2.0 History with the sex trade and reasons for seeking support

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2.1 MAPI clients by select characteristics

The MAPI dataset does not provide a full description of how clients entered the sex trade, nor the age at which they entered the sex trade; however, there is some information with regard to their history and involvement in the sex trade. Although it was not possible to determine if clients entered the sex trade by choice or for survival specifically, information is available with regard to some groups that are generally overrepresented in the sex trade (please see section 1.0 Socio-demographic characteristics for more information).

Most notably, 67% of MAPI clients were physically and/or psychologically coerced by others into providing sexual services (Table 2.1). About 6% all MAPI clients were under age 18 at the time of reporting (Table 2.1), and 0.4% of MAPI clients were Children’s Aid wards (data not shown).

Table 2.1
Proportion of MAPI clients by select characteristics, Canada, 2015-16 to 2019-20

Notes:

1. Categories are not mutually exclusive, some clients identify under multiple groups therefore percentages do not add to 100%.
2. The “Unknown” category consists of responses of “Unknown” and “Not stated” (blanks).

Source: Justice Canada, Measures to Address Prostitution Initiative (MAPI), 2015-16 to 2019-20.

2.2 Entry into the sex trade

Based on interviews with the representatives of the MAPI organizations, five key themes were identified as important influences that facilitate entry into the sex trade. These themes include: experiences of violence and/or sexual abuse during childhood; involvement of child welfare services during childhood; colonization and intergenerational trauma; poverty and homelessness; and, the allure of the sex trade lifestyle, which is viewed by some as glamorous and as providing opportunities for financial and social success.

• Childhood abuse was frequently cited as a common characteristic among MAPI clients, and more than half of the interviews brought up childhood sexual abuse as a key factor.
• Clients who had experienced some form of violence prior to entering the sex trade was commonly observed.
• The effects of colonization and intergenerational trauma are crucial factors that make Indigenous peoples vulnerable to involvement in the sex trade and to being physically and/or psychologically coerced by others into providing sexual services.
• In more than half of the 18 interviews for this study, poverty and low socio-economic status were raised as important pre-disposing factors that make people vulnerable to involvement in the sex trade, as well as to being physically and/or psychologically coerced by others into providing sexual services. In particular, when people cannot meet their own basic needs or those of their family, they become increasingly desperate and willing to do things they would not normally do in order to survive.
• The allure of the sex trade–the money, attention and luxuries–is an important risk factor that make youth vulnerable to involvement in the sex trade and to being physically and/or psychologically coerced by others into providing sexual services.8 Some noted that traffickers target youth and use the allure of the lifestyle to draw them in, such as through the grooming process that includes expensive gifts. One interviewee described this phenomenon as follows:

The victims get used being driven around in fancy cars, you don’t have that when you leave. For young people it’s about selling a lifestyle and a sense of self-worth, you feel like you’re special. It’s this concept of Pretty Woman with Julia Roberts, the idea of a great lifestyle. Hundreds and thousands of girls have entered and even if choice was their main intention, it is not usually possible to maintain control or escape exploitation.

2.3 Types of support requested

Overall, 81% of MAPI clients requested support for exiting the sex trade from MAPI organizations (Table 2.2). Less than 1% of clients reported they were not interested in leaving the sex trade, and less than half a percent were unsure or ambivalent about exiting the sex trade.

Table 2.2
Proportion of MAPI clients seeking to exit the sex trade, Canada, 2015-16 to 2019-20

Note: The “Unknown” category consists of responses of “Unknown” and “Not stated” (blanks).

Source: Justice Canada, Measures to Address Prostitution Initiative (MAPI), 2015-16 to 2019-20.

Among MAPI clients who requested support to exit the sex trade, almost 40% requested access to programs and services. The most commonly requested support was mental health counselling (25%) to heal from trauma (Table 2.3).9 This was followed by 8% who requested support with addictions and sobriety, and 5% who needed access to safe housing.

Support with raising children was requested by 15% of MAPI clients (Table 2.3). Regaining custody or visitation rights, as well as keeping children from being apprehended by child welfare services, was mentioned by 14% of clients.

Table 2.3
Proportion of MAPI clients by main types of support requested, Canada, 2015-16 to 2019-20

Notes:

1. Categories are not mutually exclusive; clients often have identified multiple categories therefore percentages do not add to 100%.
2. The "Unknown" category consists of responses of "Unknown" and "Not stated" (blanks) as well as clients who indicated they are not interested in exiting the sex trade or who are unsure.

Source: Justice Canada, Measures to Address Prostitution Initiative (MAPI), 2015-16 to 2019-20.

Another key reason for requesting help from a MAPI organization was for safety from violence. About 12% of clients were looking for safety after experiences or threats of violence, including rape and being attacked by purchasers and third parties, or were escaping violence in general on the streets (Table 2.3).

During the interviews, the representatives of MAPI organizations consistently mentioned that their clients often require physical health care. Several interviewees listed a few of the most common injuries they see on their clients:

• Black eyes;
• Bruising from the neck down (frequently done by traffickers);
• Lacerations from knives and other devices;
• Strangulation marks;
• Teeth knocked out;
• Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI);
• Bullet wounds from being shot (generally when there is organized crime / gangs involved);
• Internal injuries to female reproductive organs and tissue damage from violent sexual activity and being penetrated with various objects; and
• Nipples pulled off.

Some MAPI organizations reported in their narrative reports to the MAPI program that they have clients with permanent disabilities because of violence in the sex trade, such as permanent hearing or vision loss and mobility issues. In one interview, one MAPI organization representative reported that some of their clients viewed their experiences as torture.

In about a quarter of the interviews conducted for this study, MAPI organization representatives talked about clients who were branded with hot irons by third parties; members of criminal organizations, gangs and traffickers were specifically mentioned. Other MAPI clients had been tattooed with the names of those who were profiting from their sexual services, or with gang symbols. MAPI organizations reported that both the branding and tattoos cause clients significant mental and emotional pain because they are a constant reminder that they did not, or do not, have ownership of their bodies. Part of the healing and exiting process is reclaiming autonomy over their bodies, which for some involves removing or covering up unwanted tattoos and brands.

A small proportion, 2%, of MAPI clients specifically sought support from the MAPI organizations to overcome feelings of disgust, guilt, and stigma from being involved in the sex trade and the lifestyle associated with it (Table 2.3).

Overall, close to 30% of MAPI clients requested support to improve and change their lives. One in five (21%) clients declared that they wanted support from MAPI organizations to improve their lives and change their lifestyle for a better, happier and healthier life. About 3% of MAPI clients wanted to learn coping and life skills.

Almost 30% of MAPI clients stated they wished to leave their current situation of sexual exploitation. A small proportion of clients (1%) reported that their reason for seeking services was to leave an abusive relationship or break out of a cycle of unhealthy relationships.

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