BC Coalition of Experiential Communities

Background

The British Columbia Coalition of Experiential Communities (BCCEC) is a consortium of sex worker activists who work to eliminate the oppressive systems and forces that create harm for individuals within the sex industry. We operate under the principle that members commit to creating an environment of inclusion and change.

We support diverse perspectives and experiences except where they contribute to harm of sex workers. The BCCEC does not support enforcement or rehabilitation models that either promote the continued criminalization of sex workers or sex worker dependency on social programs.

The Mission of BCCEC

The BCCEC is a mechanism for the voices of experiential individuals to:

• influence legislation and policies that pertain to sex workers to become inclusive of their goals and desires;
• advocate for a continuum of peer driven programs, initiatives and services. The BCCEC may also serve as a:
• consultative body of expertise on sex work issues;
• host organization for sex worker workshops, events and initiatives; and
• research and data collection body.

BCCEC Philosophy and Guiding Principles

The BCCEC:

• Supports and promotes experiential leadership;
• Supports development of essential services and a continuum of services for active sex workers through class advocacy, media response and public awareness;
• Creates a supportive network for sex worker activists to have opportunities for leadership and action on issues that impact their lives and the well being of their communities; and
• Works to ensure the fundamental recognition of human rights for sex workers including dignity, safety, equality, and empowerment;

The following Guiding Principles reflect the collective and longstanding activism of BCCEC members who have worked and will continue to work to eradicate racism, poverty, sexism, and violence by every practical means possible. BCCEC principles are built on our experiential analysis of sex work issues and are intended to advance dialogue and activism within the coalition and within our communities:

• We value, embrace and mobilize the authentic experiential knowledge, leadership and skill sets of women in the sex trade as the vehicle towards change;
• We work to ensure opportunities for self-advocacy among people in and from the sex trade;
• We work to open dialogue for the reduction of harm and the elimination of the social, economic, and political conditions that lead to the survival sex trade, sexual slavery and trafficking in persons;

The BC Coalition of Experiential Communities has developed extensive management capacity over the past four years as a result of undertaking and managing a wide range of large and complex research, writing and organizational development projects successfully. Projects ranged in funding from $ 5000 to $75,000.00 These include:

• BCCEW - Developing Capacity for Change: Co-operative Development Exploration Report - Feb. 2007
• The BCCEW Newsletter entitled Got Game (2nd edition)
• The BCCEW Working Conditions research entitled In the Here and Now
• The BCCEW Media Review document
• The BCCEW Research document entitled From the Curb, Sex Worker's Perspectives on Violence and Domestic Trafficking
• The BCCEW report on Policy Issues for Sex Workers in Prince George BC
• Research Ethics: A Guide for Community Organizations
• Tips for Individuals Participating in Community Based Research
• Bad Date Reporting and Response: Experiences and Insights from Sex Workers and Community Stakeholders
• Labor on the Margins - Exploring union development, industry association models and how labor standards and occupational health and safety training could impact the health and safety of sex industry workers.
• Leading the Way - strategic planning for sex worker co-operative development and sex industry stabilization
• The History of Sex Work Project - museum exhibit, multi media installation and book

The BCCEC is also experiencing difficulties accessing funding. Many projects which could have major impacts on the safety of sex industry workers are now on hold while provincial spending is frozen and the federal government is dealing with an economic crisis.

The BCCEC is administered through WISH Drop-in Centre Society.

If you or your organization would like to support the projects and actions of the BCCEC you can do so by;

Contributing directly on line – message title-BCCEC

Contacting the BCCEC coordinator:

coordinator@wccsip.ca