MEDIA RELEASE
14 October 2008

Prostitutes and Playschool Don’t Mix

Family First NZ says that the ability for a sex parlour to operate in the same building as a preschool in Wellington is evidence of how flawed the Prostitution Law is, and its complete ineffectiveness and lack of concern that it has for the welfare and protection of families.

“The politicians failed to respond to concerns regarding the location of brothels in undesirable places when they decriminalised prostitution, and have left it to local councils to put restrictions in place to prevent location by schools, kindergartens, churches and playgrounds,” says Bob McCoskrie, National Director of Family First NZ.

“Local councils have then found themselves taken to court with no back up from the legislation or the politicians.”

“And yet again, the best interests of children and families are ignored.”

“It is mind-boggling to think that we are not willing to act to protect young children being exposed to the activities and clients of a brothel.”

“Prostitution is harmful to workers and communities,” says Mr McCoskrie, “and the association of prostitution with gang and criminal behaviour, alcohol and drug abuse, and sexual abuse and violence means that we are sentencing more and more vulnerable people to an unacceptable situation, including underage prostitutes and now very young children.”

“The recent opposition to a residential based brothel in the Wellington area, attempts by Manukau City Council to tackle the problems of street prostitution, and opposition to the brothel in the main street of Dannevirke shows that communities are not accepting the liberalised and harmful laws.”

ENDS

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