Taking the crime out of sex work

Gillian Abel is a senior public health researcher and lecturer at the University of Otago, New Zealand. She has research expertise in the areas of public health and sex work. Lisa Fitzgerald is a public health sociologist and social science lecturer in the School of Population Health, University of Queensland, Australia.Catherine Healy is a founding member of the New Zealand Prostitutes' Collective, and is currently the National Coordinator. Aline Taylor comes from a background in anthropology, with a particular interest in researching issues on development, sport and gender.

• Introduction ~ Gillian Abel and Lisa Fitzgerald; Part one: Lead up to the passing of the Prostitution Reform Act (2003): Of whalers, diggers and 'soiled doves: a history of the sex industry in New Zealand ~ Jan Jordan; History of the New Zealand Prostitutes' Collective ~ Catherine Healy, Calum Bennachie and Anna Reed; Lobbying for decriminalisation ~ Tim Barnett, Catherine Healy, Anna Reed and Calum Bennachie; The Prostitution Reform Act ~ Gillian Abel, Catherine Healy, Calum Bennachie and Anna Reed; Several sides to this story: feminist views of prostitution reform ~ Alison Laurie; Part two: Implementation and impact of the Prostitution Reform Act (2003): the first five years: Review of the PRA ~ Paul Fitzharris with Aline Taylor; Brothel operators' and support agencies' experiences of decriminalisation ~ Elaine Mossman; The (continuing) regulation of prostitution by local authorities ~ Dean Knight; CSoM study methodology and methods ~ Gillian Abel, Lisa Fitzgerald and Cheryl Brunton; Becoming inspectors of brothels: public health authorities' experience of implementing the PRA ~ Cheryl Brunton; The media and the PRA ~ Lisa Fitzgerald and Gillian Abel; Risk and risk management in sex work post PRA: a public health perspective ~ Gillian Abel and Lisa Fitzgerald; Decriminalisation and stigma ~ Gillian Abel and Lisa Fitzgerald;Conclusion ~ Gillian Abel and Lisa Fitzgerald.

'This volume is a very well presented argument in favour of the decriminalisation of sex work, and shows that it benefits those who have the most to lose...Abel, Fitzgerald and Healy's study is a must-read for those wanting to really improve the working conditions of sex workers.' - BEHEMOTH A Journal on Civilisation (Rebecca Pates)