This year election in Orissa was different, and one that will be remembered at least for all of us at ODISHA-One. Anarkali Kinnar (Kali Mausi to her loved ones) a hijra residing near Vani Vihar Square, Bhubaneswar, for the first time got an opportunity to cast her vote. Though Kali Mausi and the names of other hijras residing with her had with a lot of difficulty been included in the electoral list however they had been told they would not be able to cast their votes as they did not have any photo identity proofs, (EC had listed out 13 photo identity proofs, e.g. driving license, pan card, ration card etc.).
Kali Mausi met many NGOs, Officials and begged them to give her and her community an opportunity to vote, but without any success. On 23 April, Kali Mausi went early in the morning to beg and convince the polling officers of the 112 Assembly Constituency/Booth at Sahidnagar Primary School to cast her vote. The Polling Officers who were initially reluctant, took a lenient view and gave her permission to cast her vote when she showed them her marriage certificate and marriage photographs.
Kali Mausi was ecstatic and gave credit for this to a Community Mobilizer, Lakhmidhar Pradhan working in an EU/Interact/Lepra Project in the slums of Bhubaneswar. Lakhmidhar Pradhan has been tirelessly working with the hijras and other marginalized and invisible communities in the slums of Bhubaneswar since the last sixteen years, and since the past one year he had been trying to enroll the names of all the hijras in the electoral list.
‘This is my birthright and I deserve to vote’ was all that Kali Mausi expressed when asked how she felt.
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Privacy, Confidentiality and Us
A student of TISS, Mumbai was raped on Sunday 12 April by six men. This was widely covered and extensively reported by Media.
The Mumbai Mirror, a popular newspaper of Mumbai, on Friday published the statement made by the victim to the police, and in detail have also published the victims, age, her country of origin, and the course she was enrolled in. As there are not many international students in TISS it was not very difficult for the entire college to know the victims identity. Many organizations and activists have strongly condemned about this violation of the victims right and dignity. The newspaper can argue they have not named her, but they have otherwise revealed her identity. They may have kept the law, but they violated its spirit.”
Closer home in Orissa, disclosing identities of victims and the marginalized is quite common and done without any scruples. PLHIVs identity have regularly been disclosed by the Health Care Providers and Counselors who have access to VCCTC reports. NGOs have regularly disclosed identities of the PLHIV and victims who come to them for help and who they are supposed to protect. Abortion clinics have disclosed identities of young unmarried women who have had abortion.
In fact many of us can come up with more incidents where the law has been violated by revealing identities which should have been protected. I know an incident where so called friends of a gay friend of mine have disclosed his identity to his parents, who were yet to know of this, and he had to go through a lot of pain and humiliation when he was kicked out of his home and his parents’ life, it was harrowing for him.
WHAT IS WRONG WITH US, we are a nation of tattlers and gossip mongers, and our media is like us. We have no respect for individual dignity, nor do we believe that it needs to be protected. Should we not be doing something about it???
Sohamm
The Mumbai Mirror, a popular newspaper of Mumbai, on Friday published the statement made by the victim to the police, and in detail have also published the victims, age, her country of origin, and the course she was enrolled in. As there are not many international students in TISS it was not very difficult for the entire college to know the victims identity. Many organizations and activists have strongly condemned about this violation of the victims right and dignity. The newspaper can argue they have not named her, but they have otherwise revealed her identity. They may have kept the law, but they violated its spirit.”
Closer home in Orissa, disclosing identities of victims and the marginalized is quite common and done without any scruples. PLHIVs identity have regularly been disclosed by the Health Care Providers and Counselors who have access to VCCTC reports. NGOs have regularly disclosed identities of the PLHIV and victims who come to them for help and who they are supposed to protect. Abortion clinics have disclosed identities of young unmarried women who have had abortion.
In fact many of us can come up with more incidents where the law has been violated by revealing identities which should have been protected. I know an incident where so called friends of a gay friend of mine have disclosed his identity to his parents, who were yet to know of this, and he had to go through a lot of pain and humiliation when he was kicked out of his home and his parents’ life, it was harrowing for him.
WHAT IS WRONG WITH US, we are a nation of tattlers and gossip mongers, and our media is like us. We have no respect for individual dignity, nor do we believe that it needs to be protected. Should we not be doing something about it???
Sohamm
Monday, April 20, 2009
HIV&AIDS and Orissa
The first case of HIV infection in Orissa was reported in 1992 in the District of Nayagarh and the first reported death due to AIDS was in 1993 and was reported from Ganjam. Since then a cumulative total of 1036 AIDS cases have been reported while the estimated numbers of HIV cases are 11,436. (OSACS, Nov 2008). 4900 people have been registered for treatment at ART centres of Cuttack and Berhampur. The number of death cases reported is 803.
However these figures may not be a true reflection of the HIV status in Orissa as:
- No comprehensive study has been conducted to assess the magnitude of the problem.
- Although ICTC/VCCTC facilities are available, there are intermittent gaps in procurement and distribution of essentials such as testing kits.
- No stringent adherence to disease surveillance guidelines as a result many a times in many of the district level data seems to be either inflated or there is underreporting.
In the district of Ganjam the epidemic, which was initially concentrated in certain localities and certain subpopulation, has now spilled over into the wider population. Ganjam also accounts for 43% of all AIDS Cases reported from Orissa. On the national level, Ganjam district is ranked as eighth of the 14 most HIV-affected districts, and has been given a Grade ‘A’, since more than 1 % of the population is now affected by AIDS. As per the latest figures, available from the Behaviour Surveillance Survey Report 2006, Orissa has a prevalence rate of 0.22 % among adult population. Among the districts, Ganjam was at the top with 3.25% followed by Angul with 1.75%, Bolangir 1.25% and Bhadrak 1%.
Despite this grim scenario in Ganjam, only 4 Targeted Intervention Programme are currently being implemented through three NGOs. Aruna which is implementing two of the TIs, GPSS one and a new organization Janasadhana has been working since the past one month.
The population covered through these TIs is hardly 50,000. What is worrying is that though all the 22 Blocks have reported positive cases with Aska and Hinjilikat leading, the TIs are only being implemented in two of the Blocks.
Many National/International Organizations have come to Ganjam and expressed their concern about the situation in Ganjam, however they have rarely spent their resources. Many National/International organizations have access to resources to be spent on HIV&AIDS in Orissa, however majority of the money is not spent on community level initiatives or strenghtening the capacity of local NGOs/CBOs (who will be very effective in prevention initiatives) but on establishing structures of their own, and that too not in Ganjam but in Bhubaneswar. The need of the hour is not establish layers and layers within one's own organization but to build the capacity of local CBOs and NGOs to tackle migration and HIV&AIDS and create a sustainable initiative.
I sincerely do hope that NGOs and CBOs and other civil society organizations come together and along with the Government act as pressure groups for national/international organizations and plan which are the priority areas in Orissa where resources should be poured in and who should be the major beneficiaries of these resources.
However these figures may not be a true reflection of the HIV status in Orissa as:
- No comprehensive study has been conducted to assess the magnitude of the problem.
- Although ICTC/VCCTC facilities are available, there are intermittent gaps in procurement and distribution of essentials such as testing kits.
- No stringent adherence to disease surveillance guidelines as a result many a times in many of the district level data seems to be either inflated or there is underreporting.
In the district of Ganjam the epidemic, which was initially concentrated in certain localities and certain subpopulation, has now spilled over into the wider population. Ganjam also accounts for 43% of all AIDS Cases reported from Orissa. On the national level, Ganjam district is ranked as eighth of the 14 most HIV-affected districts, and has been given a Grade ‘A’, since more than 1 % of the population is now affected by AIDS. As per the latest figures, available from the Behaviour Surveillance Survey Report 2006, Orissa has a prevalence rate of 0.22 % among adult population. Among the districts, Ganjam was at the top with 3.25% followed by Angul with 1.75%, Bolangir 1.25% and Bhadrak 1%.
Despite this grim scenario in Ganjam, only 4 Targeted Intervention Programme are currently being implemented through three NGOs. Aruna which is implementing two of the TIs, GPSS one and a new organization Janasadhana has been working since the past one month.
The population covered through these TIs is hardly 50,000. What is worrying is that though all the 22 Blocks have reported positive cases with Aska and Hinjilikat leading, the TIs are only being implemented in two of the Blocks.
Many National/International Organizations have come to Ganjam and expressed their concern about the situation in Ganjam, however they have rarely spent their resources. Many National/International organizations have access to resources to be spent on HIV&AIDS in Orissa, however majority of the money is not spent on community level initiatives or strenghtening the capacity of local NGOs/CBOs (who will be very effective in prevention initiatives) but on establishing structures of their own, and that too not in Ganjam but in Bhubaneswar. The need of the hour is not establish layers and layers within one's own organization but to build the capacity of local CBOs and NGOs to tackle migration and HIV&AIDS and create a sustainable initiative.
I sincerely do hope that NGOs and CBOs and other civil society organizations come together and along with the Government act as pressure groups for national/international organizations and plan which are the priority areas in Orissa where resources should be poured in and who should be the major beneficiaries of these resources.
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Myths in community
recently, we organized a training on SRH at Mali Sahi. Really, It's very interesting. They have lots of myths. 20 partcipants attended the training. After training, I found that the knowledge level on SRH of about 40% partcipants is improved to 80% which was very less prior to the training. Most of the trainee are illiterate. So, Group discussion, pictorial method, story telling , interactive methods are followed to facilitate the sessions. But interesting points are they coined new terms to understand the technical terms on SRH. They get clarified many myths & if anybody disturb in the session, others became very reactive to the disturber. I am very happy for the same. But, I feel that I need to devise some new interesting tools for these ignorant adult people. They are very aggressive, impatient also. So, the facilitator need to facilitate them in such a way that they will enjoy the learning. They have very interesting concepts on SRH as follows:
- If a couple will intercourse after 03 days of menstruation, then the sex of the child will be female. If it will happen on 5th day after menstruation, then the sex of the child will be male.
- During menstruation, they feel that placent is a red coloured flower which blooms in the uterous & after menstruation, it will be closed. Again in next menstruation it blooms....
- They are unaware about their clitoris.
- In male organs, they coined new terms like
- Prostrate gland- Sukra Bahi Nali
- Seminal Vesicle- Birya Thali
- Cervix- Chua ghara kabata
- Uterus- Chua Ghara
5. Sex is determined by god.
6. Menstruation is impure / dirty.
Similarly, many myths they have. We do review of the day to assess the training. But I need support to devise some new tools to assess the training. I need support for the same.
Saturday, April 11, 2009
Denial, Stigma and Discrimination in Health Care Sectors: Part II
Denial, Stigma and Discrimination should be addressed at all levels, we do have manuals, guidelines which are yet to be disseminated or taught to health care providers and people working in the development sector. In fact I know a gentleman who holds a high post in one of the national/international organization working to eradicate poverty and illnesses like Malaria, Tuberculosis, HIV&AIDS etc. who goes and washes his hand in disinfectant when he shakes hand with PLHIVs, this particular gentleman also holds a hanky on his mouth and nose when he goes to MALI SAHI (the only brothel in Orissa), and runs as soon as his organizations event is completed. However this particular gentleman can provide you with textbook definition of each and every issue without imbibing what he speaks within his work or activity or his life style. So I think for us there is a need for us to address all the three, denial, stigma and discrimination separately and at all levels.
We do have only a handful of professionals who seriously try to address issues on DSD, in fact in Orissa only CBOs like Sakha, KNP+, and NGOs like Aruna have been conducting workshops and meetings to address issues related to DSD, starting right from the community level to the State level, however to prevent DSD we do need to collaborate with larger National and International Organizations as well as Government.
Rarely is our focus on establishing quality checks in service delivery mechanisms, or project related activities, because quality checks could be the best way to combat DSD. Our achievements are primarily counted through numbers for e.g Number of STD clinics established, Number of Doctors available, Number of trainings held. Qualitative indicators are rarely included or looked for by donor organizations.
Our MIS fails to include any qualitative indicators. There is a need for us to establish quality checks, and seriously address these through activities and initiatives. Grievance mechanisms need to be established to address clients’ discomfiture or needs of the clients. These grievance mechanisms should be separate, not a part of the existing system.
I am glad that Bismita has talked about Denial Stigma and Discrimination, this is something we need to address especially in the state of Orissa where we are yet to go beyond Targeted Intervention Programme, and address issues pertaining to the rights and dignity of People Living with HIV&AIDS.
I am waiting for Rashmita to speak out, SPEAK UP RASHMITA We love to hear your voice and your ideas.
Sarita
We do have only a handful of professionals who seriously try to address issues on DSD, in fact in Orissa only CBOs like Sakha, KNP+, and NGOs like Aruna have been conducting workshops and meetings to address issues related to DSD, starting right from the community level to the State level, however to prevent DSD we do need to collaborate with larger National and International Organizations as well as Government.
Rarely is our focus on establishing quality checks in service delivery mechanisms, or project related activities, because quality checks could be the best way to combat DSD. Our achievements are primarily counted through numbers for e.g Number of STD clinics established, Number of Doctors available, Number of trainings held. Qualitative indicators are rarely included or looked for by donor organizations.
Our MIS fails to include any qualitative indicators. There is a need for us to establish quality checks, and seriously address these through activities and initiatives. Grievance mechanisms need to be established to address clients’ discomfiture or needs of the clients. These grievance mechanisms should be separate, not a part of the existing system.
I am glad that Bismita has talked about Denial Stigma and Discrimination, this is something we need to address especially in the state of Orissa where we are yet to go beyond Targeted Intervention Programme, and address issues pertaining to the rights and dignity of People Living with HIV&AIDS.
I am waiting for Rashmita to speak out, SPEAK UP RASHMITA We love to hear your voice and your ideas.
Sarita
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Denial, stigma & discrimination in health care sectors
During my visit to some of the health institutions nearby the slums where I am working, I was surprised to find the stigma & discrimination prevailing there. It is very sad that the PLHIVs are denied of services due to the stigma & discrimination. It is alarming to learn that the service providers even do not have an idea on how HIV is transmitted and how it is not!! some even do not know about the transgenders. PLHIVs are often refused treatment and surgery, denied admission to hospitals or charged additionally for basic services, making PLHIV wait longer than others for care, and so on. Most of the health care professionals and other supporting staff are not aware of the Universal precaution and they are not following it. When asked about the attendance of STD positive cases the sudden response is 'referral to other centres'. We have so many medical and nursing colleges in our country but nobody is giving importance to this subject in their class rooms and training sessions. Not only that the faculties are sometimes discouraging the students from taking care of PLHIV. We are conducting many awareness programs in the communities but I think there is a lack of the awareness programs in the professional medical colleges. Professors and senior doctors have to be role models for the new generation. They have to take initiative to remove DSD from our public and private health care settings. Accordingly, all the health care professionals and supporting staff have to get the awareness and training on DSD. Right to get treatment is one of the main rights of every human being. If we do not legislate against DSD, the sheer fear of infection and subsequent stigmatization and discrimination will prevent health care workers from treating PLHIV. In addition, to avoid DSD of PLHIV we have to ensure the provision of resources and materials for Universal precaution, like PEP(post exposure prophylaxis), as well as establishing a safe work environment.
The health care providers as well as hospital administrators need to be sensitized on HIV, transmission routes, especially how HIV does not transmit, as well as importance of following Universal Precautions
The health care providers as well as hospital administrators need to be sensitized on HIV, transmission routes, especially how HIV does not transmit, as well as importance of following Universal Precautions
Monday, April 6, 2009
Harassment at Workplace
Harassment at workplace is nothing new, recently in a non government organization the male members of the organization ganged up and complained against one of their woman colleague to their seniors. The complaint was that she was not allowing the others to spend resources as freely as they would have wanted to, she put in a lot of quality checks to spending and she wanted a spending plan for the money that was being spent for community led initiatives. The seniors took this too seriously and have initiated a investigation to these, "ALLEGATIONS".
One wonders where did the woman go wrong, she wanted quality checks which we rarely integrate into any programme management cycle, she wanted a spending plan which is a important issue in spending resources especially in a resource poor state like Orissa.
Where are we actually heading to as we constantly talk of equality and equity. Have these remained mere jargons and buzz words to recieve more funds from international agency? Despite the fact that women have proved their worth, and proved that they are talented and can lead, they are not given opportunities. Women who are ambitious, assertive and who can give males a competition are still looked down upon and are still thought of as bossy, irritating women, who need to be either beaten up or removed from the organization. I know a unmarried female friend of mine who is highly professional and very much in demand because of her analytical skills is constantly called by her male counterparts a lesbo( a slang for lesbian), because she shines in most of the meeting that she goes to and her ideas are accepted and activities are undertaken.
The NGO sector in Orissa has never ever thought of quality checks within their organizations, nor have they made place for professional women who can contribute substantially to Project cycle management and growth of the organization. The NGO sector has also learnt how to circumvent donor demands and create personal fiefdoms of their own. If the donor looks for women representation within the organization then the wives and maid servants find a place in the Governing Body. In fact in one of the organization that I had visited, the Founder's (who was the Chief Functionary in the organization since the past fifteen years) Cook was the Treasurer.
Why are NGOs who are supposed to be the conscience of the community and civil society at large treat women so poorly, who will address harassment to women at workplace, we still have not established grievance cells to address sexual harassment at workplace which is something every society should have to protect the rights of the women. SO when will we be protecting the rights of the women at workplace. And when will we be actually focussing on protecting the core values of human rights: Respect, Equality, Choice, Diversity and Dignity.
DO share more stories on harassment at workplace we could work together on this.
Sarita.
One wonders where did the woman go wrong, she wanted quality checks which we rarely integrate into any programme management cycle, she wanted a spending plan which is a important issue in spending resources especially in a resource poor state like Orissa.
Where are we actually heading to as we constantly talk of equality and equity. Have these remained mere jargons and buzz words to recieve more funds from international agency? Despite the fact that women have proved their worth, and proved that they are talented and can lead, they are not given opportunities. Women who are ambitious, assertive and who can give males a competition are still looked down upon and are still thought of as bossy, irritating women, who need to be either beaten up or removed from the organization. I know a unmarried female friend of mine who is highly professional and very much in demand because of her analytical skills is constantly called by her male counterparts a lesbo( a slang for lesbian), because she shines in most of the meeting that she goes to and her ideas are accepted and activities are undertaken.
The NGO sector in Orissa has never ever thought of quality checks within their organizations, nor have they made place for professional women who can contribute substantially to Project cycle management and growth of the organization. The NGO sector has also learnt how to circumvent donor demands and create personal fiefdoms of their own. If the donor looks for women representation within the organization then the wives and maid servants find a place in the Governing Body. In fact in one of the organization that I had visited, the Founder's (who was the Chief Functionary in the organization since the past fifteen years) Cook was the Treasurer.
Why are NGOs who are supposed to be the conscience of the community and civil society at large treat women so poorly, who will address harassment to women at workplace, we still have not established grievance cells to address sexual harassment at workplace which is something every society should have to protect the rights of the women. SO when will we be protecting the rights of the women at workplace. And when will we be actually focussing on protecting the core values of human rights: Respect, Equality, Choice, Diversity and Dignity.
DO share more stories on harassment at workplace we could work together on this.
Sarita.
Friday, April 3, 2009
Legalization of prostitution in New Zealand
An article in BBC NEWS by Henri Astier, Tuesday 17 March, 2009 which speaks about a society which has decriminalized prostitution.
In terms of attitudes towards prostitution, New Zealand and Europe are almost as diametrically opposed as they are in geography. Kiwis have opted for wholesale liberalisation of the sex trade, while Europeans are increasingly restricting it. When "Sophie", a medical worker from Christchurch, fell behind on her mortgage payments last year, she found that her job was not paying enough. Her only option was a temporary career change: she became a prostitute. "I needed money fast so I didn't lose my house," she explains. A soft-spoken 30-something with a shy smile, Sophie does not look like the stereotypical scarlet woman, even in the low-cut dress she wears at work. She does not feel like one either. "I don't drink. I don't smoke. I don't do drugs. I'm a vegetarian," she says, adding that she had qualms about her new job. But the city centre parlour she joined - basically a pub with a sitting area at the front and bedrooms at the back - was not the drug-fuelled dive she had imagined. "All the women here are lovely," she says. "We spend a lot of time sitting and talking. I'll stick it out a bit longer."
Good money
Some might question the morality of Sophie's choice, but legally it cannot be faulted.
Since the Prostitution Reform Act of 2003, brothels have been allowed to operate more or less freely. Sex workers have the same rights as everyone else. In the eyes of New Zealand's law, the oldest profession is just like any other.
This policy stands in marked contrast to Europe. In 1999 Sweden criminalised the purchase of sex services, and several countries are introducing similar laws in an attempt to combat trafficking.
Ask New Zealand sex workers what they think of Swedish-style strictures, and the response is overwhelmingly negative. "Whether you're prosecuting the men or the girls, you're still prosecuting the business," says "Lucy", 23, from Wellington.
Lucy works in Bon Ton, an exclusive establishment in the capital where an hour-long session costs NZ$400 (£140; $200). She says the reform has given her the opportunity to work for a legitimate business in a safe environment. "I make twice what I was earning in retail. I am appreciated by customers and my boss. I can work whenever I want to - it's by far the most gratifying work I've ever had," she says.
Legal rights
Lucy's manager, Sarah, also believes criminalising clients would be a disaster for the industry and put the girls at risk. "This would scare away the quality customers," she says. "We would be left with the dangerous sort. The nasty men won't go away."
Bon Ton - which thrives on "quality customers" like lawyers and civil servants - certainly looks like an ideal showcase for New Zealand-style liberalisation.
The bedrooms look like luxury suites, the upstairs office looks like - well... an office, and the workers say they are treated with respect. Sarah insists she has zero tolerance for abuse and will back the girls even if they refuse a client. "I can't force a woman to have sex," she says. As she speaks another girl appears at the door, draped in a towel. "Myah" looks at the work ahead, and realises that a client who often insists on having oral sex without a condom wants to see her. "I don't want him," Myah says. "No problem," Sarah replies. "I'll tell him you're not available." Myah is not afraid to turn down work. Her health is at stake, and the law requires a condom for any commercial sex act. "It is my legal right to make that demand," she says. But are the benefits from legalisation confined to high-end businesses like Bon Ton? According to Catherine Healy of the New Zealand Prostitutes Collective (NZPC), better and safer working practices are now the norm. Across the industry, she says, women are now aware of their rights and exploitative brothel owners are becoming marginalised as a result of the reform.
"Sex workers say: I can work across town," she says. "The dynamic has altered."
Anna Reed, who was a sex worker in Christchurch for 23 years and is now NZPC's local spokesperson, agrees that exploitative practices have become rare. "Owners used to demand huge fines for being late. They used to hire and fire workers without reason." But now, she says, "girls feel more able to stand up for themselves".
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." 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."
Suspicions
A sure sign that New Zealand's sex trade has not been entirely revolutionised is that society still frowns on it. Last year a teacher was sacked when it was learnt that she occasionally - and perfectly legally - moonlighted as a prostitute. Many sex workers keep a regular part-time job to avoid leaving suspicious gaps on their CVs. They tell only trusted friends about their main activity. None of the working prostitutes and madams interviewed for this report was ready to give their real names. Brothels may be legal but most New Zealanders prefer not to live next to one. Bon Ton never mentions an address in its adverts - only a phone number. In Christchurch operators had to fight a proposed zoning law that would have kept them out of most areas. But the overwhelming majority in the business feels huge progress was made when the industry emerged from the shadow. Anna Reed says she loved working as a prostitute - "I had sex, money and men!" - and resents enduring clichés about a job no-one in her right mind could willingly embrace. "We get so pissed off when politicians portray us as victims," she says. "It's important to blow down the stereotypes about sex workers - particularly that of the poor girl who is coerced into doing it."
ODISHA-One
In terms of attitudes towards prostitution, New Zealand and Europe are almost as diametrically opposed as they are in geography. Kiwis have opted for wholesale liberalisation of the sex trade, while Europeans are increasingly restricting it. When "Sophie", a medical worker from Christchurch, fell behind on her mortgage payments last year, she found that her job was not paying enough. Her only option was a temporary career change: she became a prostitute. "I needed money fast so I didn't lose my house," she explains. A soft-spoken 30-something with a shy smile, Sophie does not look like the stereotypical scarlet woman, even in the low-cut dress she wears at work. She does not feel like one either. "I don't drink. I don't smoke. I don't do drugs. I'm a vegetarian," she says, adding that she had qualms about her new job. But the city centre parlour she joined - basically a pub with a sitting area at the front and bedrooms at the back - was not the drug-fuelled dive she had imagined. "All the women here are lovely," she says. "We spend a lot of time sitting and talking. I'll stick it out a bit longer."
Good money
Some might question the morality of Sophie's choice, but legally it cannot be faulted.
Since the Prostitution Reform Act of 2003, brothels have been allowed to operate more or less freely. Sex workers have the same rights as everyone else. In the eyes of New Zealand's law, the oldest profession is just like any other.
This policy stands in marked contrast to Europe. In 1999 Sweden criminalised the purchase of sex services, and several countries are introducing similar laws in an attempt to combat trafficking.
Ask New Zealand sex workers what they think of Swedish-style strictures, and the response is overwhelmingly negative. "Whether you're prosecuting the men or the girls, you're still prosecuting the business," says "Lucy", 23, from Wellington.
Lucy works in Bon Ton, an exclusive establishment in the capital where an hour-long session costs NZ$400 (£140; $200). She says the reform has given her the opportunity to work for a legitimate business in a safe environment. "I make twice what I was earning in retail. I am appreciated by customers and my boss. I can work whenever I want to - it's by far the most gratifying work I've ever had," she says.
Legal rights
Lucy's manager, Sarah, also believes criminalising clients would be a disaster for the industry and put the girls at risk. "This would scare away the quality customers," she says. "We would be left with the dangerous sort. The nasty men won't go away."
Bon Ton - which thrives on "quality customers" like lawyers and civil servants - certainly looks like an ideal showcase for New Zealand-style liberalisation.
The bedrooms look like luxury suites, the upstairs office looks like - well... an office, and the workers say they are treated with respect. Sarah insists she has zero tolerance for abuse and will back the girls even if they refuse a client. "I can't force a woman to have sex," she says. As she speaks another girl appears at the door, draped in a towel. "Myah" looks at the work ahead, and realises that a client who often insists on having oral sex without a condom wants to see her. "I don't want him," Myah says. "No problem," Sarah replies. "I'll tell him you're not available." Myah is not afraid to turn down work. Her health is at stake, and the law requires a condom for any commercial sex act. "It is my legal right to make that demand," she says. But are the benefits from legalisation confined to high-end businesses like Bon Ton? According to Catherine Healy of the New Zealand Prostitutes Collective (NZPC), better and safer working practices are now the norm. Across the industry, she says, women are now aware of their rights and exploitative brothel owners are becoming marginalised as a result of the reform.
"Sex workers say: I can work across town," she says. "The dynamic has altered."
Anna Reed, who was a sex worker in Christchurch for 23 years and is now NZPC's local spokesperson, agrees that exploitative practices have become rare. "Owners used to demand huge fines for being late. They used to hire and fire workers without reason." But now, she says, "girls feel more able to stand up for themselves".
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." 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."
Suspicions
A sure sign that New Zealand's sex trade has not been entirely revolutionised is that society still frowns on it. Last year a teacher was sacked when it was learnt that she occasionally - and perfectly legally - moonlighted as a prostitute. Many sex workers keep a regular part-time job to avoid leaving suspicious gaps on their CVs. They tell only trusted friends about their main activity. None of the working prostitutes and madams interviewed for this report was ready to give their real names. Brothels may be legal but most New Zealanders prefer not to live next to one. Bon Ton never mentions an address in its adverts - only a phone number. In Christchurch operators had to fight a proposed zoning law that would have kept them out of most areas. But the overwhelming majority in the business feels huge progress was made when the industry emerged from the shadow. Anna Reed says she loved working as a prostitute - "I had sex, money and men!" - and resents enduring clichés about a job no-one in her right mind could willingly embrace. "We get so pissed off when politicians portray us as victims," she says. "It's important to blow down the stereotypes about sex workers - particularly that of the poor girl who is coerced into doing it."
ODISHA-One
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