This report is submitted by a coalition of organizations working to advance sexual and reproductive health and rights for Canada's review during the 65th Session of the UN Committee on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (herein referred to as the 'Committee'), taking place October 25th 2016. The report examines violations of articles 10 and 12 of the Convention on the Elimination of All forms of Discrimination Against Women (the Convention) with respect to comprehensive sexuality education, access to a comprehensive package of sexual and reproductive health information and services (including safe abortion services), the denial of sexual and reproductive health care on moral or religious grounds, the health and safety of sex workers and the criminalization of the non-disclosure of HIV. The List of Issues prepared by the Committee in March 2016 requests that Canada provide information on a number of issues outlined in this report.
Les recherches universitaires et communautaires effectuées au cours des 30 dernières années ont démontré les effets néfastes du droit criminel sur la santé et la sécurité des travailleuses du sexe. Ces recherches établissent que la criminalisation des travailleuses du sexe, de leurs clients et des tierces personnes est l'un des facteurs clés qui contribuent à la violence vécue par les travailleuses du sexe, en plus d'avoir diverses autres conséquences néfastes telles qu'encourager la stigmatisation et la discrimination.
Academic and community-based research over the past thirty years has demonstrated the negative effects of criminal law on the health and safety of sex workers. This research identi es the criminalization of sex workers, their clients and third parties as a key contributor to violence experienced by sex workers, among other repercussions including stigma and discrimination. Various human rights organizations, UN bodies and courts have af rmed this research and concluded that criminalization of the sex industry supports exploitation and other human rights abuses.
Academic and community-based research over the past thirty years has demonstrated the negative effects of criminal law on the health and safety of sex workers. This research identifies criminalization as a key contributor to violence experienced by sex workers, among other repercussions such as stigma and discrimination. In particular, Indigenous and im/migrant women who sell or exchange sex are targeted for violence. Predators are aware that police are not only less inclined to investigate disappearances of sex workers, but they also know that Indigenous and im/migrant women are constantly avoiding police for fear of detection, apprehension, and in the case of im/migrant women, deportation.
Alors que le travail du sexe et les personnes qui y travaillent sont souvent au centre des débats des députés et législateurs au Parlement, nous, les travailleuses du sexe, sommes rarement consultées sur les politiques et les lois qui affectent nos vies. Nous avons peu d'options pour faire entendre nos besoins en tant que communauté par les personnes qui écrivent et renforce les lois contre nous.
While sex work and people who work in the sex industry are often at the centre of debate for elected officials and decision makers in parliament, sex workers are rarely asked to centrally and meaningfully inform policy and laws that impact us. We have very few venues to have our communities' needs meet the ears, pens and papers of people who write and enforce laws against our communities and against us. This is why it's important for us to take part in processes that elect people into positions of power-people who will write and enact policy that impact marginalized communities such as ours.
Les travailleuses du sexe et leurs alliés à travers le Canada se mobilisent couramment à travers des plaidoyers et des campagnes publiques incluant des cartes postales et des lettres, de nombreux appels et des réunions avec des députés de la Chambre des Communes pour démontrer les campagnes socio-médiatiques ainsi que d'autres moyens pour influencer et encourager la réforme des lois sur la prostitution.
Sex workers and allies across Canada are currently mobilized with public and advocacy campaigns that include postcards and letter writing campaigns, phone calls and meetings with MPs, demonstrations, social media campaigns and other ways to influence and encourage prostitution law reform. In addition to the education we need to do with the public and with ourselves along the way, there are two "most important" moments where we can infiltrate and be a part of the legislative process: The Justice Committee of the House of Commons and the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee in the Senate.
Ce guide a été concu par et pour les travailleuses du sexe et leurs alliés. Il nous aidera à faire de l'activisme pour la réforme des lois tout en nous éduquant sur les systèmes et processus de création et d'invalidation des lois et des politiques. Ce guide peut etre utilisé et adapté par les travailleuses du sexe, leurs alliés et tous ceux et celles qui travaillent pour la décriminalisation du travail du sexe au Canada et à travers le monde.