Canada Supreme Court strikes down anti-prostitution laws

The Supreme Court of Canada has reportedly struck down the nation's anti-prostitution laws and has given the government one year to draft new legislation.

The ruling comes after former and current sex workers filed a court challenge and the laws prohibiting brothels, communicating in public with clients and living on the profits of prostitution as too sweeping.

Chief Justice Beverley McLachlin said that it is not a crime in Canada to sell sex for money, as all nine of the court's judges ruled in favour of striking down the laws for being 'grossly disproportionate', the BBC reports.

Justice McLachlin said that the parliament has the power to regulate against nuisances, but not at the cost of the health, safety and lives of prostitutes.

Meanwhile, a Canadian women's rights group condemned the court's decision, saying that it was now confirmed that it is ok to buy and sell women and girls in this country, the report added.