Trafficking Facts and Fictions: A FIRST Public Forum

VANCOUVER — Evidence suggests that sex trafficking increases very little during major sporting events, such as the 2010 Games. There is also evidence that anti-trafficking initiatives locally and globally have endangered the safety of sex workers and violated their human rights. It is crucial that anti-trafficking interventions are based on evidence and collaboration with sex workers’ groups rather than unsubstantiated fears or assumptions about women in sex work – most of whom are not trafficking victims. Contrary to some claims, prostitution is not the same thing as trafficking — sex work is a consensual exchange of sex for money, while trafficking is coerced migration. 

FIRST is a national coalition of feminist that advocates for the decriminalization of sex work. We strongly oppose trafficking for the purposes of sexual exploitation and all other forms of forced trafficking, and believe that decriminalization will not increase such trafficking.

We invite the public to an open forum to learn more about international trafficking and the domestic trafficking of Aboriginal women and girls, in the context of the 2010 Games.

Date:            Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Time:           Doors open: 6:30 p.m. Forum from: 7 – 9 pm

Location:     Vancouver Public Library, 350 W. Georgia, Alma Van Dusen & Peter Kay rooms

Admission by donation

Speakers:

·         Alison Paul, New Hope Society, Prince George

◦       Aboriginal perspective on domestic trafficking

·         Soni Thindall, Orchid Project, Vancouver (Outreach and Research in Community Health Initiatives and Development)

◦       Migrant sex workers

·         Dr. Annalee Lepp, Associate Professor and Chair, Department of Women's Studies, University of Victoria

◦       Olympics and sex trafficking

Media Contacts:  Esther Shannon: 604-254-9963         Tamara O’Doherty: 604-534-4450. 
More info: jharthur@shaw.ca