Legislative Frameworks for Sex Work
Canada’s current legislative framework for sex work is an end-demand model called “partial decriminalization”, or the Nordic Model. Partial decriminalization purports to end the demand for sex work...
SWAN Vancouver speaks to House of Commons Committee
On Monday May 15, 2023, SWAN Vancouver spoke to the House of Commons Standing Committee on the Status of Women for its study on human trafficking. Executive Director Angela made the following...
Intro to the Harms of Anti-Trafficking
How can an anti-trafficking campaign cause harm? While often well-intended, anti-trafficking campaigns carry a host of problems: They contribute to an unfounded moral panic in society They utilize...
Bedford v. Canada
Bedford v. Canada was a case challenging the constitutionality of Canada’s prostitution laws. The initial challenge began in 2007 and the final judgment from the Supreme Court of Canada (SCC) came...
Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (IRPR) Sex Work Prohibition Analysis
Impact on Migrant Sex Workers: Migrant sex workers experience multi-layered criminalization. Even if sex work was decriminalized in Canada, migrant sex workers would still be criminalized
Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (IRPR) Sex Work Prohibition Charter Violations
The Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (IRPR) prohibition on sex work violates the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, specifically Sections 7 and 15.
Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (IRPR) Sex Work Prohibition
On June 6, 2012, the Conservative Government of Canada put forward amendments to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (IRPR), with the intention to improve protections
Canadian Sex Work Laws Timeline
An interactive timeline of Sex Work Laws in Canada from Canadian Confederation July 1, 1867 to Government Response to the report of the Standing Committee On Justice And Human Rights October 20, 2022