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Supreme Court to rule on anti-prostitution laws on Dec. 20

Supreme Court to decide on validity of anti-prostitution laws on Dec. 20
Kim Pate, Executive Director Canadian Association of Elizabeth Fry Societies, speaks as a coalition of women's equality groups holds a press conference on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Wednesday June 5, 2013 to present the case they will make before the Supreme Court in support of the decriminalization of women in prostitution. Sean Kilpatrick / The Canadian Press

OTTAWA, Ont. – Canada’s top court will bring down a landmark decision on the legality of the country’s anti-prostitution laws next week Friday.

The ruling relates to challenges to laws against brothels, living off the avails and soliciting.

Ontario’s Appeal Court had previously struck down the laws against bawdy houses and altered the ban on living off the avails of prostitution to preclude exploitation.

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It also upheld the ban on street prostitution.

The federal government appealed the decision that invalidated or altered the laws, while a group of sex-trade workers who brought the case initially appealed the soliciting ban.

The rulings were put on hold pending the outcome of the Supreme Court of Canada appeal.

The Supreme Court heard oral arguments in June.

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At issue is whether the laws violate the rights of sex workers and whether they can then be justified as a reasonable infringement.

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