Vancouver, BC. – Vancouver Rape Relief and Women’s Shelter (VRRWS) is closely monitoring the Supreme Court trial of Reza Moazami who has been indicted on 36 counts including human trafficking, living off the avails of juvenile prostitution and sexual assault.
“It is rare that men are held accountable by the criminal justice system for sexual assault and the exploitation of women and girls” says Hilla Kerner, spokeswoman for Vancouver Rape Relief and Women’s Shelter. “Even in this case,” adds Ms. Kerner “the men who paid Moazami for the girls, the men who raped these girls—the johns—were not charged.”
“The details of this case” continues Kerner “highlight how girls who have been victims of male violence are vulnerable to further sexual abuse and how men use coercion, threats and violence to recruit girls and women into prostitution and to keep them there.”
Vancouver Rape Relief and Women’s Shelter is Canada’s first rape crisis centre, operating a 24 hour rape crisis line and transition house for battered women and their children. In the past year alone Vancouver Rape Relief responded to calls from 1,200 women escaping male violence including rape, battering and prostitution.
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