We can’t wait any longer, we want the complete DECRIMINALIZATION of sex work in Canada NOW!
★ In 2013, in Bedford v. Canada, the Superior Court of Canada ruled several criminal offences related to sex work unconstitutional. Despite this, in 2014, the government passed the Protection of Communities and Exploited Persons Act which openly aims to eradicate sex work.
★ Contrary to what it claims to do, this criminalization creates fertile ground for exploitation and the maintenance of unsafe and substandard working conditions, from difficulties in getting paid to the inability to report violence from clients, employers, and police, and does not actually help victimized people to get out or be safe. In addition to sex work laws, immigration laws encourage increased surveillance of migrant workers who may face loss of status, detention and deportation.
★ While the SWers and its allies have reminded the government of the urgency to act over the past few years, the government continues to ignore its responsibilities to protect our safety and fundamental rights. In response to this inaction, the Canadian Alliance for Sex Work Law Reform launched a constitutional challenge in March 2021. Their arguments will be heard the week of October 3 in the Ontario Superior Court.
★ But time is running out as we and our colleagues continue to suffer the violence of this law. We demand the REPEAL of the current law, the DECRIMALIZATION of sex work and a full RECOGNITION of our status as workers, IMMEDIATELY.
To conclude this week of hearings, the Sex Work Autonomous Committee (SWAC) will be holding 𝐚 𝐫𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐨𝐧 𝐅𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐲, 𝐎𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟕𝐭𝐡 𝐚𝐭 𝟔𝐩𝐦, 𝐢𝐧 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐓𝐢𝐨𝐭𝐢à:𝐤𝐞 (𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥) 𝐚𝐭 𝟏 𝐍𝐨𝐭𝐫𝐞-𝐃𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐭 𝐄𝐚𝐬𝐭.
There will be no march
The duration of the rally will be 1H30 to 2H
Dress warmly!
