Introduction The Sexual Exploitation in Canada Working Group is a subcommittee of The Canadian Council of Churches (CCC), a broad and inclusive ecumenical body representing 26 member churches throughout Canada. Its purpose is to lead a shared church response to sexual exploitation as a justice and human rights issue that primarily affects women and children. We affirm the current legislation that strengthens the protection of the rights of children, women and men to be free …

Introduction Le Groupe de travail sur l’exploitation sexuelle au Canada est un sous-comité du Conseil canadien des Églises (CCÉ), vaste organisme œcuménique inclusif qui représente 26 églises membres à travers le Canada. Le groupe de travail a pour but d’inspirer aux églises une réaction commune face à l’exploitation sexuelle, enjeu de justice et de droits de la personne qui touche avant tout des femmes et des enfants. Nous approuvons la législation actuelle qui protège mieux …

Dear Senator Ataullahjan, Thank you for your service to Canada as a Senator as well as your steadfast work in pushing forward Bill S-228 – An Act to amend the Criminal Code (trafficking in persons). You have our unwavering support. In 2005 Canada amended the Criminal Code by adding sections 279.01 to 279.04 to align with the definition of human trafficking articulated in the Palermo Agreement, which Canada signed in 2005. We are in favour …

Dear Senator Miville-Dechene, We are writing to you as the Sexual Exploitation in Canada Working Group, a body of The Canadian Council of Churches (CCC). Its purpose is to lead a shared church response to sexual exploitation, including pornography, as a justice and human rights issue that primarily affects women and children. Thank you for your service to Canada as a Senator and your steadfast work in pushing forward Bill S-216 – An Act to …

Dear Senator Miville-Dechene, Congratulations on your success with the passage of the Bill S-203 through the readings in the Senate and onto the House of Commons. This is a great accomplishment for the benefit of the children of our country, and we are so grateful for all the hard work you and your staff have generously given to this issue. The Sexual Exploitation in Canada Working Group is a body of The Canadian Council of …

Re: Sexual Exploitation and Missing & Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls Dear Ministers, We are writing to commend you on the launch of the National Inquiry and to call your attention to the link between sexual exploitation and missing and murdered indigenous women and girls. We ask that the causes and consequences of gendered, racialized and sexualized violence be examined and included in the National Inquiry. As we highlighted in the letter to Minister Wilson-Raybould …

Objet : Exploitation sexuelle et disparition et meurtre de femmes et de filles autochtones Mesdames les Ministres, Permettez-nous de vous féliciter du lancement de votre enquête nationale et d’attirer votre attention sur le lien entre l’exploitation sexuelle et la disparition et le meurtre de femmes et de filles autochtones. Nous demandons que soient examinées et incluses dans l’enquête nationale les causes et les conséquences des actes de violence contre les femmes et les actes de …

Objet : Loi sur la protection des collectivités et des personnes victimes d’exploitation Madame la Ministre, Nous venons réaffirmer notre position sur la Loi sur la protection des collectivités et des personnes victimes d’exploitation (LPCPVE). Le 15 avril 2014, nous écrivions au ministre de la Justice pour lui faire des recommandations quant à la protection des personnes victimes d’exploitation sexuelle commerciale au Canada et aux moyens de protéger les populations vulnérables de toute exploitation future. …

Re: Protection of Communities and Exploited Persons Act Dear Minister Wilson-Raybould, We write to you to reaffirm our position on the Protection of Communities and Exploited Persons Act (PCEPA). On April 15, 2014 we wrote to the Minister of Justice with recommendations for protecting those who are commercially sexually exploited in Canada and preventing vulnerable populations from future exploitation. We look forward to continuing this conversation with you. Attached please find previous correspondence outlining our …

Nous saluons les efforts faits récemment par le ministère de la Justice pour affermir la protection des enfants, des femmes et des hommes du Canada contre la violence et l’exploitation, particulièrement l’exploitation sexuelle, et pour criminaliser quiconque profite des autres et les exploite à son avantage personnel. Nous soutenons les mesures prises par cette proposition législative en vue de définir la prostitution comme une forme de violence à l’endroit des femmes et nous sommes heureux …

We welcome the recent efforts of the Department of Justice to strengthen the protection of the rights of children, women, and men to be free from violence and exploitation, specifically sexual exploitation, and to criminalize those who profit from and exploit others for their own benefit. We affirm the steps taken in this proposed legislation towards framing prostitution as a form of violence against women and are encouraged that it does not accept prostitution as …

Re: Protection of Communities and Exploited Persons Act Dear Minister MacKay, We are writing to welcome the recent efforts of the Department of Justice to strengthen the protection of the rights of children, women, and men to be free from violence and exploitation, specifically sexual exploitation, and to criminalize those who profit from and exploit others for their own benefit. We affirm the steps your government has taken towards framing prostitution as a form of …

According to world renowned psychologist and researcher Melissa Farley, “prostitution is multi- traumatic with extremely high rates of physical and sexual violence perpetrated against people who are vulnerable usually as a result of gender, poverty, previous history of sexual assault, marginalization because of race or ethnicity, or a combination of these factors.” Proponents of legalizing prostitution argue that moving the sex trade indoors will provide a system of safety measures for those who consent to …

Since 2008 The Canadian Council of Churches – representing 85% of Christians in Canada through its 25 member churches – has been hosting the Human Trafficking in Canada Working Group. Together we have been educating one another, reflecting on our values and faith commitments, and advocating together to end human trafficking in Canada. Today I am writing to you regarding the development of new prostitution legislation in Canada. The Chair of the Human Trafficking in …

Human Trafficking Definition (United Nations –Global Initiative to Fight Human Trafficking UN.GIFT) “Trafficking in persons” shall mean the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or receipt of persons, by means of the threat or use of force or other forms of coercion, of abduction, of fraud, of deception, of the abuse of power or of a position of vulnerability or of the giving or receiving of payments or benefits to achieve the consent of a person having …