Last Tuesday, three sex workers in Toronto filed a federal lawsuit calling for the decriminalization of prostitution. Why? To protect sex workers. And they need it. The Toronto Police Sexual Crimes Unit estimates that an average of four or five sex workers are assaulted every night, and maybe 2% of the cases come to their attention.

The current laws that are in place make prostitution legal, but it is mostly hypothetical. The three sex workers who are fighting the case are arguing that decriminalization will allow them to hire bodyguards, operate their own brothels, and meet clients in safer places than on the street.

Mr. Morris has the duty of arguing for the crown, and so far has said that the law that prevents sex workers from communicating with future clients in public is to “curb an unappetizing spectacle”. What I don’t understand is what he said about its impact on children: “It is directly tied to a concern about children being attracted into prostitution. That is what happens when an 11-year-old is exposed to the sale of sex and is potentially attracted to it.” It feels a little hypocritical. It is too disgusting for the public…but children will see it and want to be sex workers when they grow up? I doubt it.
(more…)