Hello everyone,
As you might know or not know a select team of 5 MP's will be for the next 3 months going from province to province speaking with police, organizations (profit & non-profit) etc. on whether to LEGALIZE (BIG NO) prostitution. Many organizations throughout Canada fight/believe in/for decriminalization (SPOC included since 1983)
Signing this petition means you believe in decriminalization and not legalization. (The list may be given to the MP's on March 15) more details to come later. Thanks!
To sign the petition go here;
http://www.spoc.ca/endorse.html
Read about Legalization vs Decriminalization
Under legalization systems, such as that in Nevada, USA:
· Sex pro’s cannot work independently—instead they are forced to work for brothels. Brothel owners are able to set all the terms of work. Pro’s may not move to any other brothel. This leaves pro’s very vulnerable to exploitation.
· Sex pro’s do not have the right to refuse to perform certain kinds of sex or to refuse clients they are not comfortable with. As well, brothel shifts are often 12 hours long.
· While brothels officially state that they insist on condom use, the pro’s in legal brothels tell a very different tale. Clients often have the power to insist on condom-free sex. If a pro does contract an STI from coercive unsafe sex, her license is revoked and a new pro is brought in.
· To obtain work at a brothel, pro’s must register at the police station, be photographed, fingerprinted and provide very personal information about themselves to the police.
· Typically the brothel holds 50% of the pro’s income. The government takes another 25%. For their work, sex pro’s are lucky to take home 25% of their earnings.
With decriminalized prostitution, such as that in New South Wales, Australia:
· Sex pro’s may operate freely, without the threat of criminal charges and / or the state seizing their assets.
· Sex pro’s can open their own operations. Individual sex pro’s do not require a license and can decide if they wish to work for a brothel.
· Sex workers and brothels are subject to similar restrictions as other businesses. If a brothel is a nuisance to its neighbors, it can be shut down. Street sex pro’s may not work within 200 meters of a place of worship, school or a hospital.
· Sex pro’s pay income taxes at the same rate as any other small business owner.
· Anyone abusing a sex pro is charged with the appropriate offence, whether it be assault, sexual assault, forcible confinement etc.
· It is rare for a sex pro to be assaulted and when it does occur, the police and courts take it very seriously, unlike the current situation in Canada.
· Currently, the procuring law makes it almost impossible for a sex worker to live a normal life, as we are legally unable to make purchases, give gifts, pay rent, or support anyone. Friends, family, spouses and roommates can be charged with “living on the avails of prostitution”. If a sex worker is raising a child, the child could be charged with living on the avails if she/he is over the age of 12!
· It is illegal for sex pro’s to live with or even be “habitually” in someone’s company. It is also illegal for sex pro’s to share finances with anyone else including her own family. Decriminalization ends this.
· No government or religion in history—including the most repressive—have ever been able to eradicate our noble profession. Ultimately, money and sex are more powerful than governments and / or religions.
Annessa
xoxo
As you might know or not know a select team of 5 MP's will be for the next 3 months going from province to province speaking with police, organizations (profit & non-profit) etc. on whether to LEGALIZE (BIG NO) prostitution. Many organizations throughout Canada fight/believe in/for decriminalization (SPOC included since 1983)
Signing this petition means you believe in decriminalization and not legalization. (The list may be given to the MP's on March 15) more details to come later. Thanks!
To sign the petition go here;
http://www.spoc.ca/endorse.html
Read about Legalization vs Decriminalization
LEGALIZATION
Legalization treats prostitution as a vice that must be heavily contained and controlled.
Under legalization systems, such as that in Nevada, USA:
· Sex pro’s cannot work independently—instead they are forced to work for brothels. Brothel owners are able to set all the terms of work. Pro’s may not move to any other brothel. This leaves pro’s very vulnerable to exploitation.
· Sex pro’s do not have the right to refuse to perform certain kinds of sex or to refuse clients they are not comfortable with. As well, brothel shifts are often 12 hours long.
· While brothels officially state that they insist on condom use, the pro’s in legal brothels tell a very different tale. Clients often have the power to insist on condom-free sex. If a pro does contract an STI from coercive unsafe sex, her license is revoked and a new pro is brought in.
· To obtain work at a brothel, pro’s must register at the police station, be photographed, fingerprinted and provide very personal information about themselves to the police.
· Typically the brothel holds 50% of the pro’s income. The government takes another 25%. For their work, sex pro’s are lucky to take home 25% of their earnings.
______________________________________
DECRIMINALIZATION
Decriminalization views prostitution as a legitimate and necessary business. Its implementation entails removing prostitution related offences from the Canadian Criminal Code, for adults involved in this profession.
With decriminalized prostitution, such as that in New South Wales, Australia:
· Sex pro’s may operate freely, without the threat of criminal charges and / or the state seizing their assets.
· Sex pro’s can open their own operations. Individual sex pro’s do not require a license and can decide if they wish to work for a brothel.
· Sex workers and brothels are subject to similar restrictions as other businesses. If a brothel is a nuisance to its neighbors, it can be shut down. Street sex pro’s may not work within 200 meters of a place of worship, school or a hospital.
· Sex pro’s pay income taxes at the same rate as any other small business owner.
· Anyone abusing a sex pro is charged with the appropriate offence, whether it be assault, sexual assault, forcible confinement etc.
· It is rare for a sex pro to be assaulted and when it does occur, the police and courts take it very seriously, unlike the current situation in Canada.
· Currently, the procuring law makes it almost impossible for a sex worker to live a normal life, as we are legally unable to make purchases, give gifts, pay rent, or support anyone. Friends, family, spouses and roommates can be charged with “living on the avails of prostitution”. If a sex worker is raising a child, the child could be charged with living on the avails if she/he is over the age of 12!
· It is illegal for sex pro’s to live with or even be “habitually” in someone’s company. It is also illegal for sex pro’s to share finances with anyone else including her own family. Decriminalization ends this.
· No government or religion in history—including the most repressive—have ever been able to eradicate our noble profession. Ultimately, money and sex are more powerful than governments and / or religions.
It is beyond time for the Canadian federal government to decriminalize our profession.
Annessa
xoxo