Prostitutes challenge Canada laws

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/americas/8293206.stm

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A court in the Canadian province of Ontario is due to consider a challenge to the country's prostitution laws.

The case is brought by three female sex workers, who argue that current curbs "violate their constitutional rights and threatens their physical safety".

They want laws against brothels, sex advertising and prostitutes living off their earnings to be struck down.

The Crown is expected to defend the laws and argue that decriminalisation would encourage sex tourism.

Ontario's Superior Court is due to hear the case on Tuesday.

The women's lawyer has said that if the current prostitution laws are changed, sex workers would be more likely to go the police if they are attacked or face any problems.

Critics also say provisions preventing prostitutes from "running or occupying a bawdy house (brothel)" force them to tout for clients away from a safe location.