CSIS News Archive: Bedford vs. Canada

Bedford vs. Canada
Supreme Court of Canada Hearing 2013

On September 28, 2010, sex workers and allies celebrated Justice Himel’s landmark ruling that would strike down three major Criminal Code of Canada provisions that make prostitution against the law:

  •     Section 210 – Common bawdy house
  •     Section 212(1)(j) – Living on the avails; and
  •     Section 213(1)(c) – Communicating for the purposes of prostitution.

Justice Himel ruled that these laws violate the right to liberty and security that is guaranteed in Section 7 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Himel’s decision states that the harm done to sex workers through this criminalization of prostitution outweighs any harm done to the community.

This decision was appealed by the Attorney General, and the case will be heard at the Supreme Court of Canada on June 13, 2013.

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