In June 2003, the Prostitution Reform Act 2003 repealed existing prostitution-related legislation and created a new legal environment for the sex industry. In order to be able to assess and review the impact of this legislation it is necessary to establish current benchmarks.
This literature review was commissioned by the Ministry of Justice to provide an assessment of the state of the sex industry in New Zealand in the years leading up to the passage of the Act. It includes an examination of sex worker safety, sex worker exploitation, health issues and the prostitution of persons under 18 years of age. It also examines overseas models of prostitution law reform and considers evaluations of Australian prostitution law reform.
The review gathers together studies and literature on the sex industry in New Zealand published prior to June 2004. What emerges from the account is a picture of the sex industry as a long-established feature of the New Zealand landscape. Studies that have been compiled provide information on the organisation of the sex industry, the diversity of those working in the industry, reasons for entering the industry and sex worker safety. The review also found that very little New Zealand research has been conducted on issues such as male sex workers, clients of sex workers and drug use amongst sex workers.
The review provides information that will help inform the Prostitution Law Review Committee, which is charged with reviewing the operation of the Act and related matters.
The Prostitution Law Review Committee was established by the Act. It is an 11 member Committee appointed by the Minister of Justice.
The Committee is required to produce two reports on the review of the operation of the Act. The first report is due as soon as practicable after the commencement of the Act. It will assess the number of sex workers in New Zealand and any prescribed matters relating to sex workers or prostitution.
The second report is due in three to five years after the commencement of the Act. The report will review the operation of the Act since its commencement; and assess the impact of the Act on the number of persons working as sex workers in New Zealand, the nature and adequacy of the means available to assist persons to avoid or cease working as sex workers and on any prescribed matters relating to sex workers or prostitution. The report will also consider whether any amendments to the Act or any other law are necessary or desirable.
This literature review will not only assist the Committee to assess the nature and extent of New Zealand’s sex industry but will be useful to academics, policy makers and other interested parties
Purpose
This literature review was commissioned by the Ministry of Justice and is intended to provide an assessment of the state of the sex industry in New Zealand in the years leading up to the passage of the Prostitution Reform Act 2003. It also examines overseas models of prostitution law reform and associated evaluations.