Three sex-trade workers argued that laws in the Criminal Code that prohibit them from running a bawdy house, communicating for the purpose of prostitution and living off the avails of prostitution put their lives, and other prostitutes' lives at risk.
Data from the Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics show the number of homicides against prostitutes has remained steady over the last two decades.
From 1991 to 1999, police reported 72 prostitute slayings. From 2000 to 2008, there were 70.
4 comments:
This sounds like public policy being decided by the courts.
Will these three whores (ok so the article calls them sex trade workers) be filing income tax and be charging Johns (clients?!) HST?
The homicides I think are more to do with drug addiction and trafficking than where or how the "service" is conducted.
Hmmm maybe the CNE could go this route...
That's probably for the best. Prostitution is legal, making it dangerous is unjust. I am no fan of pimps but I see no problem with cooperatives or bawdy houses run as a business (I mean I don't think you can ban men from running bawdy houses). Proper zoning for these types of businesses would help the problems seen in residential neighbourhoods. It will also allow for health regulation and taxation and if it isn't in the shadows then maybe human trafficking won't be such an issue.
The law was actually a road block to the protection of women.
''..Prostitution is not illegal in Canada. However, many aspects of prostitution have been criminalized by Parliament.
The provisions struck down by the judge relate to adult prostitution and do NOT affect prohibitions involving people under 18
or measures to prosecute pimps in the sex trade.
Himel also issued a stay of her ruling for 30 days, so the federal government can take measures to prevent unlicensed brothels from operating...'
http://www.canada.com/news/national/Superior+Court+strikes+down+prostitution+laws/3591454/story.html
Surely it must also be a Charter violation to criminalize duck hunters and persons refusing to file a long form census , eh?
I don't like public policy being decided by the courts. Let the legislatures and parliament vote and remove those impediments to prostitution.
The Liberals and the NDP aren't putting out their necks for being pro-prostitution because it would cost them votes.
If the Left really wants prostitution to be legitimized, they should insist that their elected leaders pay a political price for doing so.
Judicial activism is cowardice.
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