EFC Election Kit 2008: Fact Sheet on Prostitution and Human Trafficking

Protecting the Vulnerable

Prostitution exploits the vulnerable, violates human dignity and is harmful not only to its participants but also to Canadian society as a whole.

Prostitutes are victims of sexual exploitation; some are also victims of sexual trafficking, having been brought to Canada for the purposes of being exploited in the sex-trade.

On December 13, 2006, the Parliamentary Subcommittee on Solicitation Laws presented the report, “The Challenge of Change: A Study of Canada’s Criminal Prostitution Laws” to the House of Commons. There is not a common consensus among Parliamentarians to address this issue.

Similarly, on February 22, 2007 Motion 153 on Human Trafficking was passed unanimously in the House of Commons, “That, in the opinion of the House, the trafficking of women and children across international borders for the purposes of sexual exploitation should be condemned, and that the House call on the government to immediately adopt a comprehensive strategy to combat the trafficking of persons worldwide.”

On February 27, 2007 the House of Commons Standing Committee on the Status of Women released their study on Human Trafficking, entitled Turning Outrage into Action to Address Trafficking for the Purpose of Sexual Exploitation in Canada.

Questions to ask on this issue:

• What will you do to combat sexual exploitation, prostitution and human trafficking in Canada?
• What specific measures will you take to assist street sex-trade workers in exiting prostitution?
• Do you think prostitution should be removed from the Criminal Code and be made legal in Canada?