Last June 2nd and 3rd, our Project Management Coordinator Jessica Cantin-Nantel attended EQUALITY IN ACTION!, 4th World Congress for the Abolition of Prostitution of Women and Girls. The event was hosted by CAP International (Coalition Abolition Prostitution) in collaboration with four of its member organizations located on the North American continent: the CLES - Concertation des luttes contre l’exploitation sexuelle (Montreal), the Vancouver Rape Relief and Women’s Shelter, the EVA Center (Boston), and Breaking Free (Minneapolis).

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This event brought together survivors of sexual exploitation, activists, community workers, administrators of community and government organizations, and legal experts, from various countries throughout the world including Canada, the United States, France, Sweden, Spain, Colombia, and others.

The Congress began with a water ceremony led by Indigenous community worker Fay Desjarlais, and continued with various panels on topics including:

•    the prostitution system as a continuation of historical oppressions;
•    prostitution at the intersection of sexist, racist, and class-based oppressions;
•    the Nordic Model (also referred to as the Swedish Model or the Equality Model); 
•    the role of legislation, governments, and international institutions;
•    the role of sports events in the commodification of women; 
•    connections between pornography and prostitution;
•    challenges and good practices for providing exit pathways.

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Workshops in small groups were also given. One workshop, Comprendre les enjeux de l’intervention auprès des adolescentes victimes d’exploitation sexuelle (Understanding the Challenges in Responding to Adolescent Victims of Sexual Exploitation) was facilitated by Marie-Michèle Whitlock (CALACS de l’Estrie) and Émilie Laframboise (CALAS de l’Outaouais). This workshop notably explored the consequences of sexual exploitation through the lens of complex trauma, the role of social media in sexual exploitation, and recommended interventions for victimized adolescents, including a trauma-informed approach. 

 

Please don’t hesitate to contact us!

The Support Service team
Allied with designated centres across Québec