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Libby’s Statement on Violence Against Sex Workers

December 6, 2011 Statements in the House of Parliament

House of Commons
HANSARD
December 6, 2011

You can also view this statement at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cnN1rOffvSI

Ms. Libby Davies (Vancouver East, NDP):

Mr. Speaker, Vancouver-based community activist Jennifer Allan has been travelling across Canada to raise awareness about discrimination and violence against sex workers. This is an issue that touches me closely in my riding in Vancouver East, especially on this National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women.

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Libby asks BC's Attorney General to Extend Funding to Community Applicants in Missing Women Commission of Inquiry

June 1, 2011
Updates from Libby

Attorney General
Honourable Barry Penner
PO Box 9044 Stn Prov Govt
Victoria, BC
V8W 9E2

May 31, 2011

Dear Mr. Penner,

I am writing to ask you to reconsider your recent decision that you will not be funding legal counsel for the 13 applicants from the Downtown Eastside community granted legal standing at the Missing Women Commission of Inquiry. This inquiry is of great importance to the Vancouver East residents, as our community was deeply affected by the tragedy of many women going missing and being murdered. The Inquiry presented a chance for those affected to talk about what happened in their community and why it happened.

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Libby Speaking out for Rights for Sex Workers

October 12, 2010 Press Release

Statement from Vancouver East MP on the decision of the B.C. Court of Appeal

October 12, 2010

I welcome the good news today that the B.C. Court of Appeal will allow a court challenge of Canada’s criminal laws relating to adult prostitution.

Following the Ontario Superior Court ruling to strike down Canada’s harmful prostitution laws, I’m hopeful that this legal action will give sex workers a much needed voice in B.C.

I commend the work of the Downtown Eastside Sex Workers United Against Violence Society, Sheryl Kiselbach and Pivot Legal Society, for their courage and perseverance in bringing this important issue forward.

Libby Davies
MP Vancouver East

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Libby Welcomes Superior Court Ruling Striking Down Harmful Laws

September 28, 2010 Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 28, 2010

MP Libby Davies Welcomes Superior Court Ruling Striking Down Harmful Laws

Ottawa- Vancouver East MP Libby Davies welcomes today’s landmark Ontario Superior Court ruling striking down Canada’s laws surrounding prostitution noting the laws are substantially “increasing the risk of harm” to sex workers.

“This is a long overdue victory for some of Canada’s most vulnerable women,” said Davies. “The ruling is in line with the 2006 findings of the Parliamentary Sub-Committee on Solicitation Laws, showing that current laws are hurting sex workers,” said Davies whose Private Member’s Motion was the impetus for the sub-committee.

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Libby welcomes public inquiry into murdered and missing women

September 9, 2010 Press Release

Vancouver - I welcome the Government of British Columbia’s decision yesterday to undertake a public inquiry into the investigation of Vancouver’s murdered and missing women and importantly, an examination of the “manner in which cases involving missing women are investigated,” as outlined in the Province’s press release.

I call on the Attorney General of BC to ensure that this inquiry moves forward in collaboration with First Nations women and other area women’s organizations, and that the voices of the Downtown Eastside, which have been ignored for too long, are heard and listened to.

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Libby speaking out against harmful regulatory changes

August 29, 2010
Toronto Star
Bawdy politics: Critics say new regulation endangers sex workers' livesIt's hard to picture Claire Jones in bed with organized crime. The curvy sex worker, who has been plying her prodigious assets for seven years now, could one day face five years in jail if she works with other “girls'' at her luxury downtown condo. And she does, at least sometimes. New regulations announced earlier this month by Justice Minister Rob Nicholson, regulations aimed at strengthening “the ability of law enforcement to fight organized crime,'' put her at risk....Ironically, as reports over the past few weeks have revealed, police forces bungled the Pickton case. Sex workers who had evidence that might have prevented more deaths were discounted, just because they were deemed not credible as witnesses. “I actually don't think the government cares about sex workers; to them it's just ‘oh they're going after organized crime,''' says NDP MP Libby Davies, in whose Vancouver east riding serial killer Robert Pickton picked off his victims. “The whole underpinning of the missing women is that they weren't ever seen as people, they were seen as disposable garbage by everybody.''
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The missing and murdered women of Vancouver deserve an inquiry

August 27, 2010
rabble.ca
The missing and murdered women of Vancouver deserve an inquiryWhen it comes to considering the missing and murder women from the Downtown Eastside, these are the concerns: • Why did so many things go wrong? • Lack of trust for police that still keeps women from reporting violence. • What can we learn about solicitation laws and why they don't work? • Jurisdictional issues need to be addressed. • A necessary evaluation of any public program. • What can we learn about marginalized women and men?
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