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“I have found that the law as it stands, is currently contributing to the danger faced by prostitutes,” Judge Himel wrote in a 131-page ruling.

The three sections of the Criminal Code ruled unconstitutional, “force prostitutes to choose between their liberty interest and their right to security of the person,” she said.

The long-awaited decision stems from a constitutional challenge initiated last year by three women involved in the sex trade.

“It is important to state at the outset what this case is not about: The court has not been called upon to decide whether or not there is a constitutional right to sell sex or to decide which policy model regarding prostitution is better,” Judge Himel said. “Rather, it is the court’s task to decide the merits of this particular legal challenge, which is whether certain provisions of the Criminal Code are in violation of the Charter.”

Alan Young, a Toronto law professor who led the court challenge, said he was “overjoyed” with the ruling.

“I believe something good happened today. It will take some time for people to realize that. But any time you can remove laws that put people into harm’s way, you have done something important,” said Mr. Young.

“We want to be good citizens and now we can,” said Valerie Scott, executive director of the Sex Professionals of Canada and one of the three women in the constitutional challenge.

“Justice Himel has seen right through all of the hypocrisy,” said Ms. Scott. “We can now set up guilds and associations, and we can set occupational and health standards.”