Decriminalize the Prostitutes, not Prostitution

international | rights, freedoms and repression | other press

Friday December 10, 2004 02:55

by Sisyphe

In an unprecedented gesture, around thirty personalities known for their social and political commitment asks the government of Canada to reject the decriminalization of prostitution claimed by certain groups and to take immediate measures to to put an end to the harassing of prostitutes and to the sexual trafficking which is practised in Canada.

In a letter made public on November 20, these persons ask the government of Canada, prior to any reform of the criminal code on the subjects of pimping, prostitution and solicitation, to launch a major study on all the consequences of decriminalizing prostitution, notably on the risks of an increase in local trafficking and sexual tourism. Because the policies on prostitution have a structuring effect on society as a whole and, therefore, on our collective future, we ask the government to also lead a vast public consultation on the subject.

«Decriminalize the Prostitutes, not Prostitution», by Elaine Audet and Micheline Carrier
Read full story.
http://sisyphe.org/article.php3?id_article=1407

News about the visas granted by Canadian immigration officers to foreign stripteasers, called "exotic dancers", made headlines across Canada. According to the Immigration Minister and the spokepersons of this ministry, "Canadian women do not want to work any more in this profession ". They argue that the "scarcity" of perfomers such as lapdancers could only be filled by recruiting women abroad and by granting them special visas. According to the Minister, "there are needs in the exotic dance industry" and the government has "the obligation to answer them.". Under cover of this spurious excuse, immigration officers worked hand in hand with organized crime to supply the owners of clubs with a constant renewal of foreign women to meet the alleged "needs" of the prosperous Canadian sex industry. The increasing importance of the recruitment of foreign stripteasers and their integration into local prostitution systems, puts Canada among the countries with the greatest participation in the world trafficking of women, according to several specialists who have studied these matters.

«Canada Contributes to the Sexual Trafficking of Women for Purposes of Prostitution», by Elaine Audet
Read full story.
http://sisyphe.org/article.php3?id_article=1380

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Comments (1 of 1)

Organized Crime and the Canadian Govt.

by Gregory Carlin - Irish Anti-Trafficking Coalition

Fri Dec 10, 2004 22:06

info.iatc at ntlworld dot com

Discussions between the IATC and the Canadian govt. ended because of a failure by the state party to privately clarify issues in relation to (1) coerced pornography, (2) sexual abuse, (3) enslavement and (4) child trafficking, all of which have been connected to the exotic dancer programme. The IATC have more recently expressed our resolve to be allowed to offer testimony to Ethics Commissioner Shapiro in Canada.

"During recent discussions with Canadian officials I asked for Immigration Minister Sgro to be informed that colleagues of the IATC in the United States, had absolutely required that the juvenile aspects be clarified - and if the scheme was abandoned that same day without clarification, our campaign would go to Washington DC. - I was informed by the Canadian High Commission in London that a call from Minister Sgro's office would definitely be placed later that day to resolve the important issue of alleged juvenile abuse. Unfortunately that telephone call did not take place and the scheme was rendered obsolete hours later in Canada. We are now obliged to seek publicly what the Canadian government privately failed to do for us" Gregory Carlin, Director IATC

PUBLIC NA/1204-TIPC

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Decriminalize the Prostitutes, not Prostitution

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