Living in Community Action Plan addressing the impacts of sex work in Van

Health Nurse

Supporting Member
Nov 24, 2004
894
4
0
Hi All

I just wanted to tell you about the final report that is being presented by the Living in Community project. It will be a panel discussion about their recommendations and all are welcome to attend and participate.

HN


You are invited​

To discuss the Action Plan addressing the impacts of sex work in Vancouver

Vancouverites spoke, we listened

Monday, June 4th - 7-9:30 p.m.
Vancouver Central Library
Alice MacKay Room
350 West Georgia Street



Living in Community: Balancing Perspectives on Vancouver's Sex Industry presents its final report and action plan to address the impacts of sex work in Vancouver. Increasing community health and safety and addressing sexual exploitation of children and youth are key elements of the action plan.

Three years ago, a group of concerned Vancouver residents, representing community groups, business improvement associations, community policing offices, sex workers and groups that support sex workers, formed the Living in Community steering committee. In Sept. 2006 they released a Draft Action Plan and through February 2007 held neighbourhood dialogues and community consultations throughout the city. The final report includes feedback and recommendations from these public meetings and information submitted by individuals and groups.

Hear the final recommendations and participate in a panel discussion facilitated by CBC broadcaster Kathryn Gretsinger with:

Patricia Barnes, Executive Director, Hastings North Business Improvement Assoc.

Susan Davis , BC Coalition of Experiential Women/Communities

Scott Thompson, Vancouver Police Department

Maggie de Vries, author, Missing Sarah: A Vancouver Woman Remembers Her Vanished Sister


http://www.livingincommunity.ca/
 

john23

Member
Apr 1, 2006
603
0
16
121
www.elsewhere.org
Thanks for posting this. I enjoyed meeting up with you guys at the "john" focus group.

However, I think, given what happened with the federal government panel advising on policy regarding sex work, that it may be an uphill battle to create a more intelligent approach to these complex issues.

I had an email conversation with one of the SP's who was at the Federal Governments' panel. She said that they finally acknowledged that there are instances where sex work is valid work. The also estimated that there are more than 2 million men (we know of course that women never pay for sex, right) who use these services. Their conclusion: we should criminalize the johns. 10 of the 12 people agreed on the panel agreed with that.

My thought was that they basically had written their recommendations well before talking to anyone and just dusted it off.

BTW the above was in the province a few months ago it may be on their website.

This hypocrisy is killing people.
 

OTBn

New member
Jan 2, 2006
568
0
0
john23 said:
However, I think, given what happened with the federal government panel advising on policy regarding sex work, that it may be an uphill battle to create a more intelligent approach to these complex issues.
…the House of Commons Standing Committee for Justice and Human Rights created a Solicitation Subcommittee, which was tasked with reviewing prostitution laws to improve the safety of sex trade workers and the community in which they work.

Yes – there was difficulty in reaching consensus between the various political party members… the 3 year review period culminated with the release of a report in December 2006: http://cmte.parl.gc.ca/Content/HOC/committee/391/just/reports/rp2599932/justrp06/sslrrp06-e.pdf

As discussed previously in other Perb threads… of course, I will take (another) opportunity to highlight, to distinguish, the Harper Conservative government’s perspective/approach as clearly stated within the report’s “recommendation & conclusion” section.

Directly from the report:


  • 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.
  • Striking a Balance without Judging
    Members from the Liberal, New Democratic, and Bloc Québécois Parties are of the view that sexual activities between consenting adults that do not harm others, whether or not payment is involved, should not be prohibited by the state. They feel that it is essential to strike a balance between the safety of those selling sexual services — without judging them — and the right of all citizens to live in peace and safety. In order to ensure that both individuals selling sexual services and communities are protected from violence, exploitation and nuisance, the majority of the Subcommittee urges reliance on Criminal Code provisions of general application targeting various forms of exploitation and nuisance, such as public disturbance, indecent exhibition, coercion, sexual assault, trafficking in persons, extortion, kidnapping, etc. The approach proposed by these members is premised on the idea that it is preferable to concentrate our efforts on combating exploitation and violence in the context of prostitution, rather than criminalizing consenting adults who engage in sexual activities for money.


THE (Harper) CONSERVATIVE PARTY’S PERSPECTIVE

  • Prostitution as a Form of Violence, not Commerce
    In contrast, like many witnesses who appeared before the Subcommittee, members from the Conservative Party see prostitution as a degrading and dehumanizing act, often committed and controlled by coercive or opportunistic individuals against victims who are frequently powerless to protect themselves from abuse and exploitation. They believe that the most realistic, compassionate and responsible approach to dealing with prostitution begins by viewing most prostitutes as victims.
  • Questioning Consent and Harmlessness
    Unlike other parties, the Conservatives do not believe it is possible for the state to create isolated conditions in which the consensual provision of sex in exchange for money does not harm others. They believe that all prostitution has a social cost, and that any effort by the state to decriminalize prostitution would impoverish all Canadians — and Canadian women in particular — by signaling that the commodification and invasive exploitation of a woman’s body is acceptable. In their view, such a notion violates the dignity of women and undermines efforts to build a society in which all members are respected equally, regardless of gender. Furthermore, considering that gender-linked social and economic hardships are often what push women into prostitution in the first place, the Conservatives question how often “consent” is truly given out of choice, and not necessity.

    These members also feel that because of the negative elements it attracts, prostitution is unacceptable in any location — commercial, industrial or residential, including massage parlours and private homes. They feel it would be unethical for a government to voluntarily degrade or endanger any community by permitting increased prostitute, john and pimp traffic, and subsequently exposing locals to elevated levels of harassment, luring and drug use.
  • The Conservative Approach
    The Conservative members agree that the status quo with respect to the enforcement of laws is unacceptable, but disagree that decriminalization is the solution. They cite the example of Sweden, which decriminalized prostitution in the 1960s then recriminalized it in 1999 after concluding that decriminalization had in fact entrenched the very problems it was expected to resolve. The Conservatives are also deeply concerned about evidence from other countries that links decriminalization to an increase in both adult and child prostitution, and to a stronger control over prostitution by organized crime.

    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 Conservatives reject any attempt to characterize the Criminal Code provisions listed in Appendix D as adequate protection for either prostitutes or communities. In their view, such an effort is part of a decriminalization agenda that would eliminate tools required to separate communities from prostitution, and prostitutes from exploitation and abuse. While cognizant that solicitation laws may be improved, they believe that marginalization is not a function of the laws themselves, but of attempts to circumvent them. The fact that such attempts are made points to the need for intervention.

    The Conservatives agree that there is a significant public health component to prostitution, but cannot support majority Recommendation 7 insofar as it enables prostitutes to remain in a dangerous and degrading lifestyle. The Conservative Party calls for the establishment of far-reaching educational strategies and programs that are focused on the reduction of all forms of prostitution, and encouraging all prostitutes towards exit programs.
 

john23

Member
Apr 1, 2006
603
0
16
121
www.elsewhere.org
Thanks for the info. As I suspected they had the thing already written. Its just the "conservative" position rather than a balanced view based on the facts. Nice how they've managed to co-op radical feminism, very clever.

We need to speak out against this. I don't know what the most effective way is but they can't get away with this nonsense. This won't help any worker in any way I can guarantee that. Unfortunately, the only people they are going to listen to are workers.

Time to start complaining....
 

OTBn

New member
Jan 2, 2006
568
0
0
Whaaaat! No Harper Conservative apologists have come forward..... c'mon jjinvan, step up to the plate :D
 

LaCreme

RETIRE SP
Mar 19, 2007
484
0
0
IN YOUR WALLET
…the House of Commons Standing Committee for Justice and Human Rights created a Solicitation Subcommittee, which was tasked with reviewing prostitution laws to improve the safety of sex trade workers and the community in which they work.

Yes – there was difficulty in reaching consensus between the various political party members… the 3 year review period culminated with the release of a report in December 2006: http://cmte.parl.gc.ca/Content/HOC/committee/391/just/reports/rp2599932/justrp06/sslrrp06-e.pdf

As discussed previously in other Perb threads… of course, I will take (another) opportunity to highlight, to distinguish, the Harper Conservative government’s perspective/approach as clearly stated within the report’s “recommendation & conclusion” section.

Directly from the report:


  • 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.
  • Striking a Balance without Judging
    Members from the Liberal, New Democratic, and Bloc Québécois Parties are of the view that sexual activities between consenting adults that do not harm others, whether or not payment is involved, should not be prohibited by the state. They feel that it is essential to strike a balance between the safety of those selling sexual services — without judging them — and the right of all citizens to live in peace and safety. In order to ensure that both individuals selling sexual services and communities are protected from violence, exploitation and nuisance, the majority of the Subcommittee urges reliance on Criminal Code provisions of general application targeting various forms of exploitation and nuisance, such as public disturbance, indecent exhibition, coercion, sexual assault, trafficking in persons, extortion, kidnapping, etc. The approach proposed by these members is premised on the idea that it is preferable to concentrate our efforts on combating exploitation and violence in the context of prostitution, rather than criminalizing consenting adults who engage in sexual activities for money.


THE (Harper) CONSERVATIVE PARTY’S PERSPECTIVE

  • Prostitution as a Form of Violence, not Commerce
    In contrast, like many witnesses who appeared before the Subcommittee, members from the Conservative Party see prostitution as a degrading and dehumanizing act, often committed and controlled by coercive or opportunistic individuals against victims who are frequently powerless to protect themselves from abuse and exploitation. They believe that the most realistic, compassionate and responsible approach to dealing with prostitution begins by viewing most prostitutes as victims.
  • Questioning Consent and Harmlessness
    Unlike other parties, the Conservatives do not believe it is possible for the state to create isolated conditions in which the consensual provision of sex in exchange for money does not harm others. They believe that all prostitution has a social cost, and that any effort by the state to decriminalize prostitution would impoverish all Canadians — and Canadian women in particular — by signaling that the commodification and invasive exploitation of a woman’s body is acceptable. In their view, such a notion violates the dignity of women and undermines efforts to build a society in which all members are respected equally, regardless of gender. Furthermore, considering that gender-linked social and economic hardships are often what push women into prostitution in the first place, the Conservatives question how often “consent” is truly given out of choice, and not necessity.

    These members also feel that because of the negative elements it attracts, prostitution is unacceptable in any location — commercial, industrial or residential, including massage parlours and private homes. They feel it would be unethical for a government to voluntarily degrade or endanger any community by permitting increased prostitute, john and pimp traffic, and subsequently exposing locals to elevated levels of harassment, luring and drug use.
  • The Conservative Approach
    The Conservative members agree that the status quo with respect to the enforcement of laws is unacceptable, but disagree that decriminalization is the solution. They cite the example of Sweden, which decriminalized prostitution in the 1960s then recriminalized it in 1999 after concluding that decriminalization had in fact entrenched the very problems it was expected to resolve. The Conservatives are also deeply concerned about evidence from other countries that links decriminalization to an increase in both adult and child prostitution, and to a stronger control over prostitution by organized crime.

    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 Conservatives reject any attempt to characterize the Criminal Code provisions listed in Appendix D as adequate protection for either prostitutes or communities. In their view, such an effort is part of a decriminalization agenda that would eliminate tools required to separate communities from prostitution, and prostitutes from exploitation and abuse. While cognizant that solicitation laws may be improved, they believe that marginalization is not a function of the laws themselves, but of attempts to circumvent them. The fact that such attempts are made points to the need for intervention.

    The Conservatives agree that there is a significant public health component to prostitution, but cannot support majority Recommendation 7 insofar as it enables prostitutes to remain in a dangerous and degrading lifestyle. The Conservative Party calls for the establishment of far-reaching educational strategies and programs that are focused on the reduction of all forms of prostitution, and encouraging all prostitutes towards exit programs.

sorry my english harper i wont vote for him..
regime you cant not fallow sorry about it..
yesturday in the journal de montreal..they were telling to escort to find a agency soon because next week we will have grand prix f1 ! ..
i quit the business in mtl.. the rate are getting ridiculous GFE for 120$ so if the girl work for a agency they leave you with lest then 80 bucks for it..
nasty nasty. i quit the business in montreal because i am not gfe.

beside that harper is a moron i wish i did vote last time!
 
Ashley Madison
Vancouver Escorts