Catherine Healy (activist)

Dame Catherine Healy
DNZM
Healy in 2018
Born 1955/1956 (age 61–62)[1]
New Zealand
Nationality New Zealander
Occupation Activist
Known for Sex workers' rights activism

Dame Catherine Alice Healy DNZM (born 1955/1956) is a New Zealand sex workers' rights activist, field researcher and former prostitute working for decriminalisation of prostitution and generally for the improvement of the sex work profession. She is the national coordinator and a founding member of the New Zealand Prostitutes' Collective (NZPC).[2]

Early life

Healy grew up near Eastbourne, with three siblings and "liberal-minded" parents.[1]

Career

She was employed as a primary school teacher, though in an interview by Joseph Romanos for The Dominion Post, Healy said, to increase her earnings for the purpose of travelling, she then worked in a massage parlor.[3] In the 1980s, Healy worked in brothels and massage parlors.

Healy and her fellow members of the NZPC initiated a campaign for decriminalisation of prostitution. Prostitution was finally decriminalised in New Zealand in 2003 after the implementation of the Prostitution Reform Act 2003; Healy was in the public gallery to witness the final vote.[4] On 24 February 2010, she was invited by the Oxford Union at the University of Oxford to debate whether prostitution should be decriminalised. She became the second New Zealander after David Lange to be invited to debate at the university. At the university, she argued for decriminalisation of prostitution and won the debate.[5][6]

Healy has membership of various boards and committees. She has been invited as a speaker at the House of Commons of the United Kingdom and acts as an advisory on issues and policy formulations related to prostitution. The Prostitution Law Review Committee, a committee established by the New Zealand government, had Healy as one of its members. She has worked as a field researcher and has been involved with multiple research undertakings. She also works as a consultant for prostitutes of all genders, brothel owners and other persons involved in prostitution.[7]

With Gillian Abel and Lisa Fitzgerald, Healy has co-edited the book Taking the Crime Out of Sex Work: New Zealand Sex Workers' Fight for Decriminalisation.[7] The book argues decriminalisation has resulted in better working conditions for prostitutes.[8] She lives in Eastbourne.[3]

Honours

Healy was awarded the New Zealand Suffrage Centennial Medal in 1993.[9] In the 2018 Queen's Birthday Honours, she was appointed a Dame Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to the rights of sex workers.[4][10]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "National Portrait: Catherine Healy - The Exponent". Stuff. Retrieved 4 June 2018.
  2. ↑ "Prostitutes Collective disputes trafficking claim". Radio New Zealand. 4 July 2011. Retrieved 14 April 2012.
  3. 1 2 Romanos, Joseph. "The Wellingtonian interview: Catherine Healy". The Dominion Post. Retrieved 14 April 2012.
  4. 1 2 Anderson, Charles (3 June 2018). "New Zealand former sex worker becomes a dame in Queen's birthday honours". The Guardian.
  5. ↑ "Kiwi debater convinces Oxford Union on prostitution". Stuff.co.nz. 25 February 2010. Retrieved 14 April 2012.
  6. ↑ "NZ prostitutes' advocate speaks at Oxford debate". The New Zealand Herald. 25 February 2010. Retrieved 14 April 2012.
  7. 1 2 "Catherine Healy - New Zealand Prostitutes Collective". University of Otago. Retrieved 14 April 2012.
  8. ↑ "Decriminalisation of sex industry positive move". Scoop. Retrieved 14 April 2012.
  9. ↑ "Queen's Birthday honours 2018 – citations for Dames Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 4 June 2018. Retrieved 4 June 2018.
  10. ↑ "Queen's Birthday honours list 2018". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 4 June 2018. Retrieved 4 June 2018.
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