what a shocking cherry pick of that piece, tsh.
the next para reads.
"Limited change
Another key benefit of decriminalisation, according to Ms Healy, is a sea change in relations with the police: "If you're the one committing a crime, you won't ask the police for help."
Catherine Healy
Advocate Catherine Healy says the law has empowered sex workers
Now, Ms Healy says, the girls find law enforcement officials are on their side.
This idea was borne out by a parliamentary report last year, which gave a positive assessment of the reform. It said prostitutes were more likely to report violence to police, and officers were treating their complaints seriously.
Some brothel operators, however, are not so sure the reform has made a big difference.
Bon Ton owner Jennifer - who got into the sex business after decriminalisation - says some old-style establishments are still exploiting people. "This is still an industry in transition," she says.
Monique, who ran brothels before 2003 and now owns Capri, a "Gentleman's club and garden bar" in Christchurch, also plays down the impact of the reform - but for the opposite reason.
She says relations with police were good even when bordellos operated illegally. And then, as now, exploitation of girls was never widespread, Monique adds.
"We now have a fat, legal agreement with the workers but they are treated the same." "
soooo, on the one hand, everything is the same and nothing bad ever happened, says monique, but the girls were exploited previously, with fines and sackings, says anne reed, prostitute of some 20 years standing. the other brothel keeper says that the less salubrious establishments still exploit women... so which is true?
girls are more likely to go to the police now in NZ, which is good, but actually, criminalisation OF THE MEN would achieve the same aim.
and seen as you're so keen to engage, tsh, what did you think of dittany's piece on what's happening in australia?