Calgary Advocates Speak Up as Suspected Serial Rapist Charged with Sexual Violence on the Rise
Calgary advocates for sex trade workers are speaking out about the fear and safety issues plaguing women in the industry, as 59-year-old Richard Robert Mantha is charged with heinous crimes allegedly committed over a 15-month span. Mantha faces 16 charges related to the sexual assault of three women, with court documents stating he drugged two of them, sexually assaulted and unlawfully confined all of them, kidnapped one of them, and used a handgun or knife (or imitation of one) to sexually assault two others.
Jacquie Meyer of Eastside Victory Outreach, who speaks with women in Calgary's sex trade daily, says she's seen the violence increase in recent years and that sexual violence is on the rise. Meyer is a bridge between these women and the police if they're too scared to speak with law enforcement. Meyer says that the women are vulnerable and often in a position of survival sex due to addiction, crisis, and trauma.
The victims' identities are protected under a publication ban, and police are executing a "complex" investigation, searching a 10-acre rural property along Vale View Road in Rocky View County where Mantha rented one shop. Calgary's top cop, Mark Neufeld, says there's a possibility that there could be more victims, and that those who have experienced labor or sex trafficking can access direct services from Act Alberta.
While Mantha remains in police custody and scheduled for a bail hearing, Executive Director Kate Price of Act Alberta highlights the importance of resources to support vulnerable individuals and decrease their risk of exploitation. It's encouraging that the victims came forward, Meyer says, despite the assaults being a weekly occurrence in the area. However, it's clear that more must be done to protect these women and bring an end to the sexual violence that continues to plague the industry.
Sex work advocates are demanding the decriminalization of the sex trade in Canada, arguing that it would increase safety for workers and decrease violence. Decriminalization would remove criminal penalties for consensual adult sex work and allow individuals to work safely without fear of arrest or prosecution.
Advocates say that sex work is a form of labor and should be treated as such. They believe that decriminalization would reduce the stigma and marginalization that sex workers face, allowing them to access services and resources to support their safety and well-being. It would also provide a means for regulating the industry and ensuring that workers are protected from exploitation and abuse.
Despite the arguments for decriminalization, some groups remain opposed to it, citing concerns about the negative impact it would have on communities and families. They argue that the sex trade perpetuates gender inequality and contributes to the exploitation and trafficking of women and girls.
However, sex work advocates say that criminalization only serves to push the industry further underground, making it more difficult to regulate and creating greater risks for workers. They point to other countries where decriminalization has been implemented, such as New Zealand and Australia, and argue that it has led to greater safety for workers and a reduction in violence.
As the debate around decriminalization continues, it is clear that more needs to be done to protect the safety and well-being of sex workers in Canada. Advocates are calling for greater recognition of the rights of sex workers and the need for policies that support their safety and well-being.
