The number of migrants in all sectors of the local sex industry in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) has dramatically increased in the last ten years, according to a recent study released by the Wellesley Institute.
In their report, Building Partnerships for Service Provision to Migrant Sex Workers, Natalya Timoshkina and Lynn McDonald found that migrant sex workers are one of the most hard-to-reach, underserved and poorly studied populations.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) estimates that between 600 and 800 foreign women and girls are trafficked into the Canadian sex industry each year, but estimates from other sources are much higher.
“And while there are no official statistics on the number of migrant sex workers in the GTA, anecdotal evidence coming from various sources, including law enforcement and sex worker organizations, suggests that there are several thousand migrants working in Toronto’s strip clubs, massage parlours, escort services, underground brothels, and street prostitution,” said the report authours.
“Studies conducted in various parts of the world consistently show that migrant sex workers remain largely outside of the legal, medical and social services structures of the host nations. Poor language skills, usually undocumented status, limited understanding of foreign laws and regulations, absence of support networks, and subjection to xenophobia result in the extreme marginalization of migrants, putting them at a greater risk of abuse and exploitation.”
During their research interviews with the women, Timoshkina and McDonald said they were constantly asked for information about general health services (particularly community health centres offering free services to undocumented migrants), affordable dental services, and services to treat drug addiction. “Other frequently asked questions included immigration and legal assistance, employment assistance, education, and language training – services that would be instrumental in helping women exit the sex trade or give them more control over their lives if they remained in the industry.”
In light of these findings, they offered a list of recommendations for addressing health and social service needs of migrant sex workers that included: training for service providers; development of outreach programs; preparation and distribution of information materials about various services in foreign languages; amelioration of unfavourable working conditions in the sex trade establishments; and changes to various immigration, health, and labour policies and regulations.
Support rabble today!
We’re so glad you stopped by! Thanks for consuming rabble content this year.
rabble.ca is 100% reader and donor funded, so as an avid reader of our content, we hope you will consider gifting rabble with a donation during our summer fundraiser today.
Whether it be a one-time donation or a small monthly contribution, your support is critical to keep rabble writers producing the work you’ve come to rely on as a part of a healthy media diet.
Whether it be a one-time donation or a small monthly contribution, your support is critical to keep rabble writers producing the work you’ve come to rely on as a part of a healthy media diet.
Become a rabble rouser — donate to rabble.ca today.
Nick Seebruch, editor
