New year, old laws; and a growing call for change.

In this episode of Lady Justice Talks by the Women in Law Association (WILA), we sit down with Victoria Perchal, Co-President of WILA, and Sanzala Achakzai, Events Coordinator at WILA, to unpack the ongoing debate around the decriminalization of sex work and what it truly means for workers, communities, and society at large.

Together, they explore the realities behind existing legal frameworks and the stigma that continues to shape public opinion, asking difficult questions about morality, safety, labour rights, and human rights. The conversation examines the New Zealand model as a widely referenced approach to harm reduction and worker protection, and considers what a decriminalized, labour-based framework could look like in practice.

The episode also dives into how religion, culture, and societal values influence attitudes toward sex work, and how stigma directly impacts the safety, health, and dignity of workers. Most importantly, Victoria and Sanzala highlight the potential benefits of decriminalization — from improved health outcomes to greater equality, autonomy, and legal protection.

This episode challenges listeners to rethink long-held assumptions and to consider sex work through a legal and human-centred lens: as work, not a crime!

From the left: Chantelle Belonio, Victoria Perchal, Sanzala Achakzai, Charley Atkinson