Publication Topic : Sex Work

Ontario turning its back on sex workers – Statement

While Ontario Attorney General Madeleine Meilleur has not yet publicly released her review of Canada’s new, misguided sex work law, we understand – according to a reported statement today by Premier Kathleen Wynne – that this review has found “no clear unconstitutionality” in the socalled Protection of Communities and Exploited Persons Act. We disagree with … Read more

Sex Workers, Unite! (Litigating for Sex Workers’ Freedom of Association in Russia)

The existing legal framework in Russia makes sex work and related activities punishable offenses, leaving sex workers stigmatized, vulnerable to violence, and disproportionally affected by HIV and other sexually transmitted infections. In light of international human rights standards, in particular the jurisprudence of the European Court of Human Rights, we examine in this paper whether … Read more

Letter from the legal community to Ontario Premier and Attorney General re: Protection of Communities and Exploited Persons Act

Today, on the International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers, sex workers and their allies will send a strong message to Canada’s provincial leaders: Reject the federal government’s toxic new law governing sex work, and do not enforce the law while its constitutionality remains in question. 190 legal experts in Canada have signed a … Read more

Media Advisory: At Queen’s Park, sex workers and allies demand action from provincial leaders

On December 17, the International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers, sex workers and their allies will be calling on Canada’s provincial leaders to take action. Sex Professionals of Canada (SPOC), Maggie’s — Toronto Sex Workers’ Action Project, the Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network, COUNTERfit Women’s Harm Reduction Program (South Riverdale Community Health Centre), and … Read more

School’s back — and, unfortunately, so is Bill C-36

From September 9 to 11, testimony on Bill C-36 (the so- called Protection of Communities and Exploited Persons Act) was heard by the Senate Standing Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs. Stéphanie Claivaz-Loranger, Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network Policy Analyst, and network member Kara Gillies presented to the Committee, voicing strong opposition to the bill as it will greatly affect the … Read more

Brief to the Senate Standing Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs regarding Bill C-36, the Protection of Communities and Exploited Persons Act

This brief compares the Criminal Code provisions proposed by Bill C-36 against the Criminal Code provisions struck down by the Supreme Court of Canada in R v. Bedford. It explains how the new law, if enacted, will replicate the effects of the old law on the security of sex workers and, as such, reproduce the harms the Supreme Court of … Read more