In a unanimous 9-0 ruling, Canada’s Supreme Court has struck down three of the country’s main prostitution laws. Although technically prostitution has been legal for many years, there has been other laws that basically make it impossible to work as a prostitute in Canada without breaking other laws. Such as soliciting sex in public, living off of the avails of prostitution and running a brothel.

Advocate and former prostitute Valerie Scott has said:

“There’s always money involved when it comes to sex, whether it’s sex work or not. But men should not be criminalized and vilified…We’re all adults here. Don’t treat men like they are villains simply because they like to have sex”

The battle against these laws was started back in 2009 by three women who work or have worked in the sex trade. They argued that Canada’s prostitution laws were unconstitutional and that legalizing prostitution would actually help sex workers. The laws that were said to be in place to protect people actually deprived sex workers of their right to security. This forced them to work in places that they were less likely to be caught, which doesn’t leave them much choice besides unsafe environments.

Sociologist Elizabeth Bernstein found that only 2 to 20 percent of prostitutes work on the street, but those who do disproportionately struggle with substance abuse and violence from police and clients. Those who work indoors or with others are far safer.

Parliament has a year to create the new legislation so until then, the laws will remain in place. Advocates for sex workers have asked for a seat at the table over the year to help to come up with a response that is suitable for both sides.