- Press Releases

Condemnation grows as more sex workers’ groups speak out against police harassment, urge Parliament to go a different route

Wed, 29 Jan 2014 09:23:00 -0500

Condemnation grows as more sex workers’ groups speak out against police harassment, urge Parliament to go a different route

January 29, 2014. Toronto-- Big Susie’s, Sex Professionals of Canada, Sex Workers Action Group Kingston and Maggie’s: The Toronto Sex Workers Action Group and Stella join fellow sex workers’ organizations in condemning recent police activities that use deception and intimidation to investigate trafficking and exploitation, driving the sex trade further underground and away from safety.

In cities across Canada, male officers are posing as clients to book appointments with over 300 indoor sex workers. Several officers then show up at the worker's door, demanding entry in order to check for signs of trafficking or coercion. Once inside, officers bombard the worker (usually a woman) with personal questions, demand to see ID and search the worker’s premises and possessions.

Tragically, such duplicitous and intimidating policing tactics hinder the important goal of surfacing actual cases of exploitation and coercion. "Part of our work as a sex workers' rights and advocacy organization is to support anybody who might find themselves in a coercive situation,” shares Phoenix from Maggie’s. “I can tell you that these sorts of deceitful and menacing approaches further degrade trust between sex workers and the police, and stop people in exploitative situations from seeking and accepting police assistance.“

This policing strategy seems to contradict the recent Supreme Court decision that insisted that the law cannot be used to further endanger the security and safety of sex workers. As Valerie Scott from Sex Professionals of Canada points out, “Police intimidation pushes us further into the shadows, and sets up the same kind of circumstances that the Supreme Court just ruled are unacceptable.” Sex workers express feeling intimidated by the current police tactic and coerced into allowing police into their homes and worksites. Privacy and dignity are compromised. “I understand the importance of identifying and stopping abuse,” says Emma, a sex worker in the GTA. “But scaring and intimidating women isn’t the way to do it. I mean, several uniformed cops at my door asking to be let in? While I'm standing there in my lingerie and heels? I would likely let them in just so my neighbours and landlord won't know what's going on. The last thing I need is to lose my home. Not to mention it scaring off clients and me losing money. It’s not like this is some minor inconvenience."

We urge politicians and law enforcement to recognize the unintended yet serious harm caused by poorly designed laws and tactics intended to fight exploitation. "As Parliament tackles prostitution law reform over the next few months, they should be cautious not to develop laws that, in the name of helping women, actually compromise their safety and well-being," comments Amy Lebovitch, a sex worker and activist with Sex Professionals of Canada. “Otherwise, we will have more of the sort of deception and intimidation we are seeing with this recent policing tactic – and worse.“

Laws that could cause such damage include those that do not criminalize sex workers directly but aggressively target their managers and clients. As Kara Gillies, a sex worker and advocate, says, “The problem is that there is no way to go after our clients and managers without hurting our income and security. And those approaches harm not only us but also the majority of clients and managers who are benevolent, not exploitative.”

Sex workers would like to have other strategies developed to decrease exploitation and increase safety. Mz. Scream from Big Susie’s explains: “In fact, sex workers are well equipped to work together with business owners to build a better business practices model including a minimum set of health and safety labour standards, and an official complaints process so that we can weed out the bad clients and managers under our own governance.”

Collectively we are calling on local and national police forces to stop using deceptive and intimidating tactics against sex workers. As Chanelle Gallant, Spokesperson for Maggie’s states, “Harassing sex workers in this manner oversteps acceptable police conduct and undermines everyone’s right to fair application of the law.”

###

CONTACTS:

Big Susie’s: Big Susie's is a working group by and for sex workers in Hamilton and the surrounding areas. Our purpose is to fight back against the stigma and silence that degrades, devalues and dehumanizes sex workers and their work. Big Susie's is a sex-positive and sex worker-positive organization that advocates for the total decriminalization of sex work to allow sex workers self-determination of their own bodies.

www.bigsusies.com [email protected]">[email protected]

Maggie's: The Toronto Sex Workers Action Project is an organization run for and by local sex workers. Our mission is to assist sex workers in our efforts to live and work with safety and dignity. We are founded on the belief that in order to improve our circumstances, sex workers must control our own lives and destinies.

Contact: Chanelle Gallant [email protected], 416 964-0150

Sex Professionals of Canada (SPOC) is a sex worker activist group whose main objective is to work toward the decriminalization of sex work through political activism and public awareness.

Contact: Amy Lebovitch [email protected]">[email protected] - 416.880.6034 - www.spoc.ca

Sex Workers Action Group Kingston (SWAG) is a sex positive group run by sex workers, people with lived experience, allies, and agency members who strive to improve the lives of sex workers in Kingston and surrounding area. www.swagkingston.com [email protected]">[email protected]

Stella, l’amie de Maimie (Montréal, Quebec). Stella is Montréal’s organization run by and for sex workers. Since 1995, Stella has fought for better working conditions for sex workers working in all sectors of the industry, promoting health and human rights

Stop the Arrest: Sault Saint Marie

A Win For Sex Workers--A Win for Equality, Safety and Justice

Thu, 19 Dec 2013 22:36:00 -0500

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

December 20, 2013--The Supreme Court of Canada has released a unanimous decision striking down all three prostitution laws, paving the way for more safety, justice and equality for sex workers in Canada.

After years of legal battles, the three sex workers who challenged the laws prohibiting many activities related to sex work have been completely victorious.

“We send our congratulations to Terri-Jean Bedford, Valerie Scot and Amy Leibovitch for their tenacity in insisting that sex workers deserve better. This is a win for sex workers globally and locally”--Kara Gillies, a long time sex worker and activist for law reform

“Now the work begins of making sure that sex workers are at the table for all decisions made about our lives. We must ensure that we never go back--and this means stopping any attempts to re-criminalize sex work or target our clients. We will continue to fight for full equality and justice and oppose any attempts to criminalize any part of the sex industry including our clients.” --Chloe, current sex worker and advocate

“For decriminalization of prostitution to truly make a difference in our lives, sex workers must be in leadership roles for all decision making about regulations that impact our safety and livelihood including: zoning and licensing, control over the conditions and locations of our work, human rights and labour rights protections, the right to organize as workers. --Candy, current sex worker with street experience

“Sex workers are incredibly diverse and we want to ensure that this decision means full access to legal protections and services without fear. We will be working with our community and policy makers to make sure that all sex workers including migrants without legal working status are able to access essential services (housing, health, education, social services, emergency services) without fear of being detained or deported.” --Bobby Law, Board Chair, Maggie’s: Toronto Sex Workers Action Project

“We are a strong and resilient community and will continue to fight for our right to work and live in safety and dignity.”-- Lux, former sex worker and advocate

Join us at 2 pm today at Allan Gardens for a victory celebration!

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Contact: Chanelle Gallant [email protected], 416 964-0150

Stand With Sex Workers: Honouring Sex Worker Resistance

Thu, 19 Dec 2013 10:12:00 -0500

After the Bedford decision, sex workers share their stories about what keeps us fighting!

TORONTO RALLY

Friday December 20

2 PM

Allan Gardens

The Supreme Court of Canada will release its historic decision on the Bedford case on December 20th. The Court will decide whether the Criminal Code laws prohibiting bawdy houses, living on the avails and communicating violate the constitutional rights of sex workers.

Toronto sex workers and our supporters will come together to share stories about what keeps us going and who inspires us to keep fighting for our right to live and work in safety and dignity!

Contact: Chanelle Gallant, 416 964 0150 [email protected]

Endorsed by:

Bad Date Coalition

Maggie's: Toronto Sex Workers Action Project

HIV-AIDS Legal Network

Canadian and international sex workers denied leave to intervene in Supreme Court Case on Prostitution Law

Thu, 02 May 2013 09:53:00 -0400

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE.

Canadian and international sex workers denied leave to intervene in Supreme Court Case on Prostitution Law

May 2, 2013 -- Supreme Court Justice Richard Wagner has denied several prominent sex worker groups the opportunity to intervene in the Bedford v. Canada appeal, to be heard at the Supreme Court of Canada on June 13th, 2013.

The constitutional challenge to the prostitution laws could strike down laws that have documented direct and negative impact on the lives and working conditions of sex workers, bosses, security people and other third parties as well as the lives of sex workers’ clients and partners.

All six sex worker groups seeking to intervene proposed to argue in support of the repeal of the three challenged prostitution laws that criminalize sex workers, our clients and the people we hire, work with and work for, on the grounds that these laws contravene our rights to liberty and security.

The POWER-Maggie’s-Stella coalition was the only intervener applicant representing sex workers from all sectors of the sex industry and multiple geographic regions in Canada. Our voices are essential to understanding the full impact of criminalization on both street and indoor sex workers, and particularly the impact of the criminalization of third parties (living on the avails) on all sex workers. Kara Gillies, a sex worker and long-time member of Maggie’s reflects that, “When POWER and Maggie’s intervened in Bedford at the Ontario Court of Appeal, we were able to share sex workers' perspectives and experiences that the Court would otherwise not have heard. It’s a shame that this time around, both sex workers and the judiciary will miss out.”

Émilie Laliberté, director at Stella and spokesperson for the Canadian sex worker coalition, states “The Supreme Court of Canada's unwillingness to take the voices and perspectives of sex workers into account -- in a hearing on laws with a major impact on their safety and dignity -- is incomprehensible to us.”

The International sex worker coalition was made of up three national sex worker organizations from Australia (Scarlet Alliance), Sweden (Rose Alliance), and the New Zealand Prostitutes’ Collective. “Collectively, we have expertise on a range of legislative frameworks for sex work, both criminal and decriminalized, and are well-positioned to speak to the negative impact of any form of criminalization on the safety and dignity of sex workers, our partners and loved ones, our clients and the third parties involved in sex work”, says Catherine Healy, coordinator of the New Zealand Prostitutes’ Collective and representative of the International Sex Worker Coalition. Sex work was decriminalized in New Zealand in 2003.

Katherine Van Meyl, member of POWER also states, “Sex workers are the real experts on the sex industry and know first-hand the impact of the criminal law on our safety and human rights. It is extremely concerning to us that the Supreme Court of Canada proposes to examine this case without the input of a broad cross-section of those most affected.”

Also rejected from intervening in the case was a national coalition of women’s anti-violence agencies that provide frontline services to sex workers, the Feminist Coalition.

POWER, Maggie's, Stella, Scarlet Alliance, Rose Alliance and the New Zealand Prostitutes’ Collective will continue to stand in solidarity with those challenging the prostitution laws and to advocate on behalf of sex workers.

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POWER-Maggie's-Stella Coalition Spokesperson:
Émilie Laliberté, Stella
514-285-1599
[email protected]" target="_blank">[email protected]
Stella is a community organization created and run by and for sex workers in Montreal. At Stella we provide support and information to sex workers so that we may live and work in safety and with dignity.

POWER Spokesperson:
Katherine Van Meyl
613-304-7427
[email protected]" target="_blank">[email protected]
POWER (Prostitutes of Ottawa-Gatineau Work, Educate and Resist) is a sex worker-led group that works for the human and labour rights of sex workers, envisioning a society in which sex work is valued as legitimate work and sex workers can practice their professions free of harassment, discrimination and violence.

Maggie’s is a support and advocacy organization run by and for sex workers based in Toronto with the mandate to support sex workers in their efforts to work and live in safety and dignity.

POUR DIFFUSION IMMÉDIATE : Français suivra...

La Cour Suprême du Canada refuse d’entendre des travailleuses du sexe du Canada et de l’international

Un des juges de la Cour Suprême du Canada, Richard Wagner, refuse d’entendre plusieurs organisations de travailleuses du sexe en rejetant leurs demandes d’intervenir dans l’appel du cas Bedford v. Canada, qui sera entendu par la Cour Suprême du Canada le 13 juin prochain.

Cette contestation judiciaire pourrait invalider certains articles de lois sur la prostitution dont les nombreux impacts ont été documentés. Ces lois affectent directement et négativement les vies et les conditions de travail des travailleuses et travailleurs du sexe, des gérant-es, de gardes de sécurité et autres tierces personnes, en plus d’affecter nos vies familiales et conjugales.

Les six groupes de travailleuses du sexe ayant appliqué pour un statut d’intervenant ont mis de l’avant des arguments afin d’appuyer le retrait des 3 sections contestées du code criminel qui criminalisent les travailleuses et travailleurs du sexe, nos clients et les personnes que nous engageons, qui nous engagent ou avec qui nous travaillons, le tout sur la base que ces lois contreviennent à nos droits à la liberté et à la sécurité.

La coalition canadienne formée des groupes communautaires POWER, Maggie’s et Stella était la seule coalition désirant intervenir en Cour Suprême qui représente des travailleuses du sexe de tous les secteurs de l’industrie du sexe, en plus de provenir de plusieurs régions du Canada. Nos voix sont essentielles pour faire comprendre l’étendu des impacts de la criminalisation tant sur les travailleuses et travailleurs du sexe de la rue, qu’envers celles et ceux qui travaillent de l’intérieur. Nous sommes aussi les mieux placé-es pour cerner et définir les impacts de la criminalisation des personnes qui nous offrent des services afin de rendre notre travail plus sécuritaire. Kara Gillies, une travailleuse du sexe membre depuis plusieurs années de l’organisme Maggie’s, fait valoir que ‘‘lorsque POWER et Maggie’s sont intervenus dans le cas Bedford au niveau de la Cour d’appel de l’Ontario, nous avons pu partager les perspectives de travailleuses du sexe et nos multiples expériences, qui autrement n’auraient pas été entendues par la Cour. C’est une honte que cette fois-ci, la Cour, les juges et son audience ne pourront pas nous entendre.’’

Émilie Laliberté, directrice de l’organisme Stella et porte-parole de la coalition canadienne des travailleuses du sexe renchérit: ‘‘le refus de la Cour Suprême du Canada de prendre en compte les voix et perspectives uniques des travailleuses du sexe, dans une cause qui a des impacts majeurs sur notre sécurité, liberté et dignité, est inconcevable pour nous.’’

La coalition internationale est composée de trois organisations nationales de travailleuses et travailleurs du sexe dont Scarlet Alliance en Australie, la Rose Alliance en Suède, ainsi que le New Zealand Prostitutes Collective (NZPC). ‘‘Ensemble, nous avons une expertise importante concernant plusieurs modèles législatifs, et ce, tant pour les modèles de criminalisation que ceux de décriminalisation. Nous sommes bien positionnées pour parler des effets négatifs de toute forme de criminalisation sur la sécurité et la dignité des travailleuses et travailleurs du sexe, sur nos partenaires et nos êtres chers, nos clients et toute personne qui travaille de près avec nous’’, soutient Catherine Healy, coordonnatrice du NZPC et représentante de la coalition internationale des travailleuses du sexe. Le travail du sexe est décriminalisé en Nouvelle-Zélande depuis 2003.

Katherine Van Meyl de POWER poursuit : ‘‘les travailleuses et travailleurs du sexe sont les vrai-es expert-es de l’industrie du sexe et connaissent de près les impacts des lois criminelles sur leur sécurité et leurs droits humains. Il est extrêmement déconcertant que la Cour Suprême du Canada propose d’examiner ce cas sans l’avis d’une grande diversité des personnes directement affectées.’’

Soulignons que la Cour a également refusé d’entendre une coalition féministe pancanadienne rassemblant des groupes luttant contre la violence et qui offrent des services de première ligne aux travailleuses du sexe.

POWER, Maggie’s, Stella, Scarlet Alliance, Rose Alliance et le New Zealand Prostitutes’ Collective restons solidaires avec celles et ceux qui contesteront les lois sur la prostitution et nous poursuivons notre lutte pour les droits des travailleuses et travailleurs du sexe.

Porte-parole de la coalition POWER-Maggie’s-Stella

Émilie Laliberté, 514.285.1599
[email protected]" target="_blank">[email protected]
Stella est un organisme communautaire créé par et pour les travailleuses du sexe à Montréal. À Stella, nous offrons support et informations aux travailleuses du sexe afin qu’elles puissent travailler en santé, en sécurité et avec dignité.

POWER
Katherine Van Meyl, 613.304.7427
POWER (Prostitue of Ottawa-Gatineau Work, Educate & Resist / Prostitué-es d’Ottawa-Gatineau Travaillent, Éduquent et Résistent) est un groupe de travailleuses et travailleurs du sexe qui lutte pour les droits humains et le droit au travail des travailleuses et travailleurs du sexe et qui envisage une société qui considère le travail du sexe comme un travail légitime et où les travailleuses et travailleurs du sexe peuvent travailler sans craindre le harcèlement, la discrimination et la violence.

MAGGIE’S
Maggie’s est une organisation par et pour les travailleuses du sexe qui offre support et informations à Toronto avec le mandat de supporter les travailleuses du sexe pour qu’elles vivent et travaillent en sécurité et avec dignité.

Federal Conservatives Continue to Jeopardize Women's Lives and Neighborhood Safety

Thu, 26 Apr 2012 13:01:00 -0400

Maggie's: The Toronto Sex Workers Action Project is deeply dismayed that the Federal Conservatives have chosen to continue to put women's lives in jeopardy by appealing the Ontario Court of Appeals decision on prostitution which would have made it safer for sex workers to live and work. 

Two levels of Ontario courts have concluded that the laws against prostitution are dangerous as they prevent sex workers from taking the most basic security precautions around their work. "We're disappointed with the government's decision. In spite of the evidence, the federal government is pushing to keep laws in place that jeopardize women's lives. We look forward to seeing the rights and security of sex workers recognized by the Supreme Court of Canada" said Kara Gillies a long time sex worker and activist for law reform Kara Gillies added that "The government is cynically playing on peoples fear and misunderstandings about sex work. In reality, there is no threat. Sex workers and clients are already integrated into all levels of society, overwhelmingly without disruption. In areas of the world where there are no criminal laws around prostitution, there are regulatory models and supports that exists for the wellbeing of workers and the communities in which they live and work."

"I deserve respect and safety. Right now, I can't access safety or be respected in my work with these laws in place. I face oppression and discrimination and I want more power over how I do sex work." Monica Forrester, long-time community activist and sex worker.

"The conservatives are not listening to the people most affected by the current legal framework--sex workers. The current laws compromise sex workers safety and are not good for the public interest, communities or neighborhoods. Organizations with expertise in areas of public policy, law and sex work have been working for many years developing regulatory models outside of the criminal legal system that support the wellbeing of both sex workers and communities" Emily van der Muelen, Assistant Professor, Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology, Ryerson University.

"What we are seeing today is an almost identical repeat of the public's reaction to the partial decriminalization of homosexuality back in 1969. Unfounded, odious, and inflammatory statements about the inherent dangers of sex work and the detrimental effects this decriminalization will have on society are everywhere. And yet, much like the case of 'homosexuality' in the last 40 years we will see that, really, what people decide to do on their own time has no negative effects on people's lives or communities." said a representative of Queer Ontario

 "We call on the federal government to stop backing laws that endanger women's lives and listen to the evidence about creating neighborhoods and communities that are safe for everyone" Keisha Scott, Executive Director, Maggie's: Toronto Sex Workers Action Project

"The conservatives are being alarmist. We know that this law does not in any way compromise public safety. In fact, the current law is not good for the public interest, community, neighborhoods. Organizations with expertise in areas of public policy, law and sex work have been working for many years developing regulator models outside of the criminal legal system that support the wellbeing of both sex workers and communities" Emily van der Muelen, Assistant Professor, Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology, Ryerson University.

Media contacts: Chanelle Gallant, Communications Coordinator 416 964 0150 | maggiestoronto.ca

Ontario Court leaves most vulnerable sex workers unprotected

Mon, 26 Mar 2012 11:52:00 -0400

In a ruling which many sex workers are calling a disappointment, the Ontario Court of appeal today released a decision that upheld the law against communication for the purposes of prostitution, modified the law against living off the avails of prostitution and struck down the law against operating a common bawdy house.

“The vast majority of all prostitution arrests are under the communication law. The failure to strike down the communication law means that the most vulnerable sex workers will continue to face arrest, police harassment, prosecution and violence.” –Emily van der Muelen, Assistant Professor, in the Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology, Ryerson University.

"I reject the conclusion that street work is so bad for neighborhoods that stopping it is more important than protecting women's lives." -Lux, a current sex worker with street experience.

“This is a letdown for the most vulnerable sex workers who are largely street, Indigenous and transgendered sex workers” –Keisha Scott, Coordinator, Maggie’s: Toronto Sex Workers Action Project

While striking down the bawdy house law may increase security for some sex workers, on it’s own, it is simply not enough. "The anti prostitution laws work together to jeopardize sex workers safety. it is not tenable to have a safe place to see a client if you can’t screen him first or clearly set out what you offer, your rates and your safe sex requirements. Further, many street-based workers don’t have access to an indoor place to work." - Kara Gillies a long time sex worker and activist for law reform

Maggie’s: Toronto Sex Workers Action Project is Canada’s oldest sex worker run organization dedicated to assisting sex workers in our right to live and work with safety and dignity.

Contacts:

Keisha Scott – Coordinator- Maggie’s 416-964-0150

www.maggiestoronto.ca

Indigenous People In The Sex Trade: Our Life, Our Bodies, Our Realities

Tue, 14 Feb 2012 09:46:00 -0500

Press release in support of the 21^st annual February 14^th Missing Women’s Rally

-- February 14th, 2012 - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE –

ABOUT THE PROJECT: The Aboriginal Sex Work Education and Outreach Project (ASWEOP) is a partnership between Maggie’s: The Toronto Sex Workers Action Project and the Native Youth Sexual Health Network. It is run by and for Indigenous people in the sex trade. This project is for street based sex workers of all genders and of Indigenous descent.

As Indigenous community members we strongly support all those hosting memorial marches across the country for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women. As we are participating locally in the Toronto Rally to Honor Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, we have chosen to make connections between the same colonial injustices that not only continue to allow for genocide but also oppress our right to self-determination over our bodies, our choices and our work.

On February 14^th we remember and honor all Indigenous Women including Indigenous People in the sex trade who have gone missing or have been murdered. We remember all women including our Trans, Two-Spirit, and gender non-conforming sisters. Many of those who have been lost have been a part of our communities and families.

We support the demand by Vancouver and other national Aboriginal women’s organizations for the United Nations to investigate the hundreds of missing and murdered Indigenous women. Vancouver’s February 14th Women’s Memorial March Committee and the Downtown Eastside Women’s Centre, along with the Feminist Alliance for International Action (FAIFA) and the Native Women’s Association of Canada (NWAC) have recently made submissions to the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), to investigate the lack of action on behalf of the government.

We support the need for a visit by CEDAW members with the direct and meaningful participation of Indigenous women advocates, people in the sex trade and family members of missing and murdered women as the discrimination from the police and judicial systems continue to increase.

Part of remembering and honoring this February 14th is the release of the ASWEOP statement “Indigenous People In the Sex Trade – Our Life, Our Bodies, Our Realities”. This statement was created by Indigenous People in the sex trade to speak to the seeds that we continue to plant in our communities as resistance to violence:

“ASWEOP brings together Indigenous people in the sex trade community to recognize the Indigenous women who have gone missing or been murdered as a part of ongoing systemic oppression. It allows us to honor current Indigenous and Two-Spirit People in the sex trade while acknowledging those who have lost their lives due to ongoing colonial abuse.”

We hope that this statement is shared widely among community, sex workers, and community-based organizations. It can be accessed at www.maggiestoronto.ca

Media contacts:

Erin Konsmo, The Native Youth Sexual Health Network
[email protected]">[email protected]

ASWEOP, Maggie’s The Toronto Sex Workers Action Project

[email protected]">[email protected]

Maggie's to argue at Ontario appeal

Tue, 14 Jun 2011 22:38:00 -0400

SEX WORKER GROUPS SUPPORT DECRIMINALIZATION IN COURT
OF APPEAL

TORONTO (June 15 2011)— Maggie's: The Toronto Sex Workers Action Project
and POWER, an Ottawa-based sex worker rights group will argue in favour of
decriminalization of sex work in the Ontario Court of Appeal tomorrow. Both
organizations were granted intervenor status opposing the Canadian and Ontario
government’s appeal of Justice Himel's landmark ruling last year striking down
three of Canada's prostitution laws as unconstitutional.

Justice Himel ruled on September 28, 2010 that federal prostitution laws force
sex workers to choose between protecting themselves from harm and protecting
themselves from arrest, and concluded that the harm caused to sex workers by the
laws was “simply too high a price to pay for the alleviation of social nuisance.”

“POWER and Maggie's are happy to add our voices to those of the sex workers
who originally challenged the prostitution laws,” says Dr. Chris Bruckert, Chair of
POWER and a noted expert on sex work in the University of Ottawa's Department
of Criminology. “In light of Justice Himel's unambiguous conclusion that the
prostitution laws are unconstitutional, infringe on the rights of sex workers and
impede their ability to keep themselves safe, I am appalled that the Ontario and
Canadian governments have appealed her decision.”

“Much of the violence and abuse experienced by sex workers is a direct result of
the laws themselves,” added Kara Gillies of Maggie's. “Even Parliament in 2006
acknowledged that the status quo is unacceptable. This appeal perpetuates that
status quo while it works its way through the system. We call on the governments
of Canada and Ontario to drop their appeals and start working with sex workers to
realize our right to work in safety and equality.”

Chanelle Gallant, Communications Coordinator, Maggie’s: The Toronto
Sex Workers Action Project (English 416-708-0801)

Chris Bruckert, Chair of POWER (Prostitutes of Ottawa/Gatineau Work
Educate Resist) (English 819-661-3785)

Frédérique Chabot, vice-chair of POWER (Prostitutes of Ottawa/Gatineau
Work Educate Resist) (French and English 613-875-0851)

Statement about the death of Kera Freeland

Wed, 23 Mar 2011 14:32:00 -0400

Maggie's: the Toronto Sex Workers Action Project respectfully offers our condolences to the friends, family and community of Kera Freeland.

We must also condemn the recent media coverage of her death, which exemplifies sensationalistic, lurid and exploitative journalism.

Ms. Freeland was a 20-year-old woman who we believe was also an escort. So far we have no evidence that her death is linked to her work nor that she was killed by a client or anyone connected to the sex industry. We also have no evidence that Ms. Freeland was open about her work to her family and friends. Regardless, her death is being feasted on by those who are attributing her death to her work and her "lifestyle" and her privacy is being disregarded entirely.

We regard this as sexist victim-blaming and discrimination against sex workers. We're confident that the same associations between work and violence would not have been made if Ms. Freeland were in any other profession. If her death is work related, it is further evidence that lack of rights and criminalization put sex worker's lives at risk.

In our 25 years, we have seen the media and politicians shamelessly appropriate violence against sex workers (whether the violence was work related or not) and use it to advance their own anti-sex work agendas, stereotypes and prejudices. We firmly oppose any proposal for a "red-light district" as it would only further segregate sex workers, who also live, work, study and have families in Toronto. Sex workers themselves must lead any initiatives to further their safety.

We call on city politicians and media to respect the family and friends of Ms. Freeland and end the speculation about her death and its relationship to her work.

If these same people are concerned about the well-being and safety of sex workers, then we encourage them to listen to those who are experts in sex work safety: sex workers themselves.

Media Contact: [email protected] or 416.964.0150 www.maggiestoronto.ca

Indigenous perspectives on the 8th International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers, Call for an End to Violence

Fri, 10 Dec 2010 14:33:00 -0500

On December 17^th 2010, sex workers and their allies across the globe will mark the 8th International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers. This day draws attention to acts of violence that continue to be committed against sex workers worldwide, and to the stigma and discrimination perpetuated by prohibitionist laws and views against sex work, which endanger our lives and work.

In Canada, although the recent decriminalization decision from the Ontario Superior Court has given much hope to the sex worker rights movement, police harassment and brutality are ongoing, and discrimination remains unabated. This is particularly true for Indigenous communities and communities of color.

On this day it is also remembered that the criminal legal system along with the police are creations of the colonial state. The criminal legal system in the United States and Canada disproportionately targets Indigenous communities. Sex work is no different. Indigenous sex workers are vastly more likely to be subjected to repeated arrests, police and prison violence including sexual assault, incarceration, longer sentences, to have their children removed and lack of access to culturally relevant services within or outside of prisons. They are also the most likely group of sex workers to be murdered or disappeared. These realities are not only limited to Canada or the United States, but are reflective of Indigenous experiences the world over.

This year, the Native Youth Sexual Health Network and Maggie’s: the Toronto Sex Worker’s Action Project are working together in order to centralize the experiences of Indigenous sex workers, who face disproportionate amounts of violence due to ongoing colonization, legacies of Residential Schools, and systemic racism in addition to the stigma associated with sex and sex work. Jessica Yee, Executive Director of the Native Youth Sexual Health Network and a board member at Maggie’s says that, “We recognize that violence and patriarchy have long been used as tools to subjugate, disempower and undermine Indigenous people’s autonomy over our own bodies. The very creation of Canada and the United States was achieved through state sanctioned sexual violence and the imposition of heteropatriarchy. Responses to violence against Indigenous sex workers today must be aware of these histories and, as such, should be led by Indigenous people themselves. Further, such responses must be aware of the recolonizing effect of so-called ‘helping’ Indigenous people and ‘rescuing’ sex workers. Most importantly, non- Indigenous peoples and organizations must respect and learn from the many ways in which Indigenous communities have already been and continue to work to end violence.”

Friends, supporters, allies and everyone interested in ending violence against Indigenous sex workers is invited to an event this Saturday, December 18^th at the Native Canadian Centre in Toronto entitled: “Sharing, Celebrating, Decolonizing: Indigenous Sex Work”. Starting at 6pm, this event will feature performances from Brenda MacIntyre, Red Slam Collective as well as a roundtable discussion with various Indigenous sex worker rights activists, community members and community service organizations about the right to work with safety and dignity and how to end violence. There will also be a traditional feast and giveaway to celebrate the lives of those who continue to survive and thrive in the face of racism and discrimination – including Indigenous sex workers – as well as those fighting for the right of self determination over their bodies and spaces.

The Native Youth Sexual Health Network (NYSHN) is a North-America wide organization working on issues of healthy sexuality, cultural competency, youth empowerment, reproductive justice, and sex positivity by and for Native youth. The reclamation and revitalization of traditional knowledge about people's fundamental human rights over their bodies and spaces, intersected with present-day realities is fundamental to our work. We work within the full spectrum of reproductive and sexual health for Indigenous peoples.

Maggie's (Toronto) is an organization run for and by sex workers. Our mission is to assist sex workers in our efforts to live and work with safety and dignity. We are founded on the belief that in order to improve our circumstances, sex workers must control our own lives and destinies.

Media Contact:

Jessica Yee, Executive Director, Native Youth Sexual Health Network

Canada and United States

Board Member, Maggie’s

(416) 419 6937

[email protected]">[email protected]

www.nativeyouthsexualhealth.com

Ontario Court Strikes Down Prostitution Laws

Tue, 28 Sep 2010 14:34:00 -0400

As an organization by and for sex workers, Maggie’s: The Toronto Sex Workers Action Project soundly applauds today’s ruling of prostitution laws as a violation of sex workers Charter rights.

Kara Gillies a long time sex worker and activist for law reform says, “After all these years it will be a relief to know that I along with fellow sex workers will be able to go to work can go to work without fearing arrest, incarceration and other violations of our rights as working people.”

“We are looking forward to the end of violence and abuse towards sex workers across this country; this includes stopping the continued prosecution and violence towards sex workers”. The time has come for sex workers and their work be regarded as rights deserving working individuals that provide valuable services, said Keisha Scott- Coordinator of Maggie’s: The Toronto Sex Workers Action Project.

“The courts have finally ruled to put an end to the criminalization of sex workers’ lives and work. This is a great day for sex workers rights,” said, Emily van der Meulen, of Maggie’s Board of Directors.

Last fall, three Ontario sex workers challenged Canada’s prostitution laws as unconstitutional because the laws violate their constitutionally-protected right to life, liberty, security of the person, and freedom of expression. Although prostitution itself is not illegal in Canada, it is against the law to keep a bawdy house, communicate for the purpose of prostitution, and live off the proceeds of prostitution. The plaintiffs – Amy Lebovitch, Terri-Jean Bedford, and Valerie Scott, of Sex Professionals of Canada (SPOC) – argued their case in front of the Superior Court of Ontario in October 2009, with Alan Young as counsel.

It is the laws that surround the legal exchange of sexual services for money that endanger the lives of sex workers”, said Keisha Scott- Coordinator at Maggie’s: The Toronto Sex Workers Action Project. Keisha pointed out that “the very forces that are there to protect individuals are the same forces that perpetuate violence and abuse of sex workers on a daily basis”. “It is a positive step of many towards the handing over of rights that sex workers have been denied for years.”

Contacts:

Communication Coordinator: Communications(at)maggiestoronto.ca