New Zealand prostitute wins sex harassment claim

WELLINGTON—A New Zealand prostitute has won substantial damages for sexual harassment by a brothel owner, with sex workers hailing the decision as a landmark ruling that shows the country as a world leader in protecting their rights.

In what New Zealand media reported as a “world first”, the Human Rights Review Tribunal awarded the 22-year-old brothel worker NZ$25,000 (US$21,000).

The tribunal heard the brothel owner reportedly told the woman he could do what he liked with the women who worked for him.

Over a three-month period, the older man belittled and frightened the woman until she felt unsafe and on edge, became depressed and turned to alcohol, according to the tribunal’s decision released Saturday.

“Sex workers are as much entitled to protection from sexual harassment as those working in other occupations,” the ruling said.

“The fact that a person is a sex worker is not a license for sexual harassment — especially by the manager or employer at the brothel.”

New Zealand Prostitutes Collective national coordinator Catherine Healy told Fairfax News the decision showed New Zealand had become a world leader in sex workers’ human rights after legalizing prostitution in 2003.

“It’s one up for decriminalization, it’s a significant ruling because it could never have happened when sex work was illegal. It indicates the massive change (the industry) has gone through,” she said.

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