Resistance and Activism

Activism is the path to change, and many people have started to protest in favour of decriminalizing or legalizing the sex trade, especially prostitution. Here are three stories of people working towards such change;

Three prostitutes in Toronto, with the assistance of their lawyer, Alan Young are making a “constitutional challenge to overturn the laws governing the sex trade” (Hanes). While prostitution in Canada is not explicitly illegal, many acts surrounding it are. These laws do not prevent prostitution from occurring but only push it ‘underground’ where women face a great deal of violence. Young has expressed hope that the challenge will be heard within 12 to 18 months (Hanes). Valerie Scott, the executive director of Sex Professionals of Canada has publicly supported the case.

The Sex Worker Alliance of Toronto was created in 1992 with the goal of achieving equal rights for sex workers in the form of fair wages, and safe, healthy working conditions (“History”). S.W.A.T. provides education, free condoms, and opposes any laws against the sex trade. Volunteers who work within the organization provide “outreach and court watch” (“About S.W.A.T.”). They are open to supporters of, as well as current and former sex trade workers of all kinds; strippers, prostitutes, etc.

Libby Davies, NDP MPP for Vancouver East, was successful in winning support from Parliament for her Private Members Motion, M-192 in February 2003 (“Libby Succeeds”). The result was a report on Canadian prostitution laws from the Parliamentary Committee on Justice and Human Rights. “The report outlines the failure of the criminal code to protect sex workers” and seems to support decriminalization of the sex trade (“Statement”). Davies herself supports a removal of all laws against prostitution.


Works Cited:

“A Brief History of Sex Trade Activism in Toronto.” Sex Workers Alliance of Toronto. 11 Feb 2001. 5 April 2007. http://www.walnet.org/csis/groups/swat/torontohistory.html

“About S.W.A.T.” Sex Workers Alliance of Toronto. 23 March 2007. 5 April 2007. http://www.walnet.org/csis/groups/swat/about_swat.html

Hanes, Allison. “Prostitutes Seek Legalization of Sex Trade.” National Post. 22 Mar 2007. 23 March 2007. http://www.canada.com/windsorstar/news/story.html?id=1ee7fd31-6ce6-471c-ad21-c00ff0f3cbf9&k=32076

“Libby Davies’ Statement on Missing Women Murder Trial.” Libby Davies: Member of Parliament, Vancouver East. 22 Jan. 2007. 5 April 2007. http://www.libbydavies.ca/mpupdate/missingwomen1.html

“Libby Succeeds: Parliamentary Committee to Review Sex Trade Laws.” Libby Davies: Member of Parliament, Vancouver East. 9 Feb. 2003. 5 April 2007. http://www.libbydavies.ca/mpupdate/missingwomen3.html