88.13RE Reiteration 1983 Policy on: Prostitution and Soliciting
Whereas, There appears to be a double sexual standard used in the enforcement of prostitution laws. If the soliciting is done by a female prostitute, she is prosecuted. The soliciting male customer is rarely brought into court, except to testify against her, even though participation in soliciting is illegal for both; and,
Whereas, Although the practice of prostitution is generally repulsive to most of our society, it is a victimless crime while, on the other hand, prostitution-related activities such as pimping, procuring, and running common bawdy-houses may regularly exploit other persons; and,
Whereas, While soliciting is a crime, prosecution does little to discourage prostitutes from further offences (may even encourage it by giving fines beyond the ability to otherwise earn) and places a heavy burden on the legal process;
be it,
RESOLVED, That The National Council of Women of Canada urge the Government of Canada to:
- Amend the Criminal Code to remove the prohibition of soliciting (except in the case of adults soliciting from minors) from the code; and,
- Increase penalties for procuring and living wholly or in part on the avails of prostitution of another person.