A STUDY OF CANADA’S CRIMINAL PROSTITUTION LAWS

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A STUDY OF CANADA’S CRIMINAL PROSTITUTION LAWS

Postby sunnysmiles » Fri Jan 26, 2007 6:48 pm

The standing committee (government ad hoc committee & therefore rep of the govt) published this recently in the wake of the Pickton case. Should be an interesting read.

“THE CHALLENGE OF CHANGE: A STUDY OF CANADA’S CRIMINAL PROSTITUTION LAWS”.

http://cmte.parl.gc.ca/Content/HOC/comm ... 6/06-toc-e. htm

I've read parts of the document - i.e. the Swedish Model and the conclusion.

Seems like the only people thrilled at the Swedish model example is Canada's Conservative party (which is pretty scary in and of itself). The conservative party is bad for a zillion reasons - they are ANTI-WOMAN. their first thing was to cut funds to the Status of Women Canada once they took office, they are anti-environment, exploitative of labour and immigrant labour especially. The sad thing about this is that it seems like they want to make this into a money-making business - reverse of what you would think - they want to profit off of penalties not 'prostitutes work per se'....

Quote: The Conservatives therefore call for legal and social reforms which would reduce all prostitution through criminal sanctions that clearly target abusers (johns and pimps), and improve the ability of those engaged in prostitution — the victims — to quit. They propose a new approach to criminal justice in which the perpetrators of crime would fund, through heavy fines, the rehabilitation and support of the victims they create. These fines would also act as a significant deterrent. As for the prostitutes themselves, the Conservatives recommend a system in which first-time offenders and those forced or coerced into the lifestyle are assisted out of it, and avoid a criminal record. However, those who freely seek to benefit from the “business” of prostitution would be held accountable for the victimization which results from prostitution as a whole. To address the problem of the two-tiered sex trade, these members emphasize that law enforcement must deal equally and consistently with all forms of prostitution, whether it be found on the street, in escort services, massage parlours, bawdy houses, or other locations.


The majority vote i.e. the Liberal, NDP and Bloc Quebecois (essentially a socialist leaning soveriegnty seeking party) are divided on the issue and it seems like they would rather fight the 'sytemic violence' (like child support/poverty elimination strategies/employment etc...) around the issue than enforce actual penalties to johns/pimps.

The majority of the Subcommittee calls for concrete efforts to be made immediately to improve the safety of individuals selling sexual services and assist them in exiting prostitution if they are not there by choice. In addition, the federal government should consider increasing transfer payments to the provinces to enable them to provide significant resources for income support, education and training, poverty alleviation, and treatment for addictions, while respecting provincial areas of jurisdiction.

Canada’s Approach to Adult Prostitution is Contradictory

Members from the Liberal, New Democratic, and Bloc Québécois Parties believe that Canada’s current quasi-legal approach to prostitution — in which adult prostitution is legal per se, but nearly impossible to practise without breaking the law — should be recognized as contradictory. Much like the conclusion reached by the Fraser Committee 20 years ago, they feel that since adult prostitution is legal in Canada, the conditions under which it can be practised must be stipulated. Moreover, after hearing the testimony, they came to the conclusion that the current situation causes more harm than good. It marginalizes prostitutes, often leaving them isolated and afraid to report abuse and violence to law enforcement authorities. In the view of members from the Liberal and New Democratic Parties, the Canadian government must come to terms with this contradiction and the inefficiency of the law, and engage in a process of law reform that will consider changes to laws pertaining to prostitution, thus allowing criminal sanctions to focus on harmful situations.


The report also quotes that 20% of street prostitution is male/transexual - which I find ridiculously high. Of course this is based on Frances Schaver's work - who of course is a sex-pos feminist and hated equally by 'us' AND 'sex-workers'...

I haven't gone through the whole thing - but I guess it would be nice if a few people went over this and wrote letters with suggestions for the Canadian Government. I think if there were ever a time that they would take you seriously - it might be now.

I might go over the entire thing - bit by bit when I get a chance.

I got this via the NDP statement on this, here: http://www.ndp. ca/page/4785

Quote: I will continue to call for law reform, immediate support for exit strategies, and the need for a public inquiry, to ensure that necessary changes are made at all levels of government, to best protect the rights and safety of sex workers and affected communities.


Doesn't sound like that's feasible.... There is no plan on how such a strategy would be implemented.
sunnysmiles
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