Trisha Baptie, EVE (formerly Exploited Voice now Educating): "The vulnerable and marginalized were finally seen and heard in this decision. Sex buyers, pimps, and traffickers, the root of the issue, were told that in fact they are predators who should be stopped."
"Until there is no longer a market for sexual access to women and girls’ bodies, traffickers will continue to have financial incentive to recruit vulnerable women and girls into commercial sexual exploitation. The work of shrinking market demand for men’s paid sexual access to women is daunting but we believe it is possible and will require all of us to shift the societal attitudes that sustain women’s unequal position. "
The Women’s Equality Coalition believes that poor understanding and implementation of the Protection of Communities and Exploited Persons Act (PCEPA, 2014) is the main cause of inefficiencies in Canada’s efforts to end human trafficking. The Women’s Equality Coalition is encouraging the government to fully implement the Equality Model to protect and support women and girls in prostitution and those who are victims of human trafficking.
The report reinforces what we know from our front line work about the high number of girls trapped in prostitution and the close connection between prostitution and trafficking.
We welcome the improved response of the criminal justice system in holding buyers and pimps accountable and we are calling on our own province, British Columbia, to follow the example of other provinces and do the same.
