WOMEN’S GROUPS CALLING ATTENTION
TO THE FIRST CASE IN BC COURT OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING OF UNDER AGE GIRLS
VANCOUVER – Today, January 25th, 2012. For the first time in BC’s history, a man has been charged for human trafficking in relation to trafficking and profiting from prostitution of underage girls.
Reza Moazami will be appearing in Vancouver Provincial Court (222 Main street) today, facing in total 8 charges including living on the avails of a juvenile while using, threatened to use or attempted to use violence, intimidation/coercion, trafficking in persons under the age of 18, sexual exploitation, and sexual interference.
Human trafficking of women and girls is fueled by the male demand for the immediate access the bodies of women and girls and is facilitated by the pimping, buying, and selling of women and girls for the explicit purpose of prostitution.
Trisha Baptie from EVE (formerly Exploited Voices now Educating) say’s: "I feel that Reza Moazami facing charges is a needed step in securing safety for young girls and women, the next important step is criminalizing the male demand for paid sexual access to young girl's bodies so that men like Moazami will know that exploiting and violating young girls is no longer the profitable crime it is seen to be as the market is no longer there.” She further states: “Until this step is taken we feel that men willing to exploit girls will continue to see consequences such as jail as a minor inconvenience when looking at the profit to be made from men willing to pay to rape girls"
Summer Rain Bentham, collective member of Vancouver Rape relief and women’s Shelter: “Prostitution in itself is inherently raciest, Aboriginal women and girls are over represented in Street level prostitution and Asian women and girls are hidden in massage parlors and brothels all around the city.” Adding that: “The average age of entry in to prostitution in Canada is 12 – 14 years of Age, this cannot be called a choice definitely not a free choice and not a choice any child should have to make.”
This case comes at a pivotal time in Vancouver While the Missing Women Inquiry hearing evidence regarding the state failure to protect women from Robert Pickton. Also this morning, Martin Tremblay is in court facing the charges regarding the prostituting, sexually assaulting while drugging aboriginal girls and negligence causing death.
Vancouver Rape Relief and Women’s Shelter is arguing for the Abolition of prostitution to end to the sexual exploitation of women and girls in Canada. Vancouver Rape Relief and women’s Shelter along with other equality women’s seeking groups will be attending court today.
Media Contact: Summer Rain Bentham, Vancouver Rape Relief and Women’s Shelter
Tell: 604 872 8212 summerrainb@rapereliefshelter.bc.ca
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