Speaking for the voiceless

Winnipeg must act to protect the lives of prostitutes

JESSE BEACH

It has become a dumping ground; a veritable graveyard of unmissed and unwanted victims. A lonely stretch of field in northwest Winnipeg, far from houses or people, has become an unmarked grave for Winnipeg’s victims of the sex trade industry. The latest victim was found late last month and was identified by police as Fonessa Bruyere, 17, a known sex trade worker.

Bruyere is the latest of a fledgling series of victims that have been dumped in or around the same field. Two other known sex trade workers have been discovered within a few kilometers of Bruyere’s body . The decomposed body of Therena Silva, 36, was discovered by a man running his dog in the area in December 2002; while the body of Aynsley Aurora Kinch, 35, was found just last June. Both cases remain unsolved. The fact that the three women, all members of the same profession, were all found within a few kilometers of each other gives rise to a terrifying possibility: the presence of a serial killer in our already crime-filled city.

Police suggest that the evidence does not point to a serial killer just yet, as in such cases similar patterns appear which Winnipeg police have not found in these murders. However, given that the three women were members of the same profession and were found murdered in the same area, the police have provided the public with no information that discounts the possibility of a serial killer. Sgt. Kelly Dennison of the Winnipeg Police Department has, however, indicated to CBC news that it is difficult to investigate the murders of women involved in the sex trade due to their irregular hours and underground movements. Which, of course, begs the question: how will the police be able to identify patterns in these murders, if any, when they have admitted the futility of investigating into the lives of the deceased?

It appears the Winnipeg police and, quite honestly, the general public have no interest in the lives or murders of “mere” prostitutes. Winnipeg is admittedly not the only city in Canada to have problems with multiple killings of sex trade workers, but I have not yet heard the cries of outrage that emanate from other Canadian cities concerning the inherent dangers of Canada’s prostitution laws. In Edmonton and Vancouver, there are special task forces which specialize in investigating these murders . Vancouver is also home to a group of volunteer law students attempting to change the controversial prostitution laws in Canada.

Canada’s prostitution laws are in place to serve the patrons of the practice, not the women forced to walk the streets. While prostitution itself is not illegal in our country, communicating the intent to procure

“Canada’s prostitution laws are in place to serve the patrons of the practice, not the women forced to walk the streets.”

sex from prostitution is. The wording of this law forces these women away from permanent public locations, defined as “bawdy houses,” away from public areas. This forces prostitutes into more dangerous neighbourhoods where they are less likely to be seen, and where their clients, and potential killers, are less likely to be identified. Though I am certainly not suggesting that prostitution be legalized (that comes with its own set of problems), it is obvious that the current state of affairs is unnecessarily dangerous for those women who work in the sex trade. It is equally useless to simply change the wording of the law to make prostitution illegal outright, as that would change nothing.

It seems apparent, though apparently not of interest to the general public, that a new system must be put in place. One that does not wholly favour the clientele while condemning the proprieters to certain danger or even worse, death. Whether it be a change in law, the development of a special task force or merely an increased patrolling of the more dangerous neighbourhoods, Winnipeg must take some sort of action against the continual and persistant murder of its citizens, even if they are considered by some to be merely second-rate.

Jesse Beach is a fourth-year English student at the University of Manitoba.





Volume 95 Issue 6	The Official University of Manitoba Students' Newspaper Website	September 19, 2007

Home About Us Advertising Rates Contact Staff Current Issue PDF Employment Letters to the Editor Meet the Staff Online Archives Volunteer Online Classifieds St. Vincent's Academy Diaries	Font Size Respond Email Print-Friendly Speaking for the voiceless Winnipeg must act to protect the lives of prostitutes JESSE BEACH It has become a dumping ground; a veritable graveyard of unmissed and unwanted victims. A lonely stretch of field in northwest Winnipeg, far from houses or people, has become an unmarked grave for Winnipeg’s victims of the sex trade industry. The latest victim was found late last month and was identified by police as Fonessa Bruyere, 17, a known sex trade worker. Bruyere is the latest of a fledgling series of victims that have been dumped in or around the same field. Two other known sex trade workers have been discovered within a few kilometers of Bruyere’s body . The decomposed body of Therena Silva, 36, was discovered by a man running his dog in the area in December 2002; while the body of Aynsley Aurora Kinch, 35, was found just last June. Both cases remain unsolved. The fact that the three women, all members of the same profession, were all found within a few kilometers of each other gives rise to a terrifying possibility: the presence of a serial killer in our already crime-filled city. Police suggest that the evidence does not point to a serial killer just yet, as in such cases similar patterns appear which Winnipeg police have not found in these murders. However, given that the three women were members of the same profession and were found murdered in the same area, the police have provided the public with no information that discounts the possibility of a serial killer. Sgt. Kelly Dennison of the Winnipeg Police Department has, however, indicated to CBC news that it is difficult to investigate the murders of women involved in the sex trade due to their irregular hours and underground movements. Which, of course, begs the question: how will the police be able to identify patterns in these murders, if any, when they have admitted the futility of investigating into the lives of the deceased? It appears the Winnipeg police and, quite honestly, the general public have no interest in the lives or murders of “mere” prostitutes. Winnipeg is admittedly not the only city in Canada to have problems with multiple killings of sex trade workers, but I have not yet heard the cries of outrage that emanate from other Canadian cities concerning the inherent dangers of Canada’s prostitution laws. In Edmonton and Vancouver, there are special task forces which specialize in investigating these murders . Vancouver is also home to a group of volunteer law students attempting to change the controversial prostitution laws in Canada. Canada’s prostitution laws are in place to serve the patrons of the practice, not the women forced to walk the streets. While prostitution itself is not illegal in our country, communicating the intent to procure “Canada’s prostitution laws are in place to serve the patrons of the practice, not the women forced to walk the streets.” sex from prostitution is. The wording of this law forces these women away from permanent public locations, defined as “bawdy houses,” away from public areas. This forces prostitutes into more dangerous neighbourhoods where they are less likely to be seen, and where their clients, and potential killers, are less likely to be identified. Though I am certainly not suggesting that prostitution be legalized (that comes with its own set of problems), it is obvious that the current state of affairs is unnecessarily dangerous for those women who work in the sex trade. It is equally useless to simply change the wording of the law to make prostitution illegal outright, as that would change nothing. It seems apparent, though apparently not of interest to the general public, that a new system must be put in place. One that does not wholly favour the clientele while condemning the proprieters to certain danger or even worse, death. Whether it be a change in law, the development of a special task force or merely an increased patrolling of the more dangerous neighbourhoods, Winnipeg must take some sort of action against the continual and persistant murder of its citizens, even if they are considered by some to be merely second-rate. Jesse Beach is a fourth-year English student at the University of Manitoba.


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