Sex-trade lobby group to meet Monday
3 April 2006, Canadian Press - Globe & Mail
Edmonton - Fewer women would be victims of murder and other violence if the federal government reformed Canada's sex-trade laws, says a lobby group for prostitutes. Lauren Casey, spokeswoman for the Canadian National Coalition of Experiential Women, ought to know.
The former escort who worked in the business for 15 years has been pushing for a change in the section of the Criminal Code that makes it illegal for prostitutes to work out of their homes. She also wants Ottawa to decriminalize solicitation for prostitution.
If those changes were on the books, she says, a police task force would not be searching for as many as 80 missing women in Alberta - some whom police believe may have fallen victim to a serial killer.
"Without these changes, women who work on the streets are more prone to murder, rape and violence," Ms. Casey said from her home in Victoria. "One only has to look at what has been going on in Edmonton. We want to bring some light to what is going on."
Ms. Casey and a group of educators, advocates and sex-trade workers will hold a one-day public conference in Alberta's capital on Monday to press their point.
Along with law reform, coalition members will speak out about the barriers faced by women who want out of the sex industry and about the need for better addiction services for prostitutes.
Ms. Casey said the coalition is also preparing to petition Prime Minister Stephen Harper's government for tougher penalties for the sexual exploitation of young people.
She believes it should be against the law for anyone 23 years or over to have sex with anyone under 18. And anyone between 18 and 22 should not be permitted to have sex with anyone five years their junior. "They need serious sentences," she said. "For example, if there is a six-year age difference, the person would serve one year in jail. Seven years difference should be two full years in prison."
The RCMP Project Kare missing persons task force has indicated it will send a representative to the conference. So will Alberta's justice and children's services departments, community groups and the Canadian Native Friendship Centre.
The coalition, which operates partly on a $322,000 federal grant which runs out in August, has been criticized by the Tories for using public money. Coalition members are worried that Mr. Harper's government may not want to continue supporting their work through the National Action Committee on the Status of Women.
Susan Strega, a University of Victoria professor of social work, said there must be more research into why men buy sex, especially from children and youth. "These are 'normal' guys with families, good jobs, who are educated," said Ms. Strega, who is to give two presentations at the conference. "The size of the market is huge. There is no way in the world that that is being maintained by a little tiny group of pedophiles."
Ms. Strega said the coalition takes exception to the way some media report stories involving prostitutes. The use of words such as whore, hooker and crack addict dehumanize women and contribute to violence against them.
"It encourages people who already feel violent toward sex workers that they are entitled to be violent."
Ms. Casey said the coalition knows its push for sex-trade law reforms will disturb and upset some individuals. But Canadians must accept that prostitutes deserve the same protection as others in society, she added.
"People must realize that this industry is never going to go away. You can't sweep it under the carpet. We need human rights for all."
3 April 2006, Canadian Press - Globe & Mail
Edmonton - Fewer women would be victims of murder and other violence if the federal government reformed Canada's sex-trade laws, says a lobby group for prostitutes. Lauren Casey, spokeswoman for the Canadian National Coalition of Experiential Women, ought to know.
The former escort who worked in the business for 15 years has been pushing for a change in the section of the Criminal Code that makes it illegal for prostitutes to work out of their homes. She also wants Ottawa to decriminalize solicitation for prostitution.
If those changes were on the books, she says, a police task force would not be searching for as many as 80 missing women in Alberta - some whom police believe may have fallen victim to a serial killer.
"Without these changes, women who work on the streets are more prone to murder, rape and violence," Ms. Casey said from her home in Victoria. "One only has to look at what has been going on in Edmonton. We want to bring some light to what is going on."
Ms. Casey and a group of educators, advocates and sex-trade workers will hold a one-day public conference in Alberta's capital on Monday to press their point.
Along with law reform, coalition members will speak out about the barriers faced by women who want out of the sex industry and about the need for better addiction services for prostitutes.
Ms. Casey said the coalition is also preparing to petition Prime Minister Stephen Harper's government for tougher penalties for the sexual exploitation of young people.
She believes it should be against the law for anyone 23 years or over to have sex with anyone under 18. And anyone between 18 and 22 should not be permitted to have sex with anyone five years their junior. "They need serious sentences," she said. "For example, if there is a six-year age difference, the person would serve one year in jail. Seven years difference should be two full years in prison."
The RCMP Project Kare missing persons task force has indicated it will send a representative to the conference. So will Alberta's justice and children's services departments, community groups and the Canadian Native Friendship Centre.
The coalition, which operates partly on a $322,000 federal grant which runs out in August, has been criticized by the Tories for using public money. Coalition members are worried that Mr. Harper's government may not want to continue supporting their work through the National Action Committee on the Status of Women.
Susan Strega, a University of Victoria professor of social work, said there must be more research into why men buy sex, especially from children and youth. "These are 'normal' guys with families, good jobs, who are educated," said Ms. Strega, who is to give two presentations at the conference. "The size of the market is huge. There is no way in the world that that is being maintained by a little tiny group of pedophiles."
Ms. Strega said the coalition takes exception to the way some media report stories involving prostitutes. The use of words such as whore, hooker and crack addict dehumanize women and contribute to violence against them.
"It encourages people who already feel violent toward sex workers that they are entitled to be violent."
Ms. Casey said the coalition knows its push for sex-trade law reforms will disturb and upset some individuals. But Canadians must accept that prostitutes deserve the same protection as others in society, she added.
"People must realize that this industry is never going to go away. You can't sweep it under the carpet. We need human rights for all."
