Hamilton Spectator wire services
TORONTO (Dec 18, 2006)
A leading advocacy group for decriminalizing prostitution in Canada plans to take the federal government to court over laws it says endanger the lives of sex workers across the country.
“The communicating and bawdy-house laws are arbitrary,” said Valerie Scott, above, executive director of Sex Professionals of Canada. “They do more harm than good.”
The group will challenge the country’s solicitation laws on constitutional grounds.
The sex trade in Canada falls into a legal grey area because prostitution itself is not illegal, but activities related to it are. Individuals who communicate for the purpose of prostitution or who sell sexual services can be charged under the Criminal Code.
Hamilton Spectator wire services