Activists for and against sex work gather in Montreal
Global News
Pro-sex work activists were present at the inaugural march for survivors of sexual exploitation, which opened the 4th World Congress for the Abolition of Prostitution.
The 4th World Congress for the Abolition of Prostitution kicked off in Montreal on Saturday with a march to honour survivors of sexual exploitation.
“The goal of the congress is to gather all front-line workers who support survivors and to end the practices when it comes to ending the sexual exploitation of women and girls,” explained Jennie-Laure Sully, a community organizer at La CLES.
Attendees of the many workshops and panels also have another objective: a world without prostitution.
La CLES works with several people and organizations involved in the sex industry to work towards the same goal. “A world without prostitution should be possible,” said Sully, adding “if we believe in equality between men and women, equality between countries of the south, countries of the north.” She told Global News that “prostitution affects women from the global south more, poor women more, Indigenous women more.”
April Eve Wiberg, an Indigenous survivor of commercialized sexual exploitation from Alberta, agrees. She said that since contact with Europeans, Indigenous women and girls “have been looked at as objects.” She added that, “we need to get back to our traditional roles as Indigenous people and not feel that we have to sell what is most sacred in order to survive.”
Wiberg was moved by the turnout at the event. These occasions are important to her as they give her an opportunity to share her story. “The more I speak out, the more I am approached by other survivors that may be suffering in silence and don’t realize that there is a lot of support out there,” she explained.
A counter-protest was also present at Place Émilie-Gamelin. The pro-sex work activists were there to oppose the congress.
Adore Goldman, a sex worker and activist with Sex Workers Autonomous Committee, said they are not against the survivors present at the opposing march. “I think we both share this common experience of having worked in the sex industry, and most of us has also survived violence in the sex industry,” she explained.
Toronto Police say five people have been injured and four of them have been arrested after a crash in Scarborough involving a stolen vehicle.
Parents in the Halifax area are voicing concerns as children have been finding drug paraphernalia in their neighbourhoods. In one case, a child was pricked by a discarded needle.
Voters in Nova Scotia are heading to the polls today as the province holds an election to determine if Tim Houston and the Progressive Conservatives will remain in power.
On Monday, Trump vowed to slap a 25 per cent tariff on all products coming from Canada and Mexico on his first day back in office.
'A cherished member of the theatre community, his presence brought joy, heart and depth to every role, and his artistic contributions — and big hugs — will be deeply missed'
An Ontario man was restrained with duct tape last week after allegedly trying to open the door of a plane mid-flight, called himself the “captain" and injuring a flight attendant.
Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland on Monday called on provinces to 'step up' and get on board with the Liberals' plan to grant a tax holiday on some items for two months.
As authorities investigate the deaths of six tourists in Laos, here's what Canadians need to know about recognizing and preventing methanol poisoning while travelling.
Danielle Smith said the Alberta government is looking for ways to encourage pipeline companies to boost capacity and increase Alberta's oil and gas export volumes to the U.S.
'She thinks she's playing Robin Hood, and in actuality, she's putting these fishermen in a worse-off situation than they currently are,' one licence-holder said.
The Women and Children’s Shelter of Barrie in Ontario say they expect to turn away 650 women and children this year for service. It's a problem seen across Canada.