Project Type: Legal Research and Writing
Fields of Law: Human rights law, municipal law, planning law
Positions Available: 1 student
About Butterfly (Asian and Migrant Sex Workers Support Network)
Butterfly was formed by sex workers, social workers, legal and health professionals. It provides support to, and advocates for, the rights of Asian and migrant sex workers. The organization is founded upon the belief that sex workers are entitled to respect and basic human rights. Butterfly asserts that, regardless of their immigration status, Asian and migrant sex workers should be treated like all other workers.
Project Details
Body rub parlours are any place where non-medical or non-therapeutic massaging services are provided by someone other than registered massage therapists, or other licensed or registered holistic practitioners. Those who own or operate body rub parlours are required to have a Body Rub Parlour licence; an increasing number of municipalities are also requiring other practitioners to obtain a license. Several municipalities in Ontario are currently in the process of reviewing their bylaws on body-rub parlours and other settings where massages occur. As such Butterfly and the HIV Legal Network are seeking legal research support with regards to the human rights implications of such bylaws.
Butterfly and the HIV Legal Network are seeking a student to conduct legal research on body-rub parlour and other municipal bylaws and policies in Toronto and other cities across Canada (i.e. Hamilton, Montreal, Ottawa), compare how body-rub parlours and other workplaces are regulated in these different jurisdictions, and produce a memo on their findings. The organizations are also looking understand whether these bylaws are valid, compliant with human rights legislation, or if they endanger the lives of parlour workers. This memo will be used internally by both organizations, as an objective report, explaining the law. It will then assist the organizations in making appropriate recommendations to municipalities.
Role of Student Volunteer(s)
The student will be required to complete legal research and help expand past development on this project. The student will help to draft a submission to the city of Toronto (and possibly other municipalities) on the bylaw review and help write a policy paper related to best practice bylaws for body rub parlours and other workplaces where migrant workers provide services. All submissions and research memos will be reviewed by the supervising lawyer before being provided to Butterfly. Students will have the opportunity to attend online meetings and participate in the organizations’ consultation meetings that directly address this issue.
Is A Work Plan Required For This Position?
Yes, students will meet with the organization contact and lawyer supervisor to determine deadlines and workload capacity.
If yes, the student(s) must reach out to the lawyer supervisor, draft a work plan, and submit it by email to the Program Coordinator and the lawyer supervisor by November 1st at the latest. Please note that workplans are required for all legal research and writing projects.
What Type Of Training Will the Organization Provide?
Note: All first year PBSC volunteers and all volunteers working on research projects must also attend a PBSC/Thomson Reuters legal research strategies workshop.
The students will receive an orientation session from the Supervisor and will be required to complete certain training videos on the mandate of both organizations, the communities they serve, and the issues they are likely to come across in their research.
Students will also receive the opportunity to attend on-going trainings and workshops throughout the year, which is strongly encouraged for students to attend.
How Many Hours Per Week Will the Student Volunteer(s) Be Expected to Volunteer?
3-5 hours per week.
Will The Student(s) Be Expected To Show Up For Regular Shifts Each Week?
Flexible, as the research work is done remotely. The student should coordinate with their supervisor to determine when meetings will take place.
Is Workspace Provided For the Student Volunteer(s)?
No.
Requirements and Expectations
None.