Most recent articles on prostitution related laws, opinions, comments

[Sniper Jr.]

The law may be gold for the Conservative base, but it certainly isn't gold for the government. While it is true that views on PROSTITUTION are pretty split, they are not so when the question is about the PROPOSED LAW ITSELF. According to the Angus Reid poll, the law is only supported by 35%, which is very little more than the conservative base, and is opposed by 47%. I don't see any swing voters drawn to the Conservatives by this, they are already the base. And some of that 35% are the ultra feminists, who aren't going to vote for the Conservatives under any circumstances. I think Greg Lyle is just making stuff up, interpreting his numbers in a way that makes him seem like a visionary, someone who can actually see what's going on. I'm pretty sure that this is going to loose more votes for the Conservatives (those who see this as proof that the Cons would love to push their religious morality on everyone and will do so when they get the chance) than it will win (those who would otherwise vote for Liberals or NDP, but feel so strongly about prostitution that it is their number one priority in placing their vote.http://www.angusreidglobal.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/ARG-C-36-Prostitution-June-2014.pdf

Yeah, that's bullshit logic to conclude that this issue is "absolute gold" for the Conservatives. There's actually not as much advantage for the Conservatives to fire up their base as there is for the other parties, because the Conservative base is always pretty fired up. They turn out at the polls in high numbers every election, so aside from maybe some extra fundraising dollars, there's not much advantage in motivating these wingnuts. Plus, yes the feminist vote is not going to go Conservative, so when you look at who's left to be swayed one way or another, it's hard to see how this bill would work in the Cons favour.

The other thing is, they've pushed out a bill that's so ridiculously severe, the other parties don't even have to take a stand on the issue. Justin Trudeau can be completely dodgy and evasive (seems to be what he does best), and refuse to take any kind of stance, and he still comes off looking reasonable by comparison. The Liberals and NDP haven't taken a more "laissez-faire position"... they haven't really taken any position at all other than opposing the bill, so I don't see that pushing swing voters away.

 

[lovelatinas]

Hear hear but I think there should be a warning issued PRIOR to the vote in the parliament (to MPS) and senate (to senators) that those who would vote in favor of bill C36 and have seen sex workers in the past will be outed. There is not much benefit if they are outed after the fact as the outcome will not change. But if they know they will be outed as hypocrites if they vote in favor of the bill (both MPS and senators) then it may change the outcome.

Mike Duffy if you know who they are, time to be vindictive for Harper throwing you under the bus. :eyebrows:

 

[drlove]

Also, the other parties don't really want to take a definitive stand on it since it's a hot potato. I saw Mulcair giving a live interview with CTV news in Halifax last week. The reporter asked Mulcair point blank what laws (if any) he and his party would bring in on prostitution if he were Prime Minister. He completely ignored the question and continued to attack the Cons, saying that they should refer it to the SCC.

Yeah, that's bullshit logic to conclude that this issue is "absolute gold" for the Conservatives. There's actually not as much advantage for the Conservatives to fire up their base as there is for the other parties, because the Conservative base is always pretty fired up. They turn out at the polls in high numbers every election, so aside from maybe some extra fundraising dollars, there's not much advantage in motivating these wingnuts. Plus, yes the feminist vote is not going to go Conservative, so when you look at who's left to be swayed one way or another, it's hard to see how this bill would work in the Cons favour.

The other thing is, they've pushed out a bill that's so ridiculously severe, the other parties don't even have to take a stand on the issue. Justin Trudeau can be completely dodgy and evasive (seems to be what he does best), and refuse to take any kind of stance, and he still comes off looking reasonable by comparison. The Liberals and NDP haven't taken a more "laissez-faire position"... they haven't really taken any position at all other than opposing the bill, so I don't see that pushing swing voters away.

 

[drlove]

Mike Duffy if you know who they are, time to be vindictive for Harper throwing you under the bus. :eyebrows:

An unlikely ally, perhaps - I'd love to see that shitstorm unfold!

 

[gustave55]

An other major blow against repression this morning from the medical community: 7 papers and 5 comments:

http://www.thelancet.com/series/HIV-and-sex-workers

 

[drlove]

This - Here is a response to one of the last articles posted above by a Globe and Mail reader. Any truth to this comment? Feel free to discuss...


globereader123 42 minutes ago

If the Harper Conservatives are still in majority power after the 2015 election, and C-36 is law, and it is found unconstitutional after another legal challenge (and probably another election), then the Harper Conservatives are free to enact even WORSE legislation yet again. You must understand. The legislative branch has the ultimate power, not the courts. Legal charter challenges are important in making politicians listen, but the courts cannot stop politicians from enacting worse legislation. Our last legal recourse is our vote.

 

[bobcat40]

This - Here is a response to one of the last articles posted above by a Globe and Mail reader. Any truth to this comment? Feel free to discuss...


globereader123 42 minutes ago

If the Harper Conservatives are still in majority power after the 2015 election, and C-36 is law, and it is found unconstitutional after another legal challenge (and probably another election), then the Harper Conservatives are free to enact even WORSE legislation yet again. You must understand. The legislative branch has the ultimate power, not the courts. Legal charter challenges are important in making politicians listen, but the courts cannot stop politicians from enacting worse legislation. Our last legal recourse is our vote.

In theory this may be true but in reality, constantly making unconstitutional laws that are struck down are both expensive and embarrassing. It is just too politically damaging to just keep on doing this. That is why the charter of rights has a notwithstanding clause to give parliament the last say over the courts. The chance of the CONs invoking this over something as small as prostitution is next to impossible.

For prostitution however, I think if this latest bill is struck down, the CONs will have to allow decriminalization. I believe Mackay has already disclosed this to his caucus which was reporting in the national post. This is because they have already taken the approach to treat prostitutes as innocent victims of crime. To fully backtrack on this position and turn to the full prohibition approach in the United States wouldn't make sense. They would then be charging and harassing the prostitutes and the hypocrisy would show even the dumbest of voters that they don't care about these women at all and would persecute them in the name of morality.

 

[krazyplayer]

Already acting like c36 is law:

http://www.inews880.com/2014/07/21/eps-crack-15/

EPS takes in 15 johns after big prostitution sting

Edmonton, AB, Canada / iNews880
Daniel Stilwell
July 21, 2014 10:46 pm

EPS has made one of its first big prostitution busts since new sex solicitation legislation was passed.

The two-night operation happened last last week and saw a total of 15 people arrested with 12 vehicles seized.

EPS Vice Detective Dave Schening says an operation like this isn’t carried out on a whim.

“Typically what prompts it is complaints from different groups from the community, from community partners, from the neighbourhood in general I guess where we receive complaints of the sex trade workers and the demand side; the johns,” says Schening.

According to Schening, they’ve brought in a lot of “customers” since the new legislation was enacted.

“We have had over 40 johns arrested and we’ve had over 30 vehicles seized since this supreme court decision in Ontario,” says Schening.

Schening says investigations still focus on prostitutes themselves, but aim more to protect and give them an option.

-wow seizing cars?
and metroland media has stopped all adult and personal ads in it's Toronto and York region papers. http://www.metroland.com/Companies/100009/Metroland_Media_Toronto

 

[DigitallyYours]

http://globalnews.ca/news/1465351/12-cars-seized-during-two-night-prostitution-sting-in-edmonton/

EDMONTON – An undercover operation in Edmonton’s northeast last week led to more than a dozen prostitution-related charges.

On July 16 and 17, detectives with Edmonton Police Service’s Vice Section targeted neighbourhoods where residents had complained about seeing people cruising for sex.

Acting Staff Sergeant David Schening with the EPS Vice Section says there tends to be an increase in that type of behaviour during the warmer summer months.

"We know that this kind of traffic creates concerns regarding safety, crime and disorder in the community,” he said.

Over the course of the two-night operation, 15 people were taken into custody. Twenty charges were laid, including 15 charges of communicating for the purpose of prostitution.

Police also seized 12 vehicles, which happens whenever the vehicle is used in the commission of the suspected offence.

“Police will continue to focus enforcement on those who exploit the vulnerable, and will be out there with our community partners to offer support and exit strategies to sex workers as appropriate,” said Schening.

 

[DigitallyYours]

Looks like they do this all the time.

http://globalnews.ca/news/789059/edmonton-police-arrest-dozens-during-prostitution-sting/
From AUGUST 2013

Edmonton – Dozens of people were arrested last week during an Edmonton Police Service (EPS) operation to deter prostitution.

Thirty men, ranging from 18 to 60-years-old, have been charged with communicating for the purpose of prostitution.

Between August 12 and August 15, police laid 64 charges and seized 26 vehicles as part of the project.

Police also arrested and charged 25 women and one transgendered person for communicating for the purpose of prostitution.

Police say the female sex-trade workers who were arrested were offered counseling, treatments for drug addictions and other services through the “Snug Program” in exchange for their charges being dropped. Eighteen of the women have accepted the help and two went into detox treatment.

The men who have been charged have been offered a chance to attend “John school.”

During the operation police also laid charges of drug trafficking, living off of the proceeds of crime, and breach of conditions.

 

[bobcat40]

Looks like they do this all the time.

http://globalnews.ca/news/789059/edmonton-police-arrest-dozens-during-prostitution-sting/
From AUGUST 2013

Edmonton – Dozens of people were arrested last week during an Edmonton Police Service (EPS) operation to deter prostitution.

Thirty men, ranging from 18 to 60-years-old, have been charged with communicating for the purpose of prostitution.

Between August 12 and August 15, police laid 64 charges and seized 26 vehicles as part of the project.

Police also arrested and charged 25 women and one transgendered person for communicating for the purpose of prostitution.

Police say the female sex-trade workers who were arrested were offered counseling, treatments for drug addictions and other services through the “Snug Program” in exchange for their charges being dropped. Eighteen of the women have accepted the help and two went into detox treatment.

The men who have been charged have been offered a chance to attend “John school.”

During the operation police also laid charges of drug trafficking, living off of the proceeds of crime, and breach of conditions.

This probably isn't helping the publicity surrounding bill C-36. The actions of the police already show the level of police harassment on street prostitutes which would exist after the new laws are enacted. I would think that arresting prostitutes to offer "counseling, treatments for drug addictions and other services..." isn't likely to make prostitutes feel any safer around police. They probably are going to be even less trusting of police and less likely to report abuse.

 

[mandrill]

As HIV scientists, advocates and patients gather at the International AIDS Conference in Melbourne this week, there is an increasing focus on the role that the criminalization of sex work is playing in the worldwide epidemic.

Experts say laws that prohibit prostitution are hampering efforts to control the global HIV epidemic.

- OBIT | AIDS researcher killed on MH17 did pioneering work

During the opening session of the conference, the executive director of the joint United Nations program on HIV/AIDS, Michel Sidibé, chided governments for criminalizing sex work.

"We cannot run away from the harm caused by criminalizing populations," Sidibé said. "We must implement the recommendations of the Global Commission on HIV and the Law."

That UN-convened commission found that making any part of prostitution illegal, whether it be the buying or selling of sex, makes workers less able to protect themselves from infections or seek treatment if they become infected.

It's a conclusion supported by a large body of research evidence, including now a series of seven papers on HIV and sex workers published this week by the medical journal Lancet.

One of the articles analyzed published studies on HIV rates among sex workers, condom use and other data from three cities — in India, Kenya and Vancouver.

Author Steffanie Strathdee of the University of California, San Diego said it's clear sexual violence against female prostitutes and the criminalization of their work make them less likely to use condoms.

Eliminating sexual violence would avert an estimated 17 per cent of infections in Kenya and 20 per cent in Canada by creating safer working conditions in which sex workers could demand clients use condoms, she said.

But her team showed that decriminalizing sex work would have a far bigger impact in reducing transmission.

"We've shown that up to 46 per cent of incident HIV infections could be averted in any of the three cities we examined by just fully decriminalizing prostitution," she said.

Riskier sex

Sandra Ka Hon Chu is co-director of research and advocacy with the Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network in Toronto, which opposes Canada's proposed new prostitution legislation. The bill before Parliament would make it illegal to buy sex, and is expected to receive third reading in the Commons this fall.

Chu is among more than 220 legal specialists and advocates who've written an open letter to the prime minister to reconsider the bill. She said its effect will be to create the conditions that lead to riskier sex and more HIV infections.

"When you're driven to isolated areas because of policing, because your clients are being arrested, it's harder for you to negotiate condom use, harder for you to insist on safer sex or even discuss what you want to do in advance."

- WATCH | Is Bill C-36 good for sex workers?

She said in countries that criminalize prostitution, including Canada, sex workers report having their condoms confiscated by police as evidence of criminal behaviour, so many choose not to carry them.

Criminalization means sex workers are less likely to seek out treatment if they become infected, according to The Lancet series. Chu said in Canada, if they're incarcerated they may also experience interruptions or difficulty accessing treatment.

Chu and Strathdee, and others at the AIDS conference, point to New Zealand and New South Wales in Australia. Both jurisdictions have repealed laws that made sex work illegal. The results have been dramatic, Chu said.

"Where criminal laws have actually been removed, rates of HIV and sexually transmitted infection are very, very low, rates of condom use are very, very high, and sex workers as a whole feel very empowered to insist on safer sex with their clients."

About .01 per cent of people age 15 to 49 are infected with HIV in New Zealand. In Canada the prevalence is more than double that, according to UNAIDS. http://news.ca.msn.com/top-stories/...alizing-prostitution-a-simple-way-to-curb-hiv

 

[canada-man]

so will the senate read all of these?

 

[Fallsguy]

Yeah, that's bullshit logic to conclude that this issue is "absolute gold" for the Conservatives. There's actually not as much advantage for the Conservatives to fire up their base as there is for the other parties, because the Conservative base is always pretty fired up. They turn out at the polls in high numbers every election, so aside from maybe some extra fundraising dollars, there's not much advantage in motivating these wingnuts. Plus, yes the feminist vote is not going to go Conservative, so when you look at who's left to be swayed one way or another, it's hard to see how this bill would work in the Cons favour.

The other thing is, they've pushed out a bill that's so ridiculously severe, the other parties don't even have to take a stand on the issue. Justin Trudeau can be completely dodgy and evasive (seems to be what he does best), and refuse to take any kind of stance, and he still comes off looking reasonable by comparison. The Liberals and NDP haven't taken a more "laissez-faire position"... they haven't really taken any position at all other than opposing the bill, so I don't see that pushing swing voters away.

All the Liberals and NDP have to do is sit tight until this law is struck down in the courts, then they do nothing to replace it. As an earlier post said here, its not going to take five years or so, it will be a lot sooner than that. This vile regime won't be around anymore to save it, even if they could.

 

[GPIDEAL]

An unlikely ally, perhaps - I'd love to see that shitstorm unfold!

It could mean the unfolding of the CPOC. :eyebrows:

 

[drlove]

All the Liberals and NDP have to do is sit tight until this law is struck down in the courts, then they do nothing to replace it. As an earlier post said here, its not going to take five years or so, it will be a lot sooner than that. This vile regime won't be around anymore to save it, even if they could.

Do you know that for a fact? What makes you think it will take less than five years? The Bedford case took a lot longer than that.

 

[drlove]

It could mean the unfolding of the CPOC. :eyebrows:

We can only hope! lol

 

[Fallsguy]

As HIV scientists, advocates and patients gather at the International AIDS Conference in Melbourne this week, there is an increasing focus on the role that the criminalization of sex work is playing in the worldwide epidemic.

Experts say laws that prohibit prostitution are hampering efforts to control the global HIV epidemic.

- OBIT | AIDS researcher killed on MH17 did pioneering work

During the opening session of the conference, the executive director of the joint United Nations program on HIV/AIDS, Michel Sidibé, chided governments for criminalizing sex work.

"We cannot run away from the harm caused by criminalizing populations," Sidibé said. "We must implement the recommendations of the Global Commission on HIV and the Law."

That UN-convened commission found that making any part of prostitution illegal, whether it be the buying or selling of sex, makes workers less able to protect themselves from infections or seek treatment if they become infected.

It's a conclusion supported by a large body of research evidence, including now a series of seven papers on HIV and sex workers published this week by the medical journal Lancet.

One of the articles analyzed published studies on HIV rates among sex workers, condom use and other data from three cities — in India, Kenya and Vancouver.

Author Steffanie Strathdee of the University of California, San Diego said it's clear sexual violence against female prostitutes and the criminalization of their work make them less likely to use condoms.

Eliminating sexual violence would avert an estimated 17 per cent of infections in Kenya and 20 per cent in Canada by creating safer working conditions in which sex workers could demand clients use condoms, she said.

But her team showed that decriminalizing sex work would have a far bigger impact in reducing transmission.

"We've shown that up to 46 per cent of incident HIV infections could be averted in any of the three cities we examined by just fully decriminalizing prostitution," she said.

Riskier sex

Sandra Ka Hon Chu is co-director of research and advocacy with the Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network in Toronto, which opposes Canada's proposed new prostitution legislation. The bill before Parliament would make it illegal to buy sex, and is expected to receive third reading in the Commons this fall.

Chu is among more than 220 legal specialists and advocates who've written an open letter to the prime minister to reconsider the bill. She said its effect will be to create the conditions that lead to riskier sex and more HIV infections.

"When you're driven to isolated areas because of policing, because your clients are being arrested, it's harder for you to negotiate condom use, harder for you to insist on safer sex or even discuss what you want to do in advance."

- WATCH | Is Bill C-36 good for sex workers?

She said in countries that criminalize prostitution, including Canada, sex workers report having their condoms confiscated by police as evidence of criminal behaviour, so many choose not to carry them.

Criminalization means sex workers are less likely to seek out treatment if they become infected, according to The Lancet series. Chu said in Canada, if they're incarcerated they may also experience interruptions or difficulty accessing treatment.

Chu and Strathdee, and others at the AIDS conference, point to New Zealand and New South Wales in Australia. Both jurisdictions have repealed laws that made sex work illegal. The results have been dramatic, Chu said.

"Where criminal laws have actually been removed, rates of HIV and sexually transmitted infection are very, very low, rates of condom use are very, very high, and sex workers as a whole feel very empowered to insist on safer sex with their clients."

About .01 per cent of people age 15 to 49 are infected with HIV in New Zealand. In Canada the prevalence is more than double that, according to UNAIDS. http://news.ca.msn.com/top-stories/...alizing-prostitution-a-simple-way-to-curb-hiv

Is anybody, ANYBODY in the Conservative government listening, or paying attention?

 

[drlove]

Is anybody, ANYBODY in the Conservative government listening, or paying attention?

Unfortunately, probably not. I'm so ashamed of this government I can't even put it into words.

 

[Fallsguy]

Do you know that for a fact? What makes you think it will take less than five years? The Bedford case took a lot longer than that.

All it will take is one lower court judge to rule this law unconstitutional. I don't think judges would be so apt this time to leave the law in effect. They have the power to strike it down and declare it no longer in effect. It may take up to five years to reach the SC but it could be long dead before it gets there. Also, if the Cons are still in power they would need a reason to appeal it, some kind of procedural error in the original ruling, something like that. They could have an appeal refused. Also, it would be unlikely the Libs or the NDP would even pursue an appeal, even if one had already been launched by the outgoing government.
Also, I'm pretty sure the day this piece of garbage goes into effect, there will be a mad rush of lawyers to the courts.