International Sex Workers Rights Day on March 3 2010

The Shift Program has brough together a commitee in preparation for the International Sex Workers Rights Day on March 3, 2010. The committee is composed of approximately 10 participants including community members, sex workers and community based agencies. The committee chose an event that acknowledges the inconsistency of rights that sex workers face everyday.

Prostitution (meaning the exchange of sex for money or other goods) in Canada is legal. However, the laws in Canada regarding prostitution make it almost impossible to work legally. There are four sections of the Canadian Criminal Code that directly relate to prostitution including: Section 210- Keeping a bowdy house. Section 211- Directing or taking someone to a bawdy house. Section 212- Procuring prostitution or living off the avails of Prostitution and section 213- Communicating for the purpose of Prostitution. These laws force sex workers to work in unsafe and secretive conditions. The secretive nature and the "criminalization" of this work create stigma and negative stereotypes around sex work.

The event on March 3rd will showcase the lived experiences of women who work in the sex trade. The committee has designed and circulated a survey within Calgary's sex trade community to collect information. By gathering and sharing the individual stories of workers in the sex trade community, the committee hopes to be able to break down some of the stigma and stereotypes that surround sex work.

The event will he held during the lunch hour at the centrally located Glenbow Museum Theatre.

The committee is now working towards putting together a presentaion that incorporates the many voices of sex workers, naming the event and designing a flyer for promotion.

If you would like to become involved in this event please contact us at 403-237-8171 or info@shiftcalgary.org

If you would like to fill out the anonymous and confidential survey here is the link:
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/SKG2YPG or
http://shiftcalgary.org/Resources.html