Posted on May 20, 2008 - by Frank

From Debbie Baker - Streetreach

Streetreach is a confidential support service in New Zealand for those involved in Prostitution. Our aim is to address the route issue of why people get involved in prostitution.

Streetreach has always been committed to building relationships and addressing the needs of those involved in prostitution. Streetreach is a Christian based confidential support service for those involved in the sex industry

Since its beginning the one thing we have come to understand is that no matter how much a person has been through, we all have a need to be loved, respected, and valued. Streetreach wants to address what has happened in a womens life that makes them turn to prostitution. We believe that women should not be brought and sold as a sexual commodity.

We in Streetreach believe that its time to bring transition, to address the route problem of prostitution and to see lasting change in peoples lives.

Streetreach believes that prostitution is harmful, it robs those involved of their self worth and value. Constantly we see women on the streets who feel abused used and beaten; feeling like this is the only option for them.

Often when we talk to girls we find that they feel trapped and that the sex industry is all they can do. When delving deeper into the girl’s lives, quite often we will find that they have been a victim of abuse of some sort.

In the future we would like a drop in centre where the girls can come and get training and support out of the industry.

Here is a story from one of our girls:

Sikira

Currently an Auckland street prostitute
Communication via email, 7 November 2002, authenticity verified by her Social Worker.

“My name is Sikira and I would like to tell you about my life as a working girl.

I started working when I was 12 years old. However in saying this I was first abused at the age of 4, I can remember my mum bringing in a roll of money I saw the man give it too her (I still remember what it looked like to today). I then had to go into the room with this man and have sex with him. It was the only time I had seen the money change hands. This continued until I was twelve and got kicked out of home on the night that my dad was buried. I was twelve then that was 1991, I came into town to work and worked on the ships and made money from the seamen and made work in a parlour to pay for my schooling. I did have a part time job; this was enough to pay for my rent I also had power and other stuff to worry about as well.

Working is all I have done, I have had straight jobs, I stayed at school and got my 5th and 6th form cert, I am a chef by trade. I have had straight jobs and every time I am in a straight job I run into a customer who’s seen me before and is regular to the place that I work at. When we get talking they seem to know that I am a working girl.

Working makes me feel like shit and that im worthless, but in saying that I see that the straight world is not wanting to give me a chance I cant seem to escape this work and nobody is discrete and will always remind me from where I am. They always seem to treat me like a hooker, they don’t understand that I do what I do to get out of what im doing. Whoever said that this is an awesome job doesn’t know what they are talking about.

At the moment I am feeling frustrated with my clients because I feel I have to be there. No matter how I try I feel that I am driven back there, it is sometimes direct or indirectly. At the end of the day I am a human being and have feelings and need to be treated nice. We all hurt and cry and smile like everyone else, we see what everyone else sees we see what everyone else see.

The majority of those out there that look at us are always out there working at some stage.

If decriminalised it will attract younger and younger girls, its saying its okay to do this. Its not a place where you want to be, it’s the abuse and feelings that you go through. There will be a problem with underage girls going out, it will be worst than it is now the age limit will decrease. [Note: this correspondence was sent during the process that lead to the New Zealand government voting in favour of the Prostitution Law Reform Act that decriminalised Prostitution]

The other week there was a young girl being sold off by a older guy, where would she get this idea from. There are a lot of men that request younger girls 8 or 9 that is sick. I got offered 20,000 to find a 10 year old girl who is a virgin. I said that girls life is better than any money. I know how she feels if she had to go through it and what it feels like. There are so many sickos out there.

There is the glamour side but also the down hill side. The glamour is the living in flash motels, money coming out of your ears, customers paying for you to live.

Downhill life – on the streets with the drugs and the weirdos and wanting to ponch you and kidnap you off the streets. I have been kidnapped about 3 times. But each time they haven’t managed to get far with me. I carried a gun when kidnapped I nearly used the gun twice, my hands couldn’t stop shaking when I pulled the trigger. This shows I have a conscience for other people.

To the ones who say working as a prostitute is the life, they are WRONG. Cause prostitution is not a life and you are constantly living a double life, you have to hide one side of you from what you are. You have to hide your emotions and everything about you. You cant show that you need help cause they will take advantage.

I know for each girl we are different but one thing that we have in common is we have either been sexually molested or abused.”

For more information on Streetreach and their work, click here. Check out the superb videos and find out all about their Pamper Night.