hire sex-trade workers, the laws put these workers at risk. They argue clients are less likely to give their real names, for example, so sex-trade workers can't screen them before a meeting.
'Confused' prostitution bill can't be fixed, lawyer Alan Young says
"I think the laws are quite problematic. They increase vulnerability to violence," said Chris Bruckert, a criminology professor at the University of Ottawa whose work focuses on the rights of people in the sex trade.
"Third parties (such as escort agencies) are not always excellent, but they provide screening, they ensure that you're in contact with people, quite simply having someone know where you are and that the client knows that someone knows where you are, that reduces risk."
New laws create dangers, lawyer says
The trial for this case was held in London, but due to scheduling conflicts, the judge moved the two-day sentencing hearing to Kitchener.
The defence was expected to take Tuesday for its final arguments, with the Crown making its case Wednesday.
Toronto lawyer James Lockyer is representing Harvey and Anwar in court. (CBC)
Earlier on Tuesday, Lockyer asked Justice Thomas McKay to look at several new studies, research papers and book chapters that look at the effects of Bill C-36 on sex-trade workers.
"Because prostitution laws are less than five years old, there are new studies coming out about its effects," Lockyer said.
The Crown, led by Michael Carnegie, disagrees, saying it's not right to admit new studies without having experts explain them and opening them up to cross-examination.
"The efforts to have a full evidentiary record is laudable, but the evidentiary part of this hearing ended eight or nine months ago," Carnegie said.
The judge said he would have to reserve his decision about the new studies until later.
During the trial, Lockyer called two witnesses, both academics, whose studies he says prove the new laws force the sex trade underground and make it more dangerous.
The Crown's witnesses argued the sex trade is inherently violent and based on a foundation of inequality, and punishing the purchasing of such services reduces demand.
Those who are watching the case closely say it could eventually be decided in the Supreme Court of Canada.
Charter challenge of Canada's prostitution laws to wrap up today
More then 350 comments under the article!
Defence lawyers are expected to conclude their final arguments in a Kitchener, Ont., court
Kate Dubinski · CBC News · Posted: Jun 13, 2019 4:00 AM ET | Last Updated: 8 hours ago
Tiffany Harvey and Hamad Anwar were charged in 2015 when London, Ont., police busted Fantasy World Escorts. The pair are arguing that the charges are unconstitutional.
Final arguments are expected to wrap up today in the first court challenge to Canada's new prostitution laws.
The case involves a London, Ont., couple who ran Fantasy World Escorts, which was raided by police and shut down in 2015.
Tiffany Harvey and Hamad Anwar were charged with procuring, advertising and materially benefiting from the sale of someone else's sexual services, all of which are illegal under revisions to Canada's prostitution laws, which came into force in 2014.
But the couple's lawyers say the law puts sex workers at risk by forcing them to do their work underground, therefore violating the workers' charter right to security of the person.
The lawyers, James Lockyer and Jack Gemmell, say Canada's prostitution laws are based on the flawed belief that sex work is inherently exploitative and harmful.
'Need help to do this work safely'
The lawyers don't deny that Anwar and Harvey ran the agency, but say they can't be convicted because the charges are unconstitutional.
"We have to face who we are dealing with here, and that is people who need help to do this work safely. They don't have the personal ability to do that themselves, and they don't have the legal ability to get a third party to do it for them," Lockyer said in arguments heard in April.
The Crown is defending Canada's prostitution laws, saying the law isn't meant to protect sex workers but rather criminalize those who buy sexual services and therefore decrease the demand for sex work, which is inherently risky.
The arguments are being heard in Kitchener, Ont., because the judge who was initially assigned the case was transferred there.
Justice Thomas McKay is expected to take several months before rendering his decision.
More then 350 comments under the article!
Defence lawyers are expected to conclude their final arguments in a Kitchener, Ont., court
Kate Dubinski · CBC News · Posted: Jun 13, 2019 4:00 AM ET | Last Updated: 8 hours ago
Tiffany Harvey and Hamad Anwar were charged in 2015 when London, Ont., police busted Fantasy World Escorts. The pair are arguing that the charges are unconstitutional.
Final arguments are expected to wrap up today in the first court challenge to Canada's new prostitution laws.
The case involves a London, Ont., couple who ran Fantasy World Escorts, which was raided by police and shut down in 2015.
Tiffany Harvey and Hamad Anwar were charged with procuring, advertising and materially benefiting from the sale of someone else's sexual services, all of which are illegal under revisions to Canada's prostitution laws, which came into force in 2014.
But the couple's lawyers say the law puts sex workers at risk by forcing them to do their work underground, therefore violating the workers' charter right to security of the person.
The lawyers, James Lockyer and Jack Gemmell, say Canada's prostitution laws are based on the flawed belief that sex work is inherently exploitative and harmful.
'Need help to do this work safely'
The lawyers don't deny that Anwar and Harvey ran the agency, but say they can't be convicted because the charges are unconstitutional.
"We have to face who we are dealing with here, and that is people who need help to do this work safely. They don't have the personal ability to do that themselves, and they don't have the legal ability to get a third party to do it for them," Lockyer said in arguments heard in April.
The Crown is defending Canada's prostitution laws, saying the law isn't meant to protect sex workers but rather criminalize those who buy sexual services and therefore decrease the demand for sex work, which is inherently risky.
The arguments are being heard in Kitchener, Ont., because the judge who was initially assigned the case was transferred there.
Justice Thomas McKay is expected to take several months before rendering his decision.
The new puritans. The Economist, June 15th 2019
The idea of criminalising prostitutes’ clients is spreading
Prostitutes hate it
https://www.economist.com/europe/201...s-is-spreading
"... Over the past two decades the Swedish model has been taken up by nearby Norway and Iceland, and beyond, by Canada, France, Ireland, Israel and Northern Ireland. In 2014 the European Parliament urged EU members to adopt it. Spanish lawmakers are in the process of doing so. In America politicians in Maine and Massachusetts are calling for a similar approach. On July 3rd lawmakers in the Netherlands, where prostitution is legal and highly visible, are to start discussing such a law, as well as whether to ban pimps. As in Sweden, the crusade is cheered on by feminists and Christians with stern moral views. Exxpose, a Dutch organisation led by evangelical students, has gathered 40,000 signatures on a petition to criminalise the buying of sex. Parliament is unlikely to agree, in such a liberal country, but the campaign is spreading and there will doubtless be more attempts ..."
The idea of criminalising prostitutes’ clients is spreading
Prostitutes hate it
https://www.economist.com/europe/201...s-is-spreading
"... Over the past two decades the Swedish model has been taken up by nearby Norway and Iceland, and beyond, by Canada, France, Ireland, Israel and Northern Ireland. In 2014 the European Parliament urged EU members to adopt it. Spanish lawmakers are in the process of doing so. In America politicians in Maine and Massachusetts are calling for a similar approach. On July 3rd lawmakers in the Netherlands, where prostitution is legal and highly visible, are to start discussing such a law, as well as whether to ban pimps. As in Sweden, the crusade is cheered on by feminists and Christians with stern moral views. Exxpose, a Dutch organisation led by evangelical students, has gathered 40,000 signatures on a petition to criminalise the buying of sex. Parliament is unlikely to agree, in such a liberal country, but the campaign is spreading and there will doubtless be more attempts ..."
this links should work https://www.economist.com/europe/20...riminalising-prostitutes-clients-is-spreading
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