Prostitution: One thing’s certain

Learning Europe’s tricks, Insight May 31

Heather Mallick’s detailed and insightful review of the problems of sex-for-sale in Canada is somewhat of a masterpiece. Touring the various European locations that provide varying government actions, sex-provider views, and digging into the personal lives of those involved required courage and perspicacity.

Mallick makes sure we look at the plethora of legal, humanist, societal and health problems faced in several nations, so that there will be some context for Canadians to contemplate, as our government gets down to the task set out for it by the Supreme Court.

The only thing we can be absolutely positive about is that when it undertakes legislation dealing with the ins- and-outs of selling sex in Canada, they will be sure to screw it up.

Morley S. Wolfe, Brampton

Buying sex should be illegal, but not selling it, survey finds, June 2

In this article the most commonly cited concern among respondents was public health. In light of this concern, Canadians should know that the decriminalization of sex work is associated with better and improved health.

Evidence from New Zealand and Australia indicates that decriminalization gives sex workers more control over their work environment and conditions, increases their access to HIV and sexual health services and is associated with high rates of condom use and low prevalence of sexually transmitted infections.

Conversely, criminalizing the purchase of sex hampers sex workers’ ability to screen clients and negotiate condom use, impedes their access to health and social services, and undermines public health. Decriminalizing both the purchase and sale of sex is essential to improve prevailing conditions so that sex workers can work free from violence and other health and safety risks.

Sandra Ka Hon Chu, Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network, Toronto