'tip of the iceberg': sex work advocates demand decriminalization in wake of kidnapping, abuse arrest
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the arrest of a man accused of abusing multiple sex workers in calgary represents only “the tip of the iceberg” related to the violence and stigma facing sex workers in canada, says a local advocacy organization.
calgary-based non-profit safeworks alberta noted the arrest of 59-year-old richard robert mantha — who’s accused of kidnapping, drugging and sexually violating at least three women he picked up in the forest lawn area between december 2021 and march 2023 — as “valiant.”
still, they said it does little to solve the greater issues of those working in the sex trade.
“we applaud the courage and fortitude of the individuals who brought these incidents to the attention of the police,” katie ayres, the executive director of safelink alberta, said in a written statement tuesday. “given current legislation and the stigma surrounding sex work, incidents are often not reported publicly, and the individuals committing acts of violence are not held accountable. this is one of the many reasons why we support decriminalization of sex work.”
since 2014, when the federal government introduced the protection of communities and exploited persons act, canadian law has stipulated that it’s illegal to buy sexual services but not to sell them. however, related activities, such as soliciting and communicating for the purposes of selling sex, remain unlawful.
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decriminalization beneficial for sex workers, communities: advocates
such laws continue to make it difficult for sex workers to work safely, ayres said, putting them at risk of violence and exploitation — and in effect, maintaining the criminalization of sex work.
“decriminalization would allow sex workers to operate openly and without fear of prosecution,” she said. “it would make it easier for them to negotiate safer working conditions and report crimes committed against them without fear of being arrested.”
safeworks says decriminalization is needed to quash the stigma surrounding sex workers, allowing them more economic opportunities and improving their ability to access housing and openly pay their income taxes. it would also decrease the burden on law enforcement and the justice system.
“decriminalization isn’t just a sex worker conversation; this is an issue of human rights, economic and public health, and a means to deter violence and create a safer community for us all,” says ayres.
according to calgary police data, 21 charges for procuring sexual services have been handed out in the city since 2020: 16 that year, four in 2021 and just one in 2022. those are the only vice-related charges in the city in that three-year span; cps data show 2018 is the last time there was a charge logged for communicating for the purposes of selling sex.
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19th avenue one of calgary’s last physical strolls
ward 9 coun. gian-carlo carra commended police for laying charges in the substantial investigation.
“the fact that this is being acted on and the police have found this monster is fabulous. kudos to the police service,” said carra. however, he noted, “as a society, we probably have to have a much larger conversation about sex work.”
nineteenth avenue s.e. — where mantha is accused of picking up each of the three victims who’ve come forward to police so far — is one of calgary’s last remaining physical strolls where those involved in the sex trade frequently do their work in public. carra said the 19th avenue stroll is a unique situation with a long-standing presence in the community.
“we’re dealing with an anachronistic situation here because there are no more physical sex work strolls except for this one,” he said. “it’s a legacy. and it’s a legacy because the people who do their work there, live down the street. they’re our neighbours, and we have to do everything we can to help them.”
a calgary police officer talks with a sex worker on 19th avenue and 48th street s.e. in calgary on tuesday, april 11, 2023. she said she has eight kids, can make up to $1,500 per day or nothing, and fears not only the violence and crime but often fears for her life.
jim wells/postmedia
gar gar, the president of the forest lawn community association, said residents of the area have been concerned about 19th avenue for a long time, and it’s something government officials need to take a closer look at. he said more social investments are required in the forest lawn area to address the root causes that lead some to become trapped in the sex trade, such as homelessness, addiction and other social issues.
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“it is so angering and frustrating to see someone targeting the vulnerability of our people,” said gar.
“when something happens in our community, it doesn’t only happen to the individual. it happens to the families that live on the street; it happens to the people that walk that street . . . and it’s happened to those, unfortunately, vulnerable girls that had to be involved in those circumstances.”
investigation continues
on monday, police said the investigation is ongoing; they expect more women to come forward and mantha could face additional charges.
police spent five days over the past week combing a rural rocky view county property on vale view road 20 kilometres east of calgary where mantha rented an outbuilding. officials said they gathered “thousands” of pieces of evidence, but there could be further searches in other areas as the investigation continues.
calgary police were on scene, expanding their search and collecting evidence at a property on vale view road in rocky view county on sunday, april 9, 2023.
darren makowichuk/postmedia
police urged victims of sexual assault to report the crime to local police, noting that canadian law has no statute of limitations on sexual assault reporting. those uncomfortable contacting law enforcement can contact other social agencies, including calgary communities against sexual abuse, 211 alberta and the alberta one line for sexual violence.
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safelink alberta’s shift program also provides supports to adults currently or previously engaged in sex work, including emotional support, referrals, advocacy, safety planning, safe supplies and peer support. it also distributes a “bad date” information sheet, warning the sex worker community of potentially dangerous clients.
other convictions
mantha’s criminal past includes convictions in september and october for unauthorized possession of a firearm, possession of stolen property and two failures to appear for which he received a total sentence of 71 days.
his legal troubles haven’t been restricted to criminal allegations.
richard robert mantha, 59, of rocky view county, east of calgary, is shown in an undated facebook photo. the calgary police service has charged one man in an investigation into the alleged kidnapping, drugging and sexual assault of multiple women from the calgary area. mantha was arrested and taken into custody at a rural property east of chestermere.
facebook photo
in 2019 he was sued over a july 21, 2017 motor vehicle crash in northwest calgary in which the plaintiff sued him and boris trucking ltd. over injuries he allegedly suffered in a collision involving mantha.
that $550,000 claim was discontinued on sept. 17, 2020, “pursuant to an agreement reached between the parties.” details of that agreement weren’t put on the court record.
— with files from kevin martin
twitter: @michaelrdrguez
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