{"id":2149,"date":"2013-06-20T16:01:06","date_gmt":"2013-06-20T16:01:06","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.aidslaw.ca\/newsite\/?page_id=2149"},"modified":"2022-11-04T20:37:56","modified_gmt":"2022-11-05T00:37:56","slug":"sex-work","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.hivlegalnetwork.ca\/site\/our-work\/sex-work\/?lang=en","title":{"rendered":"Sex Work"},"content":{"rendered":"

Overview<\/h2>\n

In Canada and many other countries, sex workers face extreme human rights abuses. Laws and their enforcement often contribute to the stigma, marginalization, discrimination, violence, and lack of access to basic services, such as police protection and health care, experienced by sex workers.<\/p>\n

Efforts to improve the health and safety of sex workers must be based on a recognition of sex workers\u2019 individual agency, dignity, worth and right to organize. Decriminalizing sex work is an important first step. So long as sex work is criminal in Canada, sex workers cannot enjoy their international and Charter rights to freedom of expression, freedom of association, security of the person, right to work, and right to enjoy just and favourable conditions of work.<\/p>\n

We consult and work closely with<\/b> organizations run by and for sex workers, and we encourage all governments to do so, in order to bring about reforms that respect and protect the health and human rights of sex workers.<\/p>\n

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Submission to the United Nations Human Rights Committee: Review of Canada at 145th Session<\/a><\/h3>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t
\r\n\t\t\t\t\tPublished: February 3, 2026\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t
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The HIV Legal Network made this submission to the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Committee (\u201cCommittee\u201d) in advance of its review of Canada\u2019s periodic report, detailing our concerns about Canada\u2019s implementation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). This submission provides information on violations of Articles 2, 3, 6, 7, 9, and … Read more<\/a><\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t

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Securing Rights – 2024\/25 Annual Report<\/a><\/h3>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t
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We hope you\u2019ll read our 2024-25 annual report \u2014 Securing Rights: Using Our Values to Meet the Moment \u2014 to find out more about the kind of positive change we\u2019re making and get a glimpse of what we hope to accomplish in 2026.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t

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2025 Election Candidate Questions \u2013 Response from the Bloc Qu\u00e9b\u00e9cois<\/a><\/h3>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t
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On Friday, April 11, the HIV Legal Network\u00a0wrote to the party leaders in the Canadian Federal election\u00a0with\u00a0key questions on their party\u2019s positions on issues related to HIV, human rights, and the law.\u00a0 Download the response from the Bloc Qu\u00e9b\u00e9cois, received on April 16, 2025 (French only):<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t

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2025 Election Candidate Questions – Response from the Green Party of Canada<\/a><\/h3>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t
\r\n\t\t\t\t\tPublished: April 23, 2025\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t
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On Friday, April 11, the HIV Legal Network\u00a0wrote to the party leaders in the Canadian Federal election\u00a0with key questions on their party\u2019s positions on issues related to HIV, human rights, and the law.\u00a0 Download the response from the Green Party of Canada, received on April 22, 2025:<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t

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Criminalization of HIV and Sex Work in Western and Central Africa<\/a><\/h3>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t
\r\n\t\t\t\t\tPublished: April 3, 2025\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t
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This paper aims to explore the intersection of HIV criminalization and sex work to better understand how HIV criminalization affects sex workers, but also how the different forms of HIV criminalization and sex work reinforce each other and exacerbate violence and discrimination against sex workers living with HIV in the region. This project is a … Read more<\/a><\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\r\n<\/div>\r\n\n

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Media Release: Sex workers are deeply disappointed with the Ontario Superior Court decision dismissing systemic harms experienced<\/a><\/h3>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t
\r\n\t\t\t\t\tPublished: November 2, 2023\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t
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SEPTEMBER 18, 2023\u00a0BY\u00a0CASWLR Monday, September 18, 2023 \u2014 Today, the Ontario Superior Court released its decision in\u00a0CASWLR v Attorney General (Canada), a case that sought to strike down harmful provisions of the\u00a0Protection of Communities and Exploited People Act\u00a0(PCEPA) on the grounds that they violate sex workers\u2019\u00a0Charter\u00a0rights. Sex workers across Canada are devastated to learn that … Read more<\/a><\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t

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WORLD AIDS DAY 2022: IT\u2019S TIME TO EQUALIZE, IN CANADA AND BEYOND<\/a><\/h3>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t
\r\n\t\t\t\t\tPublished: November 30, 2022\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t
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November 30, 2022 \u2014 Today, the HIV Legal Network marks World AIDS Day by joining with the United Nations (UN) in a call to governments around the world to reform laws, policies, and practices that create and exacerbate the stigma faced by people living with HIV. With this year\u2019s theme being \u201cEqualize,\u201d we are focused … Read more<\/a><\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t

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MEDIA RELEASE: GOVERNMENT FAILURE TO RESPECT SEX WORKERS\u2019 HUMAN RIGHTS FORCES SEX WORKERS BACK TO COURT<\/a><\/h3>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t
\r\n\t\t\t\t\tPublished: September 29, 2022\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t
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GOVERNMENT FAILURE TO RESPECT SEX WORKERS\u2019 HUMAN RIGHTS FORCES SEX WORKERS BACK TO COURT For interviews or a recording of the press conference, please contact Canadian Alliance for Sex Work Law Reform, contact@sexworklawreform.com, 514.916.2598 Sex Worker Legal Media Briefing: Monday, October 3, 2022, 1pm, 330 University Avenue (Ontario Superior Court) September 29, 2022 \u2013 The … Read more<\/a><\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t

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MEDIA RELEASE: TOWN OF NEWMARKET TARGETS AND SHUTS DOWN ASIAN MASSAGE BUSINESSES<\/a><\/h3>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t
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TOWN OF NEWMARKET TARGETS AND\u00a0SHUTS DOWN ASIAN MASSAGE BUSINESSES Groups calling on municipality to end the injustice and repeal new, racist by-law For immediate release May 5, 2022 \u2013 Toronto \u2013 A group of more than 50 allied organizations \u2014 as well as community members, activists, academics, and others \u2014 who are committed to human … Read more<\/a><\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t

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MEDIA STATEMENT: WORLD AIDS DAY 2021: FORTY YEARS OF HIV, FORTY YEARS OF PROGRESS<\/a><\/h3>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t
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WORLD AIDS DAY 2021: FORTY YEARS OF HIV, FORTY YEARS OF PROGRESS The following can be attributed to the HIV Legal Network. \u00a0 November 30, 2021 \u2013 Toronto \u2013 Tomorrow is World AIDS Day \u2014 a day to reflect on the current state of HIV and AIDS in the world, where we started, and how … Read more<\/a><\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\r\n<\/div>\r\n\n

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Overview In Canada and many other countries, sex workers face extreme human rights abuses. Laws and their enforcement often contribute to the stigma, marginalization, discrimination, violence, and lack of access to basic services, such as police protection and health care, experienced by sex workers. Efforts to improve the health and safety of sex workers must … Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":22735,"parent":9,"menu_order":130,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-2149","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hivlegalnetwork.ca\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2149","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hivlegalnetwork.ca\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hivlegalnetwork.ca\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hivlegalnetwork.ca\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hivlegalnetwork.ca\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2149"}],"version-history":[{"count":14,"href":"https:\/\/www.hivlegalnetwork.ca\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2149\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":22959,"href":"https:\/\/www.hivlegalnetwork.ca\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2149\/revisions\/22959"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hivlegalnetwork.ca\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/9"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hivlegalnetwork.ca\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/22735"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hivlegalnetwork.ca\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2149"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}