Crime & Justice · Party position

Women’s Rights Party on Crime & Justice

Ban rough sex defence; protect women from violence and abuse

This party wants to ban using 'rough sex' as a legal defence in murder or serious harm cases. They want women's prisons, refuges, and other facilities to be single-sex only. They also oppose pornography that shows violence against women, and support laws that protect women and girls from sexual abuse and violence.

What they say they'll do

Work with other groups to ban the use of 'rough sex' as a defence in murder or serious harm cases
Oppose the housing of biological males in women's prisons
Make protection orders more accessible, affordable, and properly enforced
Replace the Prostitution Reform Act 2003 with legislation based on the Equality Model, criminalising buyers and brothel owners rather than prostituted women
Fund refuges providing women-only services, exit services for women leaving gangs or religious cults, and support services for detransitioners
Oppose so-called 'hate crime' legislation

Who this affects

Women experiencing domestic violence

The party proposes increased resources and public funding for women-only refuges and easier access to protection orders.

Women in prostitution

The party proposes replacing current law so that prostituted women are fully decriminalised while buyers, pimps, and brothel owners face criminal liability, and exit services are funded.

Women in prison

The party opposes placing biological males in women's prisons, seeking to preserve single-sex spaces for women prisoners.

Families of victims of fatal violence

The party wants to ban the 'rough sex' defence in murder and serious harm cases, which it says has been used to reduce sentences for perpetrators.

In their own words

“The Women's Rights Party will work with other groups in calling for a ban on the use of "rough sex" as a defence in a murder case or a case involving serious harm.”

“The Women's Rights Party opposes the housing of biological males in women's prisons.”

“protection orders should be enforced and applications for protection orders should be accessible and affordable.”

Verify at The New Zealand Women’s Rights Party — official policy page

Summarised neutrally from The New Zealand Women’s Rights Party’s own official policy (as at 2026-09-07) and checked by an editor. Nothing is paraphrased without the source linked. Read the original ↗ Politika is non-partisan. Compare all parties on Crime & Justice →

In depth, from Women’s Rights Party’s policy document · November 2025

Prostitution law, hate crime and women’s prisons

The Prostitution Reform Act 2003 would be replaced with the Equality Model, decriminalising the prostituted person, criminalising buyers and brothel owners, and funding exit services. On hate crime the party opposes new offences but wants “sex” added to the aggravating factors already in the Sentencing Act. It opposes housing biological males in women’s prisons, and backs a ban on “rough sex” as a defence to murder or serious harm.

Prostitution Reform Act

Replaced

Who is criminalised

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Women’s Rights Party on Crime & Justice

What they say they'll do

Who this affects

In their own words

Prostitution law, hate crime and women’s prisons

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