NEWS RELEASE
UNIVERSITY OF WINDSOR/CONCORDIA RESEARCH TEAM TO ANNOUNCE RESULTS OF
STUDY INTO THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF SEX WORKERS
(TORONTO, ONTARIO, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2004) - Sex Trade Advocacy and
Research (STAR) will unveil the results of a four-year study examining
the role of Canadian public policy in the health and well-being of sex
workers during concurrent 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. events on Thursday, September
30th. The events will take place at the 519 Church Street Community
Centre in Toronto and the Gay and Lesbian Community Centre of
Montréal (CCGLM), 2075 Rue Plessis.
STAR is comprised of University of Windsor sociology professors
Jacqueline Lewis, Eleanor Maticka-Tyndale, Concordia University
sociology professor Frances Shaver, community partners Region of Peel
Health and sex worker advocacy groups the Exotic Dancers' Alliance of
Canada (EDAC), Maggie's and Stella. The research team examined how
public policy regarding health, social service, employment, policing,
municipal regulation and federal laws affect the health and safety of
sex workers. These workers include escorts, masseuses, dancers,
dominatrices and street workers. The $352,424 study was funded by a
research grant from the Social Science and Humanities Research Council
(SSHRC). An additional $15,000 grant from the National Network on
Environments and Women's Health (NNEWH) enabled the team to hire and
train community partners as research assistants.
Research results were used to develop a series of informational
brochures for sex workers and two research reports that will be made
available to the public at the September 30th launch. The brochures will
be available in both English and French and cover issues tied to law,
security, money and health.
To ensure the privacy of those attending the launch, filming and
photography are by permission only.
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