Susie 1472 Report post Posted November 4, 2009 http://www.facebook.com/pages/FIRST-Decriminalize-Sex-Work-Now/186804681196?v=info#/event.php?eid=166605494583&index=1 i will be there!!so come on up and say hi!! these will be the first presentations on both projects!thanks again to all the workers who took part and to all the pooners too!!!we rock!!these initiatives will go a long way towards our gaining control of our collective destinies!!! thank you all! love susieXXXO Sex Workers, Clients and the Law Host:FIRST: Decriminalize Sex Work Now! Type:Education - Lecture Network:Global Date:Monday, November 23, 2009 Time:6:30pm - 9:00pm Location:Vancouver Public Library, 350 W. Georgia, Alma Van Dusen & Peter Kay rooms Description One proposed "solution" to Canada's antiquated and oppressive prostitution laws is to make it illegal to purchase sex, but legal to sell it. However, this model is failing in Sweden, the country that pioneered it. Sweden's law was expected to reduce the number of sex workers in that country, but very few sex workers have stopped working. While many simply adjusted to the law by choosing to work indoors, some were forced to work underground in isolation, where they are far more vulnerable to violence and abuse. As in Sweden, Canada?s current prostitution law robs sex workers of their livelihood, and deprives them of the right to control their work environment and create safe and empowering working conditions. Moderated by Madam Scarlett Lake, the forum will provide the public with an opportunity to learn about the men who buy sex, the experiences of sex workers with their clients, and why neither sex workers nor their clients should be criminalized. Presentations: Video (10 mins): "A Swedish sex worker on the criminalization of clients" (Pye Jacobssen) Speaker Panel: - Chris Atchison, Dept of Sociology and Anthropology, Simon Fraser University. Topic: "John's Voice" - Trina Ricketts, BC Coalition of Experiential Communities; Naked Truth (nakedtruth.ca). Topic: "Trade Secrets" (results of her interviews with clients and sex workers) - Jody Salerno, BC/Yukon Society of Transition Houses. Topic: "The clients who paid me" - Katrina Pacey, Pivot Legal Society. Topic: "Why Decriminalize Prostitution?" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
fortunateone 156618 Report post Posted November 4, 2009 I am hoping some of the members here can share their stories on www.rabble.ca in the babble area (feminism and sex worker forums) where susi has pretty much been the lone voice trying to get this message across to biased abolitionists. Primarily, viewpoints from service providers will have the most effect, especially those with some knowledge of the statistics regarding the indoor work, and any issues you have had specifically as a result of the laws that inhibit safer working conditions. Anyone who goes there needs to be able to deal with a great deal of bias, misconceptions and the use of faulty & biased statistics to support positions. What the heck, in this biz we are certainly used to a few little misconceptions about what we do and who we are aren't we? Remember, many of these people rabidly support the Swedish model, which in effect makes criminals out of customers while leaving prostitution itself legal. This way, sex workers can't be charged with prostitution, but their clients can be. Their own government and police studies say that the initiative has actually increased dangers faced by service providers. Street workers (yes, it did not eliminate street work, big surprise) are afraid to carry condoms (as are the customers) because police can use the presence of condoms as evidence against them. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
