Annotation:
This short statement explains the Native
Women's Association of Canada's (NWAC)
position with respect to prostitution:
namely, that it is an exploitative
practice that further entrenches the
inequality of aboriginal women based on
their gender, race, age, disability, and
poverty. NWAC highlights the fact that
aboriginal women are overrepresented in
prostitution and advocates for the
decriminalization of activities
prostitutes engage in, while also
supporting the criminalization of the
purchase of sex and of the activities of
those who profit from the prostitution of
women and girls. NWAC supports the Nordic
model of prostitution policy, which
includes public education to discourage
prostitution, criminalization of johns and
pimps, and provides, real alternatives to
prostitution for women. The statement ends
with a summary of NWAC's six key points.
In general, these points advocate that
aboriginal women and girls need to be
respected and valued, the state should
oppose the commercialization of women's
bodies, Aboriginal women and girls should
not be punished for their own exploitation
or lack of options, violence against women
is a serious offence and should not be
tolerated, Aboriginal women and girls
deserve lives free from poverty and
violence and the movement to end
prostitution is based on equality and
human rights of women.