December 17th marks the International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers.
It’s a time to remember and mourn the lives lost to violence, demand an end to hate crimes, and raise awareness about how criminalization and stigma contribute to the ongoing violence faced by sex workers.
We also highlight the violence inflicted on sex workers under the guise of anti-trafficking efforts.
On this day and every day, we urge everyone to reflect on how many mainstream anti-trafficking initiatives perpetuate harm against sex workers. Addressing human trafficking effectively while supporting the agency, safety, and dignity of sex workers are not opposing goals; in fact, respecting and upholding sex workers’ rights is essential to tackling human trafficking.
GAATW Canada stands in solidarity with sex workers and calls for:
- The full decriminalization of sex work in Canada, including the decriminalization of migrant sex work.
- Comprehensive labour protections for sex workers.
- Ending the conflation of sex work with trafficking for the purpose of sexual exploitation, ensuring that anti-trafficking initiatives are not used to justify the criminalization of sex work.
- The immediate cessation of bylaw, police, and border enforcement actions targeting sex workers under the pretense of anti-trafficking ‘rescue’ initiatives.
- The meaningful participation of sex workers in developing laws and policies that directly affect them, the identification of trafficked individuals, and the design, implementation, and evaluation of anti-trafficking initiatives.
GAATW Canada is steadfast in advocating for the dignity and rights of sex workers while addressing violence against individuals who are trafficked.