The Protection Of Civil Rights - 1589 Words

Introduction Canada is known to be one of the leading countries in the world devoted to the protection of civil rights. In the legal context, this feat was achieved through the drafting and the creation of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms in 1982. The charter was establish to enforce the rule of law and to serve as a mechanism which limits the overarching authority of the states. While the general public enjoys the benefits of numerous rights available to them through the charter, it is the most vulnerable populations within a state which are at risk of being treated unconstitutionally. One of the at-risk populations being examined in this paper is sex workers; specifically prostitutes. There are multiple populations involved in the†¦show more content†¦As the paper progresses it will become evident that the laws dealing with prostitution aims to criminalize various acts of prostitution. Furthermore, this essay provides academic support which demonstrates that prostitution laws compromise the safety and rights of individuals involved in the sex trade professions. Throughout the essay the precedent setting case of Bedford v. Canada is utilized to demonstrate the unconstitutionality of Canada’s prostitution laws. Finally, the essay concludes by drawing comparisons between jurisdictions to understand the outcomes of legalization and decriminalization of prostitution. After careful analysis of the evidence and support in lieu of prostitution law, it will become evident that criminalization of prostitution as a profession violates human rights of the prostitutes and more importantly puts their safety at risk. The paper is strictly referring to the prosti tution laws in the Canadian context. Prostitution in Canada Before proceeding further it is important to get obtain a general understanding of prostitution in Canada. Canada as a nation has had a dubious history with the practice of prostitution. Since 1972, it has been legal to ‘be’ a prostitute but engaging in other prostitution related activities is virtually impossible. Since the late 20th and early 21st Century, while other nation states have progressed towards decriminalizing the