Press Releases
Will the Court Protect Sex Workers?
Charter challenge to criminalization of sex work must go forward January 21, 2010
VANCOUVER - Lawyers representing Vancouver sex workers will appear in the BC Court of Appeal today, continuing efforts by sex workers to abolish Canada's prostitution laws with a Charter challenge.
"Today is critical. The Court will decide whether the Charter challenge can continue, but as important, the Court will decide whether marginalized people actually do have access to justice in our country," said FIRST spokesperson Esther Shannon.
Sex Workers, Clients and the Law
One letter [Sept. 6-13] in response to your recent cover story on prostitution suggested that the story did not "seriously consider feminist perspectives on prostitution", suggesting perhaps that all feminists are opposed to decriminalization of prostitution.
Op Ed Published in the Vancouver Sun, Dec. 12, 2007
A 2010 deadline for prostitution
Decriminalization and a sex worker cooperative in time for the Games would provide safety and equal rights
Joyce Arthur and Tamara O'Doherty, Special to the Sun
Published: Thursday, December 06, 2007The cooperative will enable sex workers to benefit from collaborative ownership and self-management of their work. One feature of the project is a cooperative brothel, a worker-controlled safe space to conduct sex work.
Other plans include the creation of occupational health and safety guidelines, collectively purchasing services such as an extended medical plan, and marketing products and services.