The Bill is a specialised form of health and safety in employment law. While our organisation supports the health and safety of all women and girls, in all areas of life, some of our members are concerned that this Bill, if passed into law, is likely to diminish, rather than enhance, the health and safety of New Zealand women and girls. We are particularly concerned about the plight of prostituted children male and female , who are invisible as far as this Bill is concerned.
The well-researched background of childhood sexual abuse and drug addiction of many adult prostitutes also gives the lie to this definition. Advertisement - scroll to continue reading Are you getting our free newsletter? New Zealand public health research has described high rates of rape of prostitutes. All of this concerns us greatly. Their aim with this legislation is to achieve the ability to pursue their livelihood freely.
They have expressed no particular wish to see a reduction in the amount of prostitution, and would probably be happy to see it flourish.
We would not. Nor do we believe, as some supporters have suggested, that the Bill will "reduce the likelihood" of involvement by organised crime. Prostitution is already run by organised crime - and always has been.
What is visible in city streets is only the tip of the iceberg. The Bill perpetuates the misogynistic Victorian attitudes of "women as chattels" of those who originally drafted our legislation. We now have more enlightened legislation on property ownership and inheritance for women, for instance β not too long ago, married women could not own property.
