Debra M Haak

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Ontario Provincial Police cruisers sit at a house near, Cormac, Ont., one of three crime scenes, in September 2015. A 57-year-old was charged with three counts of first-degree murder in the separate slayings of three women. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Fred Chartrand

Sex‑motivated violence should be treated as a hate crime

Debra M Haak, Queen's University, Ontario and Myrna Dawson, University of Guelph

For hate crime legislation to be more than symbolic, crimes motivated by hatred must be reported, recorded, prosecuted and sentenced as hate crimes
The Supreme Court of Canada in Ottawa. The court is hearing the case R v. Kloubakov of the constitutionality of Canada’s prostitution laws. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

Supreme Court hears case on Canada’s prostitution laws

Debra M Haak, Queen's University, Ontario

A case before the Supreme Court of Canada could determine the constitutionality of the country’s prostitution law and statutes that criminalize third parties who benefit financially from the sex trade.
Language matters to law. Changes in how words are used can impact our ability to know about people’s lives and protect their rights. Protestors gather at the Alberta legislature during a rally for trans rights in Edmonton, Feb. 4, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Amber Bracken

Shifts in how sex and gender identity are defined may alter human rights protections: Canadians deserve to know how and why

Debra M Haak, Queen's University, Ontario

Transparent public discussions are needed around how ‘sex,’ ‘gender identity’ and ‘gender expression’ are being defined and given effect in education, law, public policy and beyond.
Protesters in front the Supreme Court of Canada in 2013 when the court was hearing arguments on the constitutionality of Canada’s prostitution laws. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

Canada’s laws designed to deter prostitution, not keep sex workers safe

Debra M Haak, Queen's University, Ontario

Canada’s prostitution laws are based on the idea that prostitution is dangerous. Legalizing prostitution doesn’t eliminate the risks of violence and psychological harm.
Legislative issues around prostitution have the ability to lead the conversation and determine research priorities. Here, Terri-Jean Bedford makes a victory sign with Nikki Thomas, left, and Valerie Scott, right, after the Ontario’s Court of Appeal struck down a ban on brothels in 2012. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Aaron Vincent Elkaim

Who are we talking about when we talk about prostitution and sex work?

Debra M Haak, Queen's University, Ontario

Prostitution is now illegal in Canada. Is prostitution harmful and exploitative? Or is sex work a legitimate form of labour?

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