Bedford vs. Canada
Supreme Court of Canada Hearing 2013

PHOTO: Bradley Turcotte Terri-Jean Bedford briefly addressed her supporters on the steps of the Supreme Court June 13.

On September 28, 2010, sex workers and allies celebrated Justice Himel's landmark ruling that would strike down three major Criminal Code of Canada provisions that make prostitution against the law:

• Section 210 – Common bawdy house
• Section 212(1)(j) – Living on the avails; and
• Section 213(1)(c) – Communicating for the purposes of prostitution.

Justice Himel ruled that these laws violate the right to liberty and security that is guaranteed in Section 7 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Himel's decision states that the harm done to sex workers through this criminalization of prostitution outweighs any harm done to the community.

This decision was appealed by the Attorney General, and the case will be heard at the Supreme Court of Canada on June 13, 2013.

• Margaret Wente: still plying the world's second oldest trade
  NOW Magazine, June 24, 2013
• Editorial: Legalize prostitution? Are we nuts?
  Globe and Mail, June 22, 2013
• Don't ignore the real issue on prostitution
  National Post, June 17, 2013
• Groups differ on criminalizing sex trade: Vancouver-area groups argued before the Supeme Court of Canada Thursday on whether the actions of sex workers, johns and pimps should remain criminalized — or not at all
  24 Hours Vancouver, June 14, 2013
• Editorial: Prostitution laws create extreme risks for women in the sex trade
  Globe and Mail, June 13, 2013
• Challengers of prostitution law bring sobering facts and a focus on choice
  Globe and Mail, June 13, 2013
• Crown punts sex-for-hire issue to politicians in landmark court battle
  Globe and Mail, June 13, 2013
• Prostitution appeal finally gets its day in court
  Globe and Mail, June 13, 2013
• Supreme Court grapples with prostitution laws, hears 'fear mongering' behind decriminalization foes
  National Post, June 13, 2013
• 2 sides in sex trade debate clash during Supreme Court of Canada hearing
  Ottawa Sun, June 13, 2013
• Supreme Court prostitution case: Judges challenge government to justify brothel ban
  Toronto Star, June 13, 2013
• Canada's prostitution laws violate rights, Supreme Court hears: If court can protect Insite drug users, it can protect sex workers, women argue
  Xtra!, June 13, 2013
• Competing sex-worker protests blanket Supreme Court steps: Supporters and detractors gather as Bedford vs Canada case heard
  Xtra!, June 13, 2013
• Brothel boss ready to pounce on Canada if Supreme Court strikes prostitution law
  Vancouver Province, June 12, 2013
• Supreme Court to hear landmark prostitution case
  Toronto Sun, June 12, 2013
• New Zealand's model of sex work respects rights: Legislation protects sex workers from exploitation while accessing labour laws to promote their welfare and occupational health and safety
  Toronto Star, June 11, 2013
• Sex work, security of the person and the Supreme Court of Canada: Criminalizing sex work increases rather than reduces harm
  Toronto Star, June 11, 2013
• Legalize the sex trade
  National Post, June 11, 2013
• Allowing brothels will make things worse for prostitutes
  Calgary Herald, June 10, 2013
• Prostitution laws hurt women, forum told in advance of landmark court hearing
  Montreal Gazette, June 9, 2013
• Future of prostitution in hands of Supreme Court
  Ottawa Sun, June 8, 2013

National Day of Action: Sex Work Solidarity
Toronto, June 8, 2013

• Sex workers march to make prostitution legal
  Canoe News, June 9, 2013
• Sex workers, supporters march ahead of Supreme Court hearing
  CTV News, June 8, 2013
• Sex workers, supporters march ahead of Supreme Court hearing
  Globe and Mail, June 8, 2013
• Sex workers march in support of legal ruling
  Toronto Sun, June 8, 2013
• Toronto sex workers, supporters march ahead of landmark Supreme Court hearing: Vancouver sex workers rally planned later today
  Vancouver Sun, June 8, 2013

Red Umbrella March for Sex Work Solidarity
Vancouver, June 8, 2013

• The Prostitution Solution
  Metro News Vancouver, June 10, 2013
• March supports legal prostitution: Sex-trade workers want same basic rights and protections as people in other lines of work
  Vancouver Province, June 9, 2013
• Christy Clark chastised at rally for not showing compassion to sex workers
  Georgia Straight, June 9, 2013
• Rallies call for sex trade decriminalization
  Canadian Press, June 8, 2013
• Sex workers rally in Vancouver: Series of Canada-wide marches in favour decriminalizing prostitution
  CBC News, June 8, 2013
• Sex trade workers and their supporters take part in 'Red Umbrella' march for solidarity
  Global BC News, June 8, 2013
• Lawyer Katrina Pacey takes weekend walk before ultimate legal test on prostitution
  Georgia Straight, June 8, 2013
• Sex trade workers, supporters march in downtown Vancouver
  CKNW AM 980, June 8, 2013
• Sex workers, supporters march in Vancouver ahead of Supreme Court hearing in Ottawa
  Vancouver Sun, June 8, 2013
• Opponents of prostitution laws will rally in Vancouver
  Georgia Straight, June 7, 2013