Boyle McCauley News

Since 1979 • April-May 2024 • Circulation 5000

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Sexual Exploitation Week of Awareness

On April 20, the City of Edmonton will be declared the Sexual Exploitation Week of Awareness! Sexual exploitation and its related factors remain an incredibly significant issue within our city. A quarter of the way through 2015 we continue to hear about the national tragedy of missing and murdered Indigenous women, the need to create a consent culture which promotes healthy and safe relationships, and the continued push to provide safe places for youth and adults to talk about sexual and gender identities. Sexual exploitation has many roots within our culture and is pervasive throughout the city. Sexual exploitation, as our esteemed colleague John Walker says, “is like a Hydra; many heads, one beast.” The challenge that we face as Edmontonians is how to address the many heads of the beast while at the same time tackling its roots.

This year, The Sexual Exploitation Working Group (SEWG) has partnered with a youth program to develop a short film that will document youth perspectives of sexual exploitation which will be launched on April 20 at City Centre Mall at 12 p.m. The video will be accompanied by a campaign designed by the youth which will act as an invitation for all of Edmontonians to hear about the issue of sexual exploitation through the perspective of youth. The opportunity that we have as Edmontonians is to embrace the story that these youths are telling us and allow it to become our story. By listening and learning to what youth are experiencing we can take action to help end sexual exploitation.

The week will also feature an online film screening of Finding Dawn on April 21 which illustrates the deep historical, social, and economic factors that contribute to the epidemic of violence against Native women in this country. As well, there will be an online screening of Buying Sex on April 23, which is a feature documentary that explores the state of prostitution laws in Canada.

The week will also feature a hard talk panel discussion on youth perspectives and services for sexual exploitation on April 22 at City Hall hosted by Councillor Scott McKeen.

When we hear the stories of those that are the most affected by this issue we as a city can start to understand where we can make crucial changes in our communities to help create long lasting changes that will end Sexual Exploitation. We hope that you will join us!

For details of the week visit SEWG via social media: @sewgedmonton and fb.com/sewedmonton.

Article submitted by the Sexual Exploitation Working Group.

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