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"Equality in Action": CAP's 4th World Congress for the Abolition of Prostitution
20 June 2024The World's Largest Congress on the Abolition of Prostitution
From June 1st to 3rd 2024, CAP International's 4th World Congress for the Abolition of Prostitution, the largest abolitionist event in the world took place in Montreal, Canada.
This year's congress entitled "Equality in Action!" followed previous congressed held in Paris (2014), New Delhi (2017), and Mainz (2019). It was organised by CAP International and its four North American members :
- La CLES, Montréal - Canada
- Vancouver Rape Relief, Vancouver - Canada
- Eva Center, Boston - USA
- Breaking Free, Minnesota - USA
"We called this Congress Equality in Action, because for us, prostitution is the opposite of equality. It is a system of domination by men over women, especially the poorest women, the most marginalised and women of colour. As long as prostitution exists, there will be no equality." — Jonathan Machler, Director, CAP International
Held over two days the Congress brought together an exceptional coalition of survivors, researchers, frontline workers, activists, parliamentarians, and public officials.
Thematic Panels and a Decade of Progress
Over two days, the Congress featured nine thematic panels and welcomed 35 expert speakers including survivors, Indigenous leaders, trade unionists, academics, lawmakers, and frontline professionals to discuss strategies and share lived realities.
Topics included:
- Indigenous Women Against the Sex Trade
- Prostitution, Patriarchy, and Neoliberalism
- Last Girl First: Prostitution at the intersection of sexist, racist, and class-based oppression
- Pornography and Violence Against Women
- Fighting the Demand for the Purchase of Sexual Acts
- The Commodification of Women in the Context of Sporting Events
- Supporting Exit Pathways for Women in Prostitution
- Championing the Abolition of Prostitution
- A Parliamentarian’s Perspective on Prostitution and Women’s Rights
Sabine Reynosa
Sabine Reynosa, a trade unionist from CGT in France spoke about the necessary promotion of "decent work" which centers a work protected by the right to health, to security, to intimacy, a work where each should be able to earn their life without having to be subjected to humiliations, rapes and torture. She recalled the importance of words and to reject ultra-capitalist euphemisms such as "sex work" to describe violence:
"As trade unionists, we have fought against poverty wages, excessive working hours, and unsafe conditions, never accepting 'voluntariness' as a justification. We know what vulnerable people can be forced to consent to. It’s time to expose and combat the concept of 'sex work'. Behind those words lies today’s most effective Trojan horse to dismantle all social gains and deepen systems of domination."
Mel Thompson
Mel Thompson, a survivor-advocate highlighted the disproportionate impact of the prostitution system on the most marginalised in society, addressing the vulnerabilities and discriminations which laid a fertile ground for abusers both pimps and traffickers.
"Black women in the US, we make up 6% of the population in total but in the population of those in prostitution, we account to 91%"
Reem Alsalem
Reem Alsalem, UN Special Rapporteur on Violence against Women highlighted the intersection of discriminations in the prostitution system:
"Society has accepted that the most marginalised women and girls as we have heard black, brown, migrant women, Indigenous are overrepresented in prostitution, has been legitimising violence against them and their exploitaition by normalising the prostitution system as a mean of livelihood and survival."
In view of the European football championship hosted by Germany, the Bundnis Nordisches Modell (the Alliance for the Nordic Model in Germany) launched its "Red Card for Sex Buyers" campaign during the Congress calling on men to not buy women and girls during this sporting event.
All the interventions from the different panels are available in replay on our Youtube channel.
Each session fostered dynamic exchange, practical knowledge-sharing, and renewed momentum for legal and cultural shifts toward equality and human dignity.
Celebrating 10 Years of Progress
This year’s congress held a special significance: it marked both the 10th anniversary of CAP International and a decade since the adoption of Canada’s abolitionist law.
These milestones offered space for reflection, recognition, and recommitment. CAP International’s global network and longstanding partners celebrated a decade of advocacy, survivor-led action, and resilience in the face of persistent systems of violence so as major accomplishments.
The Montreal Call for the Abolition of Prostitution
At the heart of the Congress was the release of the Montréal Call a declaration by survivors, frontline workers, trade unionists, civil society, and engaged citizens to demand the abolition of the prostitution system in Canada and worldwide.
This call underscored a united global movement determined to end prostitution, anchored in the fight for equality between women and men, social justice and against racism.
A World Without Prostitution is Possible
As the Congress came to a close, participants left with renewed commitment and global solidarity. The message was clear: a world without prostitution is not only necessary, it is possible.
This movement will continue to grow, driven by the unwavering conviction that no equality will be possible as long as a single woman can be bought or sold.
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contact@cap-international.org
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