MP Joy Smith Tables Petitions Calling for Action on Human Trafficking & Sexual Exploitation
OTTAWA, ON – Today, on the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence against Women and the 22nd anniversary of the 1989 murders of 14 young women, Member of Parliament Joy Smith, presented over 9000 signatures in the House of Commons of Canadians calling for government action against modern day slavery and sexual exploitation.
MP Joy Smith tabled 2940 signatures on petitions requesting that 'Parliament amend the Criminal Code to decriminalize the selling of sexual services and criminalize the purchasing of sexual services and provide support to those who desire to leave prostitution.'
"Tragically, women and girls make up the majority of the victims of human trafficking, even here in Canada," said MP Joy Smith. "Women and girls face significant violence through forms of modern day slavery and prostitution."
MP Smith also tabled 6062 signatures that requested that 'the Government develop and implement a comprehensive national action plan to combat human trafficking.'
"The Government of Canada is deeply committed to addressing the problem of violence against women and girls in Canada and abroad,' said MP Joy Smith. "Our government is developing a National Action Plan to Combat Human Trafficking and it is investing in projects that combat violence and abuse."
December 6 is the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence against Women in Canada. Established in 1991 by the Parliament of Canada, the day marks the anniversary of the murders in 1989 of 14 young women at l'École Polytechnique de Montréal, who died because they were women.
"This day is an opportunity for Canadians to reflect on the countless women and girls worldwide for whom violence and the threat of violence are a daily reality," said MP Joy Smith. "Violence against women affects us all. It destroys our families and communities and knows no bounds – social, economic, racial or geographic."
MP Joy Smith also recognized the link between modern day slavery and forms of violence against women and girls in a statement in the House of Commons on Friday December 2, 2011:
Mr. Speaker,
Today is the International Day for the Abolition of Slavery, which represents the global effort to eradicate contemporary forms of slavery, such as trafficking in persons, sexual exploitation, the worst forms of child labour, forced marriage, and child soldiers.
Tragically, women and girls make up the majority of these victims, even here in Canada.
The Government of Canada is deeply committed to addressing the problem of violence against women and girls in Canada and abroad.
Our government will mark the December 6 National Day of Violence Against Women by encouraging Canadians to raise awareness about gender violence and taking action to invest in projects that combat violence and abuse.
May we remain steadfast in our determination and action to end violence against women and girls in all its forms.
MP Joy Smith has introduced a Private Members' Bill to extend extraterritorial jurisdiction to Canada's human trafficking offences and enhance the definition of exploitation. Bill C-310 will be debated for a second time on December 12, 2011 and will be put to a vote at Second Reading on December 14, 2011. MP Smith's previous Private Members' Bill, C-268 become law in 2010 and created Canada's child trafficking offence.
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For more information, please contact:
Joel Oosterman
Chief of Staff
Office of Joy Smith, MP
Phone: (613) 992-7148
Email: joy.smith.a2@parl.gc.ca
Website: www.joysmith.ca
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