Justice for Women: Supreme Court of Canada Upholds Conviction

🇨🇦 Justice for Women: Supreme Court of Canada Upholds Conviction in Exploitation Case

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ENGLISH: Some good news for a change—Last week, the Supreme Court of Canada delivered a landmark decision that strengthens the fight against the exploitation of women in prostitution. The Court upheld the conviction of two men who were acting as “drivers,” profiting from the sale of women’s bodies. This decision is a major win for women’s rights and gender justice across the country.

The case originated in Ontario but now affects all of Canada. The Supreme Court ruling validates Canada’s legal framework under the Protection of Communities and Exploited Persons Act (PCEPA), which criminalizes pimps and buyers—not the exploited women.

Powerful voices helped guide this outcome: The Women’s Equality Coalition—comprised of survivor-led and feminist organizations like EVE (formerly Exploited Voices Now Educating), Aboriginal Women's Action Network, Strength in SISterhood, CLES (Concertation des luttes contre l'exploitation sexuelle), and the London Abused Women’s Centre—intervened in the case and were directly quoted by the Court. The judges acknowledged that prostitution in Canada disproportionately harms Indigenous and marginalized women, calling it a result of “profound sexism and sexualized colonialism.”

Let this ruling be a wake-up call: exploitation is not empowerment. Justice is possible when the system listens to survivors, recognizes historical violence, and holds exploiters accountable.

SPANISH / ESPAÑOL: Una buena noticia por fin—La semana pasada, la Corte Suprema de Canadá confirmó la condena de dos hombres que actuaban como “conductores” y se beneficiaban de la prostitución de mujeres. Este fallo fortalece la lucha contra la explotación sexual y valida la ley canadiense que criminaliza a proxenetas y compradores, no a las mujeres explotadas.

El tribunal citó directamente a la Coalición por la Igualdad de las Mujeres, que incluye a voces indígenas y feministas. Se reconoció que la prostitución daña desproporcionadamente a mujeres indígenas y marginadas, como reflejo del colonialismo sexualizado y el sexismo profundo.

FRENCH / FRANÇAIS : Une bonne nouvelle pour changer—La semaine dernière, la Cour suprême du Canada a confirmé la condamnation de deux hommes qui profitaient de l’exploitation sexuelle de femmes en agissant comme « chauffeurs ». Cette décision importante valide la loi canadienne qui pénalise les proxénètes et les acheteurs, tout en protégeant les femmes exploitées.

La Cour a cité la Coalition pour l’égalité des femmes, composée d’organisations de femmes autochtones et féministes. Le tribunal a reconnu que les femmes autochtones sont touchées de manière disproportionnée, et que la prostitution est le reflet d’un sexisme profond et d’un colonialisme sexualisé.

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Let’s keep raising our voices. Support survivor-led organizations. Share the truth. Justice is possible. 💪🏽🔥

#JusticeForWomen #EndSexualExploitation #IndigenousRights #FeministVictory #CanadaSupremeCourt #WomensEqualityCoalition #EVECanada #CLES #LondonAbusedWomensCentre #AWAN #PCEPA