Beyond Criminalization Report

This report examines how employment and labour standards can be used to provide rights and protections for workers in the sex industry. In addition to this key topic, this report considers other relevant areas of law, including: occupational health and safety, municipal, tax, immigration, human rights, family, company, and social welfare law.

Media and Publications

Voices for Dignity

The sale of sexual services between consenting adults is legal under Canadian law. However, the “bawdy-house” provision (s. 210 & 211), the “procuring” provision (s. 212) and the “communicating” provision (s. 213) make it very difficult to engage in prostitution without breaking the law. The result is that many sex workers face criminal consequences for engaging in what is an otherwise legal activity. This punitive legal system exacerbates the unequal social and economic position of sex workers in Canada.