The Canadian National Coalition of Experiential Women

1

• The Canadian National Coalition of Experiential
  Women
• A consortium of women committed to the
  advancement of equality and human rights of sex
  workers. The CNCEW is committed to the
  improvement of the living and working conditions
  of women in and from sex work.

2
Who Is CNCEW?

• CNCEW supports diversity and inclusion of
  dialogue that does not promote harm to those
  active in and from sex work.
• CNCEW opposes models of enforcement or forced
  rehabilitation that promote the continued
  criminalization or harm of women in and from sex
  work.
• Experiential women have and will continue to
  design, develop and deliver successful programs
  for sex workers

3
Values and Beliefs

• An adult woman has a right to determine how,
  where, when, if she is involved in sex work
• The most effective way of reaching this extremely
  isolated population is by employing peers to
  educate and support
• Experiential women have designed, developed and
  delivered successful programs for sex workers

4
Member Organizations

• Prostitution Empowerment Education and Resource
  Services of BC
• PEERS Moncton
• Dancers Equal Rights Association Ottawa
• Prostitution Awareness and Action Foundation of
  Edmonton
• CACTUS Montreal
• International Coalition to Combat Trafficking
• International Centre to Combat the Sexual
  Exploitation of Children
• Sex Workers Alliance of Toronto
• Sex Workers Action Network
• Stepping Out
• New Directions
• Transition, Education and Resources for Females
• Sexually Exploited Youth Speak Out

5
Representation

• We represent women from all areas of sex work
• Street level sex work
• Escorts agencies and independent
• Massage Parlor workers
• Trafficked women
• Exotic entertainers
• Adult film workers
• Adult phone sex workers

6
OBJECTIVES

• To provide a coordinated national strategy
• To develop common declarations
• To talk about issues ranging from social
  conditions and issues, broader human rights
  issues, social and systemic reform, and the way
  in which attitudes in media and community about
  experiential women affect the lives of all women

7
What have we done so far?

• Held FOUR national meetings with sex worker
  advocates
• Developed statements in seven key areas
• Conducted research in several areas
• Testified at a private Senate committee hearing
  before members of many federal government
  departments on Parliament Hill

8
Demographics of Members

• Women from all areas of sex work
• Ages range from 20 50 years old
• 160 years in sex work
• 120 years working as advocates
• Active sex workers and those who have
  transitioned out of sex work
• All women are activists in their own communities
• Extremely passionate and actively involved in all
  sex work issues

9
Forming A Group

• Formation of group by Jannit Rabinovitch and
  Cherry Kingsley
• From all parts of the harm reduction and
  legislation spectrum
• Passionate group
• Conflicts have arisen and have been resolved
• Everyone has a personal stake in this, both as an
  advocate and as a woman

10
Forming Of A Group Cont.

• Listening and respect for each other despite
  differences was achieved
• All of the members felt that their work was
  helped by membership in the coalition

11
Seven Key Areas

• Occupational Health and Safety
• Violence Against Women
• Drugs And Alcohol
• Health Care And Support Services
• Law Reform
• Public Awareness
• Social Justice

12
Occupational Health Safety

• Exotic dance, massage and escort establishments
  are licensed by the city and as businesses are
  subject to labor laws.
• Improper care and control of the enterprises can
  lead to injury and diseases.
• Existing health and safety, labor and municipal
  bylaws should be enforced by the appropriate
  agencies

13
Occupational H S Cont.

• As with any other occupation, workers in
• these establishments should have the
• following equal rights
• Refuse unsafe work
• Education on potential job related risks
• Participation in joint health and safety
  committees with industry owners
• and they should be
• INFORMED OF THESE RIGHTS

14
Violence Against Women

• Law enforcement must begin to take reports of
  violence against sex workers seriously
• Ability to report bad dates anonymously
• Prosecution of violent pimps
• National DNA databank of those convicted of
  violence against sex workers
• Training of experiential people in victim service
  roles

15
Drugs Alcohol

• Removal of barriers to treatment
• Sex work-specific treatment centres
• Support for families with FASD
• Recognition that prostitution in and of itself
  can be an addiction for some
• Implementation of harm reduction for sex workers

16
Health Care Support Services

• HIV Education and Prevention supplies
• Training for medical profession on sensitivity to
  issues of importance to sex workers
• On-site medical treatment
• Employment of peers in treatment roles

17
Law Reform

• Implementation of a consumer side law
• Removal of barriers for adult women to work from
  their homes
• End the deportation of trafficked women being
  dependant on police cooperation against
  traffickers
• Access to unemployment, workers compensation, and
  retraining in the same way as other workers
• Removal of policies that are punitive based only
  on status as a sex worker
• Fair and equitable licensing fees

18
Public Awareness

• Media
• Use of appropriate images and language
• Public Education
• Culturally sensitive sessions
• Research
• Sex worker friendly research
• Consultations with sex workers
• Training
• Sex workers as consultants and researchers

19
Social Justice

• Train and hire experiential women to plan and
  implement programs and services
• Removal of barriers to services
• Stable core funding for programs
• Continuum of services
• Harm reduction resources
• Access to education
• Safe and affordable housing

20
Research Projects

• Shattering Silence Gang Members and Sex Workers
  Speak Out - Lauren Casey, M.A.
• Social Service Barriers
• Addiction Treatment
• Violence Against Women Working in the Sex
  Industry
• Samantha Smythe