September 21, 1995


   MEMO TO:       Members of Council

   FROM:          Mayor Philip Owen

   SUBJECT:       POSTER CAMPAIGN
   _________________________________________________________________

   Last  Saturday   the  provincial government  launched a  poster campaign
   aimed at raising awareness of  child prostitution in our City.   I think
   it's important to bring the campaign to Council's attention.  
   The series of six posters was developed by a committee of youth,
   community residents,  service providers and parents  in partnership with
   the provincial government.   The youth who worked on the  campaign spent
   nine months developing it.  The  posters deliver the message that sex is
   being bought from  a child, and that  this is child abuse.   The posters
   will be made available  to businesses, schools and  community facilities
   throughout the Lower Mainland, and as well, large posters will be placed
   in transit shelters and skytrain stations, and ads will run in daily and
   community newspapers.

   The  poster campaign is one component of the Vancouver Action Plan which
   was established in November 1994 to develop strategies to help get youth
   off the  streets.   City staff  have been  instrumental in  working with
   provincial  care providers  on outreach  and safe  housing for  children
   victimized  by  the  sex  trade,  housing network  and  registry,  detox
   centres,  resource centres  and  educational materials  for parents  and
   youth.

   I want  to thank  City staff  for their involvement,  and to  bring this
   important issue to the attention of all Vancouverites.






                                         Philip W. Owen
                                         MAYOR