The Sex Trade Task Force of Hamilton (STTF) is a partnership of community agencies and community members that operates to increase services, health and safety for all individuals involved in sex work in Hamilton.

Vision: Sex workers will have access to safe and non-judgmental services provided by informed and resourced community agencies.

Mission Statement:

Through co-operation and networking we:

• develop strategies to promote social change, awareness and understanding of the issues of sex work,
• work to reduce violence against sex workers,
• create opportunities to ensure that individuals involved in sex work have access to necessary resources and supports to enhance their health, safety, income, social inclusion and housing.

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 Guiding Principles:

• We believe that each individual working in the sex industry deserves respect, compassion and dignity.

• We will approach this work from a harm reduction philosophy, wherever possible, as this recognizes that individuals have the right to choose what is best for them.

• We identify and work to remove systemic barriers that limit individuals’ abilities to engage in work of their choosing.

• We embrace and are committed to actively maintaining an anti-racist, anti-oppression framework within the STTF.

• We encourage the provision of service to female, male, transgendered and transsexual individuals, while recognizing that the majority of sex work is done by women. 

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Objectives:

• To reduce the stigma associated with sex work through community awareness and education.

• To assist our members in providing support to sex workers through the development and sharing of resources and information, networking and skills building.

• To engage in research and education about decriminalization and legalization of sex work in order to increase our understanding of these issues.

• To annually review our activities based on emergent priorities in the community.

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Our goals for the website include:

• providing harm reduction support to individuals working in the sex trade;
• providing information about preventing entry into prostitution, particularly aimed at youth;
• educating the community about issues related to sex trade work in the Hamilton area including legalities, bad tricks and support available;
• supporting organizations and neighbourhoods through the provision of training and resources; and
• compiling a list of organizations across the world working on similar issues.

We define “sex trade” as any sexual act that one person performs on or with another person in exchange for money, drugs, housing, food, gifts, clothes, rides or other favours.

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Funding for this website has been provided by the Elizabeth Fry Society of Hamilton

and the Social Planning and Research Council of Hamilton.

Initial funding was made possible by a grant through the National Crime Prevention Strategy.

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