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Prostitution and Human Trafficking for Sexual Exploitation

In Montréal, prostitution and sexual exploitation take place in a number of places, in particular, escort agencies, strip clubs, massage parlours, in the street, etc. and in a number of forms, such as prostitution done independently, controlled by organized crime or pimps, student prostitution, and others. 

What to do?

Even if some women may benefit from this lucrative business, the facts show that a large majority of women find themselves in situations of violence they did not chose to be in, and it may be difficult for them to get out of it without outside help.

Did you witness sexual exploitation toward someone?

  • Report this situation right away to your Police Department, or anonymously to Info-crimes Montréal.
  • Ask for help from school, community or health resources.

Are you being bothered by inappropriate behaviour from people who are soliciting on the street?

  • Contact the nearest Police Department or call 911 if this is an emergency.

Are you being harassed by customers of prostitutes?

  • Contact the nearest Police Department or call 911 if there is an emergency. 

Victim assistance

If you are a victim of sexual exploitation: 

A number of community organizations can come to your assistance. But above all, talk about it with people you trust.

What the SPVM does

The SPVM identified three main action priorities in respect to prostitution and human trafficking for sexual exploitation purposes. It is committed to prioritizing its interventions in respect to:

  1. Sexual exploitation of children for profit (ESEC)
  2. Human trafficking for sexual exploitation purposes and procuring and coercion
  3. Cohabitation in sensitive neighbourhoods

The SPVM has an action plan to assist victims of sexual exploitation and fight against individuals who exploit them.   

+ Action Plan on Prostitution and Human Trafficking for Sexual Exploitation

It is estimated that prostitutes, generally recruited locally, are predominantly women and teenagers who are forced to work in the sex trade, and are mercilessly exploited by criminals acting as pimps. To this effect, a number of organized networks have been established for a long time in the prostitution market and are major suppliers of women for the sex industry (CISC, 2010). They often conduct activities between provinces and move victims into suitable places from one city or province to another. This mobility allows them to cover a larger area, giving them greater notoriety. It is because of this fact, among others, that very often enables them to avoid the pressure exerted by law enforcement organizations.

In the last few years, we have witnessed a collective awareness about the severity of the consequences of sexual exploitation on the victims.

It is in this context that the SPVM took on the initiative of reviewing its guidelines in respect to prostitution and human trafficking for sexual exploitation purposes.