Mr. Speaker, Monday is the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women. This day coincides with the anniversary of the tragic death of 14 young women who were killed at the École Polytechnique in Montreal because of their gender.
The case of the 69 women missing from the downtown east side of Vancouver also highlights the grave danger many women face in their lives. Sex trade workers are awarded no rights in our society and the level of violence they face is astronomical.
I urge my colleagues on the parliamentary committee, who are about to review the solicitation laws, to hear from sex trade workers themselves and put forward recommendations that will improve their safety and communities overall.
I also call on the Minister of Justice to place a moratorium on the enforcement of the communicating laws under the Criminal Code.
This December 6 we must dedicate ourselves to ensure that violence against women is eliminated and that all women live in dignity, with respect and equality in our society.