Prostitution Hits Big In Recession

Prostitution is not the economic answer for women in this current recession is the message that the National Council of Women of New Zealand (NCWNZ) is sending this International Women’s Day (8 March).

NCWNZ realises that a lot of women feel that they no longer have any other alternative than to resort to working as prostitutes because of the financial situation they now find themselves in.

A report, released last year from the Christchurch School of Medicine and Victoria University’s Crime and Justice Research Centre, stated that, in a study of the sex industry since the Prostitution Reform Act was passed, it was found that 93 % of sex workers cited financial reasons for working in the industry.

NCWNZ is deeply concerned the current economic situation will see more women turning to prostitution as way of making ends meet financially.

The New Zealand Prostitutes Collective has confirmed recently there has been a rise in women entering the sex industry since the recession hit.

“NCWNZ is speaking out now because of the increase in prostitution in this country since the economic crisis began,” says NCWNZ National President, Elizabeth Bang. “We do not want women suffering from the long-term effects of turning to prostitution to make ends meets; we would like women to think of other alternatives than that of a quick-fix solution, from which some may never recover mentally, emotionally or even physically.”

NCWNZ feels with more women turning to prostitution, there will be problem with competition in the marketplace, thus putting themselves into potentially harmful and sometimes fatal situations with women prepared to be more reckless in regards to protecting themselves.

“We are seeing more reports from here and internationally on how women are exposing themselves to more life-threatening behaviour. For example, sex workers in China are being forced not use condoms by clients and recently, it was reported that prostitutes in Christchurch were being made to feel that they had to make compromising deals with clients to keep generating income,” says Mrs Bang.

NCWNZ doesn’t want to see prostitution and the sex industry boom in the current economic climate.

ENDS

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