ROOT CAUSE OF PROSTITUTION

Completely left out in the letter (Rethinking the Pickton murder
trial, Outlook, Feb. 1) is that one of the root causes of
prostitution is drug addiction -- it is not just poverty driven.

Men and women are entrapped by both. Survival sex work has a huge
connection with drug addition, there is no safe environment for it.

We already condone it, with escort services and massage parlours.

They are raped, robbed, beaten and exploited.

There is an organization called The Sex Professionals of Canada who
are advocating for the federal government to decriminalize
prostitution, believing you can report bad dates and cut down on violence.

The federal Conservatives do not agree with decriminalization.

Sweden has driven it out of their country.

The Netherlands tried it and it was nothing but trouble, but they
have it in Australia and New Zealand - New South Wales.

Prostitution is prohibitionist in nature. The parliament committee
could not make up their minds on solicitation laws because they are
arbitrary and create too much harm.

With legalization, you end up with complete control of the industry.
We would be exchanging a street pimp for state pimp.

If the question is, should cities create special zones, removed from
residential areas for commercial sex?

I believe it would create the same environment of violent predators,
no matter where you place the prostitutes. Root causes would still be
there, drug addiction and poverty.

Margaret Dean

North Vancouver