tenni
Mar 26, 2012, 3:13 PM
Ontario’s top court(Supreme Court) has legalized brothels and will allow prostitutes to have security and other staff that is specifically aimed at protecting prostitutes.
In a landmark decision today, the (Supreme) court said that prostitution is extremely dangerous work where inherent risks are multiplied by laws preventing prostitutes from working together under one roof or hiring security staff.
Commencing next year, a five-judge panel said unanimously, prostitutes in any part of the province can work legally in brothels that will be operated like ordinary businesses.
As of April 25, they can engage bodyguards or security staff.
However, it said that it had been able to remodel the pimping law by adding a single phrase. It said that it will remain illegal to live off the avails of prostitution, but only “in circumstances of exploitation.”
The change will allow police to prosecute violent and manipulative pimps while at the same time permitting prostitutes to engage drivers or security staff to protect them, the court said.
In the one area of disagreement – the law that prohibits communicating for the purposes or prostitution -- the three majority judges said that the provision has largely worked to prevent disorder in the streets and neighbourhoods.
Eliminating street prostitution has prevented men and women from being subjected to unwanted solicitation and has helped police control drug trafficking, public intoxication and organized crime, they said.
“The record is clear that the safest way to sell sex is for a prostitute to work indoors, in a location under her control,” they said.
The Crown will doubtless apply for a stay from the Supreme Court. But until they do - and until and unless the Supreme Court grants one - the decision will take effect in a year.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/ontarios-top-court-legalizes-brothels-in-bid-to-protect-prostitutes/article2381372/
In a landmark decision today, the (Supreme) court said that prostitution is extremely dangerous work where inherent risks are multiplied by laws preventing prostitutes from working together under one roof or hiring security staff.
Commencing next year, a five-judge panel said unanimously, prostitutes in any part of the province can work legally in brothels that will be operated like ordinary businesses.
As of April 25, they can engage bodyguards or security staff.
However, it said that it had been able to remodel the pimping law by adding a single phrase. It said that it will remain illegal to live off the avails of prostitution, but only “in circumstances of exploitation.”
The change will allow police to prosecute violent and manipulative pimps while at the same time permitting prostitutes to engage drivers or security staff to protect them, the court said.
In the one area of disagreement – the law that prohibits communicating for the purposes or prostitution -- the three majority judges said that the provision has largely worked to prevent disorder in the streets and neighbourhoods.
Eliminating street prostitution has prevented men and women from being subjected to unwanted solicitation and has helped police control drug trafficking, public intoxication and organized crime, they said.
“The record is clear that the safest way to sell sex is for a prostitute to work indoors, in a location under her control,” they said.
The Crown will doubtless apply for a stay from the Supreme Court. But until they do - and until and unless the Supreme Court grants one - the decision will take effect in a year.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/ontarios-top-court-legalizes-brothels-in-bid-to-protect-prostitutes/article2381372/