Democracy Gone Astray

Democracy, being a human construct, needs to be thought of as directionality rather than an object. As such, to understand it requires not so much a description of existing structures and/or other related phenomena but a declaration of intentionality.
This blog aims at creating labeled lists of published infringements of such intentionality, of points in time where democracy strays from its intended directionality. In addition to outright infringements, this blog also collects important contemporary information and/or discussions that impact our socio-political landscape.

All the posts here were published in the electronic media – main-stream as well as fringe, and maintain links to the original texts.

[NOTE: Due to changes I haven't caught on time in the blogging software, all of the 'Original Article' links were nullified between September 11, 2012 and December 11, 2012. My apologies.]

Thursday, November 06, 2014

Anti-Prostitution Bill Approved By Senate, Could Be Law By December

OTTAWA - The Conservative government's controversial anti-prostitution bill passed third reading in the Senate on Tuesday and requires only royal assent to become law.

The government had wanted to get the bill through the legislative process by the middle of this month, so it could become law by December.

That would meet the deadline imposed by the Supreme Court of Canada when it struck down existing laws as unconstitutional last year.

The court found the laws violated the charter rights of sex workers because they were criminally prohibited from taking measures to keep themselves safe.

The Sex Professionals of Canada says the new set of laws won't improve things and will ensure violence against sex workers continues in Canada.

In a statement on its website, the group says keeping criminalization in place will continue the stigma and social exclusion of sex workers.

The group also said it plans to continue to fight for rights for sex workers, saying "this isn't over!"

The government has argued the legislation protects sex workers by giving them access to bodyguards and the ability to work indoors.

However, none of that can happen if a third party benefits or the sex worker is operating in exploitative conditions.

Scores of witnesses told both MPs and senators during hearings on the bill that the various exemptions in the bill are open to further charter challenges.

For example, while it would allow sex workers to advertise, it would make it an offence for anyone to run those ads, said Ian Carter, an executive member of the Canadian Bar Association's national criminal justice section.

Original Article
Source: huffingtonpost.ca/
Author: CP

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