Health and Safety Information for Operators of Businesses of Prostitution – English version
This resource relates to the following topics:
Health and safety requirements, in English, for brothels, prostitutes, sex workers and their clients under the Prostitution Reform Act 2003.
The full resource:
Prostitution Reform Act 2003
Under the Prostitution Reform Act 2003 there are specific health and safety requirements for operators of businesses of prostitution. Operators of businesses of prostitution must adopt and promote safer sex practices.
- Every operator must take all reasonable steps to ensure that no commercial sexual services are provided by a sex worker unless a condom or other appropriate barrier is used. This includes vaginal, anal or oral penetration or another activity with a similar or greater risk of acquiring or transmitting sexually transmissible infections (STIs).
- Every operator must take all reasonable steps to give health information (whether oral or written) to sex workers and clients. Health information means information on safer sex practices, and information about the prevention of sexually transmissible infections (STIs) and where to find treatment for STIs.
- If the person operates a brothel, the operator must display health information prominently in that brothel.
- The operator must not state or imply that a medical examination of a sex worker means the worker is not infected or likely to be infected with a sexually transmissible infection (STI).
An operator can be prosecuted and fined up to $10,000 for not complying with these health and safety requirements.
Under the Act sex workers and clients also have obligations to adopt safer sex practices.
Further Information
If you would like more information on sexual health issues contact:
- Sexual Health Services under 'S' in the white pages of your local phone book or details on the Auckland Sexual Health Service website www.ashs.org.nz
- Family Planning Association on 0800 FPA LINE or www.familyplanning.org.nz
- Public Health Unit of your local District Health Board.
To find out more about the Prostitution Reform Act 2003 contact:
- Ministry of Health www.health.govt.nz
- New Zealand Prostitutes Collective in the white pages of your local phone book.
- Department of Labour: A Guide to Occupational Health and Safety in the New Zealand Sex Industry.