Decriminalizing Prostitution



Decriminalizing Prostitution

Issue

Should the government of Canada decriminalize prostitution?

Recommendations

The Canadian government should decriminalize prostitution

Background

The debate begins as to whether the Canadian government should decriminalize prostitution and, because of the recent judgment of the Ontario Superior Court as unconstitutional establishing three of the four articles of the Criminal Code relating to prostitution, is section 212 (prohibition of living off prostitution, including pimping), section 210 (prohibition from holding or frequenting a bawdy house) and section 213 (prohibition of communication with prostitution). Two main positions clash, that is for a complete decriminalization of prostitution, as the position of groups "pro-sex work", and that of his opponents, such abolitionist groups which include the CLAP (Raymond, 2003).

To be clear, both clans agree on some points. First, Canada's position on prostitution is vague and needs clarification: the act itself is not illegal, but all the surrounding activities are. Second, women prostitutes are greatly abused, that it be physical, sexual or psychological. Third, clients and pimps are the main perpetrators of this violence. Finally, we agree that prostitutes should not be treated as criminals, so that the section of the Criminal Code on the submission (Article 213) should be amended (Raymond, 2003). However, the similarities between our speeches end there.

Indeed, the two sides differ on how to counter the phenomenon of violence against prostitutes. According to the groups' pro-sex work ", what are the current laws that are responsible for the danger and violence that women face and the prostitutes, forcing them to conduct their activities underground. Decriminalization of prostitution would allow them to be able to hire a "care-of-body" of work in a "safe" and to report crimes against them to the police without fear of being prosecuted later (Pivot Legal Society Sex Work Subcommittee, 2004).

These arguments are refuted by the abolitionist groups. We believe violence is inherent in prostitution, the practice is legal or not. In fact, prostitution is an institution that, firstly, from the system of oppression of women and, secondly, this system reinforces and amplifies inequalities between men and women. It may not be safe or equal. Remember, prostitution is a system where one hand, women are taught the value of chastity (women's sexuality is perceived as "evil", while an active sexuality is valued for men ), while on the other hand, it creates a minority group of women (that is despised and marginalized), whose mandate is to serve men sexually. Here's the scenario patriarchal perfect: on one side, women "pure" and "respectable" men can marry, the other the "whores" sex slaves that are despised. Finally, it creates a feeling of hatred between the two groups of women so as to undermine the whole effort of solidarity, and voila (Lakeman, 2005)

As noted in countries that have decriminalized or legalized prostitution, such laws do not reduce crime against women prostitutes. If there is sexual violence, psychological and physical at the point of prostituted women, not because of laws prohibiting the practice, but because of misogynistic values ??that are shared by many men and lead ...