Report of the Select Committee on the Sexual Exploitation of Minors
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SELECT COMMITTEE ON THE SEXUAL EXPLOITATION OF MINORS CommissionReport of the Select spécialeCommittee on the SUR L’EXPLOITATIONSEXUAL EXPLOITATION OF MINORSSEXUELLE DES MINEURS DECEMBER 2020 [ 1 ] Collaborators of the select committee on the sexual exploitation of minors Secretariat and coordination of work Astrid Martin Carolyne Paquette Sabine Mekki Olivier Champagne Vicky Boucher Sarah-Émilie Duplain Research and drafting Xavier Mercier-Méthé Joëlle Steben-Chabot Magali Paquin Copyediting Danielle Simard Martine Dignard Graphic design and layout Isabelle Bédard Louise Williams Communications Julie Champagne Digital Expertise Centre Jonathan Lalancette Joël Guy Jacques Durand Security Chantale Blanchet Mario Raymond Douglas Desrosiers Jean-Philippe Lemelin For further information about the work of the Select Committee on the Sexual Exploitation of Minors, please contact the Committee Clerk, Astrid Martin. Édifice Pamphile-Le May 1035, rue des Parlementaires, 3e étage Québec (Québec) G1A 1A3 Phone: 418 643-2722 Toll-free: 1 866 337-8837 Fax: 418 643-0248 Email: [email protected] This document is available online in the "Parliamentary Proceedings" section of the National Assembly website: assnat.qc.ca. Legal deposit – February 2021 Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec ISBN (print): 978-2-550-88106-3 ISBN (PDF): 978-2-550-88108-7 To read the consultation document and briefs, view or hear the public hearings, visit the National Assembly website at assnat.qc.ca/commissionspeciale. SELECT COMMITTEE ON THE SEXUAL EXPLOITATION OF MINORS TABLE OF CONTENTS A word from the steering committee 5 MNAs having participated in the work of the Select committee on the sexual exploitation of minors 7 Introduction 9 Setting the context: turning the spotlight on an unfamiliar reality 11 The choice of words 12 Piecemeal knowledge 13 Sexual exploitation: omnipresent, but invisible 15 Drawing a portrait of the victims 15 Procurers and traffickers: the lure of profit first and foremost 17 Client abusers: central yet anonymous players 18 The impact of the pandemic 18 Meeting with the Indigenous communities 19 Difficult conditions 21 In the community and off-community 21 A phenomenon and practices that remain poorly documented 22 How the law protects victims 24 Criminal Code offences 24 Québec laws 25 Government action 25 The Government Strategy to Prevent and Counteract Sexual Violence 2016-2021 25 Action by the Government of Canada 26 Communication and awareness-raising: the need to acknowledge the situation 27 Awareness-raising campaigns: a collective electric shock 28 Sexuality education classes: the cornerstone of awareness-raising 31 Virtual life: its real dangers 35 Prevention and training: weaving the safety net 38 The protection of young people: a shared responsibility 38 Family 39 Living environments outside the home 40 In youth centres 41 Inclusive prevention recognizing the vulnerabilities of people from minorities 44 A difficult portrait to draw 47 A necessary dialogue 49 The principles of effective concerted action 49 The balance between the protection of personal information and that of young people 52 [ 3 ] SELECT COMMITTEE ON THE SEXUAL EXPLOITATION OF MINORS Better training for effective screening 54 Sectors of activity to play a greater role 57 Law enforcement: the victim at the centre of our actions 61 Laws to reduce the demand for sexual services 61 Provisions that are still unfamiliar 61 Difficulties in applying laws 67 Municipalities: essential partners in the fight against the sexual exploitation of minors 69 Specialized teams and coordinated efforts 71 Required resources 74 The well-being of victims at the heart of the process 75 Difficulties in lodging a complaint 76 Victims’ needs at the heart of the procedures 78 A curb on demand: acting against client abusers 80 Reconstruction and rehabilitation: breaking the cycle of exploitation 82 Urgent and complex needs, fragmented resources 82 Looking for a continuum of services 84 Economic precariousness: a constraint on reconstruction 85 Specialization of resources and comprehensive management 90 Collaboration to create a service corridor 95 The transition to adulthood: between service disruption and the search for independence 96 Healing victims and survivors: a vision of empowerment and respect 97 The right to be forgotten: facilitating social reintegration 98 Relatives: collateral victims 99 The need to develop services for marginalized groups 101 Therapies for client abusers and procurers: breaking the cycle and preventing recidivism 102 Health and well-being to counter sexual exploitation 104 Conclusion 107 List of recommendations 109 List of organizations and persons who participated in the work of the select committee on the sexual exploitation of minors 121 Bibliography 127 [ 4 ] SELECT COMMITTEE ON THE SEXUAL EXPLOITATION OF MINORS A WORD FROM THE STEERING COMMITTEE Since June 2019, we have had the honour of being members of the Select Committee on the Sexual Exploitation of Minors, a great responsibility. For more than a year, as MNAs from all political parties, we have been working together to fulfill the mandate entrusted to us, which is to paint a portrait of the sexual exploitation of minors and the transition of victims to adulthood. The goal is to propose actions to counter this scourge. A common objective mobilized us during this exercise: the well-being of victims and their loved ones. In the course of our work, we uncovered new and revolting ramifications of the phenomenon. The testimonies heard during the hearings held in Québec City, Montréal and Val-d’Or have shaken us. We particularly note the devastating consequences of the sexual exploitation of minors in the short and long term on young people and their families, and the unequal balance of power between the exploiters and the victims. The criminal behaviour of procurers is well known, but there is a need to raise awareness of the role of client abusers who, too often, act with impunity. More than ever, we remain convinced of the importance of fighting the sexual exploitation of minors in Québec and of providing better support to victims. We also understand that they need to be guided in their transition to adulthood. The answer to such a complex problem cannot be simple. This is why our report contains many recommendations that call on Québec society to mobilize. Of course, they call on the Québec government to take action in a number of areas. By joining forces and making this fight a national priority, we hope to curb this scourge and prevent young people from entering adult life already broken. Like all Quebecers, the Committee has had to deal with the upheavals imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Although this health crisis is upsetting priorities, it does not detract from the relevance of our topic. Young people are still being sexually exploited. What is more, the victims are among those who have the most to lose in such a context. The health crisis does not set aside the urgency of their situation or their immense needs. We wish to warmly thank all those who participated in our work. The many briefs submitted to the Committee and the testimony heard at the hearings have given us vivid insight into the sexual exploitation of minors. They have also moved us. We would like to mention the constant support of the staff of the National Assembly. We must also salute Mr. Ian Lafrenière, who chaired the Committee until October 9, 2020, at which time he was appointed a member of the Cabinet. From the outset, he was able to establish a unifying work climate, valuing the contribution of all parliamentarians. It is in this spirit that we have worked in a transparent manner to bring this important mandate to a successful conclusion. [ 5 ] SELECT COMMITTEE ON THE SEXUAL EXPLOITATION OF MINORS We underline the commitment of the people whose daily endeavour is to counter the sexual exploitation of minors. As parliamentarians, we see this report as a means of sharing their struggle and making a difference by getting the entire population of Québec to join this effort. For this reason, we dedicate this report to all the victims and their loved ones. Lucie Lecours Christine St-Pierre Member for Les Plaines Member for Acadie Committee Chair Committee Vice-Chair Alexandre Leduc Méganne Perry Mélançon Member for Hochelaga-Maisonneuve Member for Gaspé Steering Committee Member Steering Committee Member [ 6 ] SELECT COMMITTEE ON THE SEXUAL EXPLOITATION OF MINORS MNAS HAVING PARTICIPATED IN THE WORK OF THE SELECT COMMITTEE ON THE SEXUAL EXPLOITATION OF MINORS Ms. Lucie Lecours Ms. Christine St-Pierre Mr. Alexandre Leduc Ms. Méganne Perry Mélançon member for Les Plaines member for Acadie member for Hochelaga-Maisonneuve member for Gaspé Chair Vice-chair Steering Committee Member Steering Committee Member Mr. Frantz Benjamin Ms. Émilie Foster Ms. Nancy Guillemette Mr. Denis Lamothe member for Viau member for member for Roberval member for Ungava Member Charlevoix–Côte-de-Beaupré Member Member Member Ms. Isabelle Lecours Ms. Marilyne Picard Mr. Jean Rousselle Mr. Christopher Skeete member for member for Soulanges member for Vimont member for Sainte-Rose Lotbinière-Frontenac Member Member Member Member Ms. Kathleen Weil Mr. Ian Lafrenière Ms. Catherine Fournier Mr. Guy Ouellette member for member for Vachon member for Marie-Victorin member for Chomedey Notre-Dame-de-Grâce Chair from Member June 2019 to October 2020 [ 7 ] SELECT COMMITTEE ON THE SEXUAL EXPLOITATION OF MINORS INTRODUCTION In Québec, young people