The fight for sex worker safety continues

by Melissa Graham

In June, the federal government continued with it’s argument against the Supreme Court that sex trade workers are not being placed at risk by Criminal Code provisions that make it illegal for them to hire drivers, employ bodyguards and work in brothels.

The government believes that it can discourage sex work by attacking it indirectly with laws that send a message to johns and pimps that they engage in such activity at their peril, and that this would not violate the safety of sex workers.

The government’s continued fight against this ruling is keeping sex workers at risk.

Contrary to the federal government’s opinion, this case is not about commercializing prostitution and the opening of brothels in quiet neighborhoods. It is about having very basic safety measures in place.
Sex workers are at a much greater risk because they cannot take the security steps that anyone else can take to promote safety within their business.

For now, the rights of sex workers to openly solicit johns on the street, to work indoors in groups and to hire bodyguards for protection will remain illegal.

The Court of Appeal extended a temporary stay on the province’s current prostitution laws until it can rule on the landmark appeal on the constitutionality of these laws.