Miss S. Lane 67128 Report post Posted October 9, 2015 http://www.vocm.com/mobile/newsarticle.asp?mn=2&id=57813&latest=1 NL Youth Resorting to Sex Trade for Food, Shelter: Report Four years after it was completed, a report on sexual exploitation and the sex trade in Newfoundland and Labrador has finally been released publicly. Privacy Commissioner Ed Ring ruled that the report be released, with certain information redacted, after government previously indicated that even acknowledging the report might be dangerous. VOCM's Linda Swain reports. The report was compiled from information provided by 120 men and women who asked that government accept its responsibility, develop new mandates and take action to prevent sexual exploitation. They urged government to provide protection, and support people providing sex work and give help to people looking to leave the sex trade. Young People Resorting to 'Survival Sex Trading' to Provide Food, Clothing The report outlines that the most frequent type of sex trade activity in the province is 'survival sex' that is the trade of sex for food, shelter, clothing, or drugs, and that children and young people are the most sought after. It says that most communities in the province have at least one "party house" where much of what goes on involves sexual exploitation, assault and survival sex. In some cases, women will trade sex for money to buy their children the "right clothes" so they're not bullied in school. It's also known that men will get a berth or cabin on the Gulf ferry and look for young women or girls to exploit on the trip. Among the recommendations are setting up a cross-departmental committee to review policies, programs and services to assess the harm they may cause to people vulnerable to sexual exploitation, provide funding for an expanded provincial organization dedicated to preventing the sexual exploitation of children and young people, and provide funding for an exiting program to help people get out of the sex trade. You can read the report here. Second Report to be Commissioned, But Opposition Wants Action on the First Premier Paul Davis and the Minister Responsible for the Status of Women, Susan Sullivan, both indicate that another report will be commissioned to get the very latest, up-to-date information on the sex trade and sexual exploitation in the province, but Liberal critic Lisa Dempster says she'd rather see action taken on the recommendations made in the first report. She says it's difficult to act on the report when no one knew what it contained. Earlier Story The provincial government today released a report on sexual exploitation and the sex trade when years ago, government implied it was dangerous to even acknowledge the report's existence. VOCM's Linda Swain reports. Privacy Commissioner Ed Ring ruled this week that the report be released with certain redactions following an ATIPP request from the opposition Liberals. 20 per cent of the report released today has been redacted to protect individuals from harm. Premier Paul Davis says government will be commissioning a second report but Opposition critic Lisa Dempster says she'd rather see government act on the first report's recommendations before a second report is conducted. Minister Susan Sullivan says the main concern has always been the protection of women and girls who are being sexual exploited. NDP critic Lorraine Michael says she also wants to see action, particularly surrounding the hiring of a street nurse for sex workers, something the St. John's Status of Women Council has been calling for for some time. The redacted report is available here. Minister Responsible for the Status of Women, Susan Sullivan, confirms that government is committed to conducting another report on sexual exploitation and the sex trade. Sullivan says the information in the current report is four years old and they're always seeking more detailed and up-to-date information. Lisa Dempster says the Liberals didn't want to do anything to jeopardize the women involved. She says government, in sitting on the release for so long, "dismissed" the bravery of the women who chose to come forward to tell their stories and air their concerns. The NDP's Lorraine Michael is calling for immediate government reaction on the report's recommendations. She says their concern has always been for the safety of the women involved and they want to see government act on the recommendations made. 2 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Phaedrus 209521 Report post Posted October 10, 2015 So the government wanted the report buried rather than do anything to address it? Sad, but why am I not surprised? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
