Six in Ten Ontarians Oppose Decriminalized Prostitution Including Pimps, Brothels and Sex Buying

LONDON, Ontario, July 12, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- In 2014, the Canadian Government passed the Protection of Communities and Exploited Persons Act (PCEPA) which solely decriminalized prostituted persons while criminalizing pimps, brothel owners and sex buyers. The law provides police with a valuable tool that enables them to help prostituted, trafficked and sexually exploited women and girls.

However, in April 2018 the Liberal Party of Canada voted in favour of a resolution calling to reverse the PCEPA and to decriminalize prostitution, including pimping, brothel owning and sex buying. This resolution is a major departure from current legislation.

A new Ipsos poll conducted on behalf of the London Abused Women's Centre (Canada) in collaboration with its international partners Equality Now and the Coalition Against Trafficking in Women (CATW) reveals the most comprehensive overview ever completed on Ontarians' views of prostitution.

• 58% of Ontarians oppose any changes to the Protection of Communities and Exploited Persons Act that would decriminalize pimps, brothel owners and sex buying
• 75% of Ontarians think that prostitution is harmful to women and girls
• 77% of Ontarians feel that most women and girls do not want to have repeated sex with random men
• 78% of Ontarians would NOT support their son, brother, husband or family member purchasing sexual services from a prostituted person
• 58% of Ontarians do NOT view prostitution as a job like any other

"Two-thirds of all trafficking in Canada originates in the Province of Ontario. Ontarians do not support the proposed Liberal Party of Canada policy to decriminalize pimps, brothel owners and sex buyers. Prime Minister Trudeau must show he respects women's human and equality rights and emphatically state the Liberal Government will NOT decriminalize prostitution in Canada."
Megan Walker, London Abused Women's Centre

"At Equality Now we fight for laws to protect the rights of women and girls and criminalize those that exploit them. In 2014, Canada took a brave step in enacting PCEPA, and they must now step up and enforce it fully across the country to protect women and girls across Canada and beyond."
Shelby Quast, Americas Director, Equality Now

"With the passage of the PCEPA, Canada joined a growing number of governments that recognize that women bought and sold in prostitution must not be criminalized for their exploitation. Canada also committed to target the male demand for prostitution, which fuels the multi-billion-dollar sex trade and its engine, sex trafficking. Reversing the PCEPA in favor of decriminalizing pimping and sex buying would be a dark stain on Canada's human rights record and a strike against equality."
Taina Bien-Aimé, Executive Director, CATW

For media inquiries:

Holly Cooper, Content & Media Officer Equality Now
[email protected]
+1 212-586-0906 x16

Megan Walker, Executive Director London Abused Women's Centre
[email protected]
1-519-432-2204

Mariana Vanin, Communications Manager Coalition Against Trafficking in Women (CATW)
[email protected]
1-212-643-9895

Full English and French versions.

SOURCE London Abused Women's Centre, Equality Now, Coalition Against Trafficking in Women (CATW)