Buying sex services is a major enrichment for hardened criminals, especially at the start of the festival season during the Grand Prix, attendees recalled.
• Also read: Canadian Grand Prix: Many girls moved to Montreal to fulfill sexual desire
• Also read: Behind the scenes of a client hunt: The Journal accompanied investigators on a police operation aimed at arresting men who solicited sexual services from escorts
“A customer who decides to buy sex supports pimps. He becomes an accomplice to other criminals who not only destroy the lives of girls and women, but also have a truly detrimental impact on society,” argues Jennie-Laure Sully, community organizer at the Concertation des Fights Contre l’Exploitation Sex ( KEY).
Jennie-Laure Sully, community organizer at the Consolidation of Fights Against Sexual Exploitation (CLES), in an interview with Le Journal, Saturday. MARIO BEAUREGARD/QMI AGENCY
Also this year, various organizations gathered in downtown Montreal in the middle of the Grand Prix to raise public awareness.
Stickers and information brochures were distributed to draw passers-by’s attention to the topic.
“We know that the Grand Prix is like the start of the festival season, a lot of men come to Montreal.” […] You don’t know the law. They don’t know [l’achat de services sexuels] It’s a criminal offense so it’s important to get the message across,” says Jennie-Laure Sully.
In most cases, it is the exploiters who make the most money from prostitution, stakeholders interviewed by Le Journal recall.
Various organisations, including the CLES, met on the sidelines of the Grand Prix at Dorchester Park on Saturday. MARIO BEAUREGARD/QMI AGENCY
From the band
Sexual exploitation also opens the door to other crimes, adds Paul Laurier, a former police officer from the Surete du Québec.
“Girls who do it voluntarily [offrir des services sexuels]”It’s not the majority,” he said.
So you will “consume”. [de la drogue]will have it consumed,” says the man who submitted a report to the Special Commission on the Sexual Exploitation of Minors.
The traditional “Open Day” attracted thousands of fans to the Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve. Martin Chevalier / JdeM
He adds that such a weekend also promotes human trafficking, for example for those who are in the country illegally.
Overall, both the public and the authorities are looking the other way, regrets the founder of the cyber investigation company Vigiteck.
“It’s a bit like pollution. We’re all against climate change, but we’re all consuming and we’re all ordering from Amazon. “We do the opposite of what we say,” explains the expert.
Paul Laurier, ex-Sûreté du Québec police officer, President of Vigiteck. It identifies advertisements for sexual services on the websites. (Photo taken in 2019) Valérie Gonthier / JdeM
social costs
Stakeholders interviewed by Le Journal all agree: the horrors these women are suffering will eventually make themselves felt in the healthcare system.
“The money that[une femme] “Whoever has to spend money in the health system on mental and physical health problems is a societal cost that is still significant,” says Jennie-Laure Sully.
“It is difficult for these women to move forward in life, to develop their autonomy and to carry out personal and professional projects. “There are several who suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder,” adds Suzanne, a survivor now involved with CLES.
She prefers to hide her true identity as she has turned this part of her life upside down.
The distinction
In Canada it is not illegal to offer sexual services, but it is illegal to purchase and use them. One speaks of prostitution when one pays with money or drugs.