Sex Work and Public Health in Canada
PUBLIC HEALTH MATTERS
Sex work is highly stigmatized and criminalized in Canada, which creates significant barriers to the health, safety, and well-being of sex workers. From a public health perspective, addressing sex work through harm reduction, decriminalization, and improving access to health services is critical for protecting the health of sex workers and the broader public. The Canadian federal government has a crucial role in implementing policies that prioritize the health and safety of sex workers while removing the systemic barriers they face.
A Higher Standard
Sex work is a public health issue, and criminalization exacerbates health risks for sex workers, increasing their exposure to violence, discrimination, and barriers to healthcare. The Protection of Communities and Exploited Persons Act (PCEPA) criminalizes many aspects of sex work, pushing sex workers into unsafe conditions and increasing their vulnerability to exploitation (Canadian Public Health Association, 2024).
Research has shown that decriminalization of sex work leads to improved health and safety outcomes. Countries that have decriminalized sex work, such as New Zealand, have reported lower rates of violence, better access to health services, and improved relationships between sex workers and law enforcement (Platt, 2018).
It’s time for Canada to do better.
Why It Matters
Sex workers face significant health disparities, including higher rates of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), mental health challenges, and experiences of violence. Criminalization prevents sex workers from reporting crimes, seeking healthcare, and accessing social services without fear of arrest or stigma (UNAIDS, 2024).
Public health organizations, including the World Health Organization and UNAIDS, support decriminalization as a means to improve health and human rights outcomes for sex workers. The federal government has a responsibility to adopt an evidence-based approach that prioritizes harm reduction and safety.
Policy Solutions for the Next Federal Government
- Repeal the Protection of Communities and Exploited Persons Act and move towards the full decriminalization of sex work to ensure safer working conditions and better health outcomes.
- Increase Access to Health and Social Services: Fund community-led health services that provide comprehensive, culturally appropriate care for sex workers, including mental health support and harm reduction services.
Questions for the Candidates
- Will your party commit to repealing the Protection of Communities and Exploited Persons Act and replacing it with an evidence-based regulatory framework?
- Will your party commit to decriminalizing sex work in Canada to improve the safety and health outcomes for sex workers?
- How will your party ensure equitable healthcare access for sex workers without stigma or discrimination?
- What steps will your party take to invest in harm reduction and support services for sex workers?
Resources
Canadian Public Health Association. A Public Health Approach to Sex Work
Platt, et coll. Associations between sex work laws and sex workers’ health: A systematic review and meta-analysis of quantitative and qualitative studies
UNAIDS. To protect sex workers’ health, protect their human rights
Global Network of Sex Work Projects. The Impact of Criminalisation on Sex Workers’ Vulnerability to HIV and Violence