MEDIA RELEASE

25 September 2002

Prosecute Purchasers Of Prostitutes

Maxim Institute today called on the new Justice and Electoral Select Committee to introduce law modeled on Sweden to prosecute purchasers of sexual services.

At the hearing of submissions on the Prostitution Reform Bill Maxim spokeswoman Jenny Horst said it is time for New Zealand legislation to target the demand that drives the prostitution industry.

“If we are concerned about women being subject to abuse and violence as prostitutes then the law should prosecute the perpetrators.

“Even though prostitution has been tolerated in former centuries, as was slavery, now is the time for compassionate countries like New Zealand to outlaw the purchase of women for sex,” said Mrs Horst.

A multitude of international research shows that all prostitution causes harm. For example longitudinal research over 11 years by Oslo criminologists found all prostitutes suffer deep psychological damage as a result of their occupation.

Jenny Horst asks why then would we want to make prostitution a legitimate industry, as proposed in the current Prostitution Reform Bill, which will inevitably increase in size and normalise that abuse?

“In a free, just and compassionate society men should not have the right to buy women for sex. To prevent the harm caused to women through prostitution we need laws that make purchasing sexual services illegal, said Mrs Horst.”

Ends.

Copies of the Maxim summary position presented to the Justice select committee are available to the media on request.

For more information and comment contact:
Scott McMurray, Maxim Communications Director Tel. 027 222 1174

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