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This enactment amends the Criminal Code in respect of certain
offences relating to violence against women and children.
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The enactment modifies existing provisions to facilitate the appre
hension and prosecution of persons seeking the services of children
involved in prostitution, whether in or outside Canada.
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It also creates an offence of aggravated procuring, with a minimum
sentence of five years' imprisonment, for a person living on the avails
of prostitution in relation to a person under the age of eighteen, and who
uses violence against the person under that age and assists that person
to carry on prostitution-related activities for profit.
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The enactment provides for an enhanced penalty where a person
convicted of criminal harassment also violates a protective court order.
It also provides that, irrespective of whether a murder was planned and
deliberate, stalkers who ultimately kill their victims are liable for first
degree murder when they intended to cause the person murdered to fear
for their safety or the safety of anyone known to them.
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Although the current Criminal Code provisions, in particular those
related to aggravated assault, apply to the practice of female genital
mutilation, the enactment specifies that female genital mutilation is a
``maiming'' or ``wounding''. The enactment expressly provides that
persons under the age of eighteen cannot consent to female genital
mutilation as defined, nor can any other person consent for them.
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Finally, the enactment extends the special provisions available in the
Criminal Code to ease the testimonial burden of young complainants in
respect of certain specified offences, to young witnesses testifying in
those cases.
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