Decriminalisation vs Equality Model. CO “Legalife-Ukraine” asked NZPC to clear out accusations

Since the beginning of this year, Equality Model is heavily lobbied by some feminist activists in Ukraine as only solution to protect sex workers on the level of the reformed legislation. At the moment political discussion about this topic is on full swing.

We decided to check out basic info about this Model. We find out some strange aspects, which we were not ready to believe in.

On the official portal of the Equality Model in USA we find official statement that Decriminalization Model is not protecting sex workers from violence.

Here – “A decriminalized sex trade is not a safer sex trade.

One of the primary arguments made by those who advocate for legalized pimping, brothel owning and sex buying is that a legal sex trade is a regulated, and thus safer, sex trade. Setting aside the fact that market regulation varies based on region and political will, evidence does not support this. In fact, a 2008 study by a multidisciplinary committee formed by the government of New Zealand – a country that legalized prostitution in 2003 – shows that rates of violence did not decrease when the sex trade was legalized, nor did prostituted persons report feeling safer or being more likely to report to authorities violence they experienced in the sex trade.”

Because there were no links to the mentioned above study, we decided to ask NZPC: Aotearoa New Zealand Sex Workers Collective to comment on this subject.

We sent to Dame Catherine Healy, National Co-ordinator NZPC: Aotearoa New Zealand Sex Workers Collective, 3 questions via e-mail:

1. Do you have any info about this 2008 study?
2. If there was some kind of study – could you comment results of it?
3. What is official position of NZPC about Equality Model?

Within 5 days, we received official answer from NZPC concerning mentioned above claims by Equality Model.

Here –

Dear Nataliia

Many thanks for your enquiries and I appreciate the opportunity to explain our position on the Equality Model. I have included strong evidence that sex workers are better placed to report violence against them than existed prior to the decriminalisation of sex work in 2003.

I strongly oppose the Equality Model and believe it delivers harmful outcomes for sex workers preventing them from reporting crimes committed against them and forces them to work in more dangerous circumstances. On the other hand, full decriminalisation of sex work in New Zealand has resulted in a safer working environment for most sex workers, but with the harmful exclusion of migrants. I am optimisitc that the decriminalisation of sex work will be extended to this population.

Kind regards

Catherine

Dame Catherine Healy

National Co-ordinator NZPC: Aotearoa New Zealand Sex Workers’ Collective

National Office, Level 4

204 Willis Street, Wellington

04 382 8791

info@nzpc.org.nz

www.nzpc.org.nz

This official letter was supported by exclusive analytical research made by NZPC “Did violence increase following decriminalisation in New Zealand? Reply to claims by Equality Model”

You could read full research with all data and references by this link

Main conclusion of this research:

“Equality Model and others often reply upon taking the Report of the PLRC out of context, or blatantly misciting it. They continually ignore the conclusion of the PLRC (2008):

“the sex industry has not increased in size, and many social evils predicted by those who opposed the decriminalisation of the sex industry have not been experienced. On the whole the PRA has been effective in achieving its purpose, and the Committee is confident that the vast majority of people involved in the sex industry are better off under the PRA than they were previously”.

We stand by this conclusion

NZPC: Aotearoa New Zealand Sex Workers’ Collective”

Text: CO “Legalife-Ukraine”

On photo: Nataliia Isaieva (National Co-ordinator CO “Legalife-Ukraine”) and Dame Catherine Healy (National Co-ordinator NZPC: Aotearoa New Zealand Sex Workers Collective)