Op Ed Published in the Vancouver Sun, Dec. 12, 2007

The 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.

Revenue will be used to support benevolent purposes, including a fund for the children of murdered sex workers.

Our support for a cooperative brothel is grounded in research that shows that violence levels are greatly decreased for sex workers who work indoors, compared to those on the street.

In Vancouver, the off-street sector comprises more than 80 per cent of sex workers, who report better control over their transactions with clients and, hence, improved safety.

Although Vancouver sex workers are mobilizing to address their needs, we believe the severely under-funded organizations providing services to sex workers will need greater support to prepare for 2010. This issue is particularly pressing for sex workers in the Downtown Eastside, who will likely experience increased homelessness as a result of the Games.

The immense security regime associated with the Games may end up forcing women away from their usual strolls into more isolated areas, reducing their ability to negotiate safety.

Dedicated housing and increased government funding for Vancouver organizations that work with sex workers would help address these problems.

While alarmist rhetoric continues to plague discussions on sex industry work, the lack of concern for the safety and well-being of Vancouver's sex workers continues unabated. In light of the 69 missing women from the Downtown Eastside as well as the Pickton trial, this is deplorable and deeply troubling.

As feminists and as concerned community members, we urge the public to join us in supporting the dignity and safety of sex industry workers.

Decriminalization of adult sex work is an absolutely critical step towards improving working conditions and ending the violence.

Joyce Arthur and Tamara O'Doherty are with FIRST, a feminist organization advocating the decriminalizing of prostitution.

http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/editorial/story.html?id=a2f0a70a...