Should Canada's Prostitution laws be amended?

[naughtylady]

*A PUBLIC PANEL DISCUSSION ON THE BALANCE BETWEEN THE RIGHTS OF INDIVIDUALS
AND COMMUNITY STANDARDS.*

*QUESTION PERIOD TO FOLLOW DISCUSSION*

* *

*Wednesday, June 25, 2008*

*7:00 pm to 9:00 pm*

*Admission: Free*

Auditorium, Main Branch, Ottawa Public Library

120 Metcalfe Street, Ottawa

Sponsored by the Civil Liberties Association – National Capital Region and
the Defence Counsel Association of Ottawa

Invited panellists:

*Chris Bruckert*, Professor, Department of Criminology, University of Ottawa

*Mark Ertel*, President, Defence Counsel Association of Ottawa

*Jeff Leiper*, President, Hintonberg Community Association

*Knowlton Roberts*, Superintendent, Ottawa Police Service

For more information about the event, please contact Krista Thomas at
613-680-5784,

Mark Samborsky at 613-237-0955 or Jack MacKinnon at 613-733-6640.


I would like to attend but I don't feel like going alone. Anybody care to join me?

Ronnie,
Naughtylady

 

[hairdeficient]

What's wrong with the laws as they are? An other useless conference on the subject. As they stand the laws do not prevent and never prevented prostitution.

In 2008, is there one sp provider that worries about being prosecuted?

Prostitution (fee for companionship) is not illegal or is no longer prosecuted.

What is illegal is agressive sollicitation ( such as street sollicitation ). This theoritically allows communities to have some control on their neibourhoods.

What is also illegal are brothels so you won't have girls on display in the shopping window like they used to have in Amsterdam.

Anything else goes.

 

[GuitarPlaya]

What is also illegal are brothels so you won't have girls on display in the shopping window like they used to have in Amsterdam.

Are you saying that this has changed in Amsterdam ? Last time I went there, in 2005 (I think), I saw girls showing themselves in windows, in the Red Light District...

 

[hairdeficient]

I just used Amsterdam as an example and I read somewhere on the internet that some places in the Red Light district had closed but i do not remember whether they closed because of a change in public policy or lack of interest from customers.

The point I was trying to make is that every so often the subject of changing whatever law there is left on prostitution comes up and leads nowhere.

 

[beautydigger]

One of the few things I could agree on from the left is legalized prostitution and legalized drugs. Unfortunately, they have done nothing towards the cause on these two issues. What a big issue it becomes when women are screaming about abortion and how they have the right to do whatever with their bodies. You would think prostitution tame compared to abortion? Maybe it is because men would also benefit from legalized prostitution.

 

[korbel]

One of the few things I could agree on from the left is legalized prostitution and legalized drugs. Unfortunately, they have done nothing towards the cause on these two issues. What a big issue it becomes when women are screaming about abortion and how they have the right to do whatever with their bodies. You would think prostitution tame compared to abortion? Maybe it is because men would also benefit from legalized prostitution.

Hello Beautydigger,

Yes, the abortion issue tends to attract great wrath on both sides. I would favor putting only Marijuana under the same legalized restrictions as alcohol. I have tried it and found absolutely no interest in it. But as I understand the known effects of it, it seems it should be decriminalized. All or most other illicit drugs are pure garbage in my view. I have not tried them, but I have learned the clinically studied and reported effects of many and they run from moderately harmful to disastrous.

As for "prostitution", the damage it does and the exploitation of women is heart breaking. I just saw a expose on sex slavery by the Russian mob in the U.S., HORRENDOUS! Perhaps some sort of very structured regulation of the industry with strict oversight of conditions and health monitoring would improve conditions for women and men in the "industry". But, with respects to all the escorts who made a genuine choice to serve their best interest at that time, and who do all the right things to avoid the inherent risks, I would never want to see entrance into the profession officially encouraged. Yeah boys and girls, I realize the hypocrisy. Belabor that if you will, but that is the nature of being in the hobby and still caring what happens to others. C'est la vie.

Cheers,

Korbel

 

[bond_james_bond]

Pimping should not be a crime, or it needs to be better defined. I don't believe the government should fabricate a crime based on actual crimes (assault, kidnapping, rape, passport theft, etc.).

Why doesn't your boss abuse you? Because he knows you can sue, file criminal charges, go to the media, etc.

It should be the same for prostitution.

Like any industry, it needs to be heavily regulated and inspected to ensure safe and fair working conditions, that all employees are of legal age and citizenship (this prevents child prostitution and human trafficking), and a fair, non-exploitative division of revenue between employer and employee.

Like any private industry, the bad employers WILL be weeded out by market and regulatory forces. It's just that this industry needs to be de-stigmatized so that the exploited and the victimized can feel free to report any abuse that they suffered.

 

[Regular Guy]

Pretty close for me. Should be an interesting discussion. Barring emergency, Ronnie, I will attend. Maybe see you there. (Parking might be a bit challenging - carpark a couple blocks up Metcalfe).

 

[beautydigger]

Perhaps some sort of very structured regulation of the industry with strict oversight of conditions and health monitoring would improve conditions for women and men in the "industry".

This was the main point of the pro-abortion crowd before it was legalized. Although we learned later it was all about the right to choooose for women. Anyway, if it worked for abortion, why not prostitution. I have to disagree with your view on prostitution, in this day and age prostitutes are a blessing. I can gain more yin from prostitutes than from normal women. I believe that since such women have sex with so many men, that they have acquired more yang essence from them, thus, they could give a patron more yang essence than he has lost.

 

[JH Fan]

Whatever ying yang you're talking about...

it comes under 213(1) and yes... there is some pressure to change some parts of the code and no...it ain't going to be done overnight.

And... there is a big difference between decriminalizing and legalizing.

I can dream in legalizing for my own benefit but decriminalizing is more on the menu (in the long run). Simply because it would be more appropriate to LE and the system.

 

[korbel]

This was the main point of the pro-abortion crowd before it was legalized. Although we learned later it was all about the right to choooose for women. Anyway, if it worked for abortion, why not prostitution. I have to disagree with your view on prostitution, in this day and age prostitutes are a blessing. I can gain more yin from prostitutes than from normal women. I believe that since such women have sex with so many men, that they have acquired more yang essence from them, thus, they could give a patron more yang essence than he has lost.

Hello Beautydigger,

Your emphasis seems to be mostly on what the women can do for the men. Excuse me if I am wrong. My emphasis is meant to be on how conditions can be changed to improve the general safety conditions for the women, not the enhancement of male enjoyment. I also distinguish a bit between "prostitutes" versus escorts and call girls. Overall I am talking about all of them, but street prostitutes are typically the most vulnerable and/or exploited...to my knowledge.

Regards,

Korbel

 

[beautydigger]

Hello Beautydigger,

Your emphasis seems to be mostly on what the women can do for the men. Excuse me if I am wrong. My emphasis is meant to be on how conditions can be changed to improve the general safety conditions for the women, not the enhancement of male enjoyment. I also distinguish a bit between "prostitutes" versus escorts and call girls. Overall I am talking about all of them, but street prostitutes are typically the most vulnerable and/or exploited...to my knowledge.

Regards,

Korbel

At $180 an hour for women, and minus $180 for men, I would have to disagree. Just the fact of systemized STD testing would be a plus, not to mention a easier way of looking after the pimps to discourage human trafficking which in the civilized western society is practically non-existent.

 

[korbel]

At $180 an hour for women, and minus $180 for men, I would have to disagree. Just the fact of systemized STD testing would be a plus, not to mention a easier way of looking after the pimps to discourage human trafficking which in the civilized western society is practically non-existent.

Hello Beautydigger,

I am not sure what we disagree about. We don't seem to be focusing on the same point. Testing and control of "pimps" is something we agree on. You seem to be talking about finances and I am talking about the conditions prostitutes live in and have to deal with. I don't think spending $180 can begin to measure up to the risks of being a prostitute regarding sexual diseases, drug addiction, and the threat of violence. So maybe our points are just different....not at odds.

Cheers,

Korbel