Women, Street Sex Work and the Law in Victoria: Stories of Injustice in Relation to Sexual Assault

Women sex workers in Victoria face a heightened danger of sexual assault because of the continued illegality of street-based prostitution. In this article I argue that the theoretical approach of legal narratives, applied to the sentencing decision of R v Hakopian, highlights some women street sex workers¿ experience in regard to sexual assault. Dissemination of alternative narratives throughout the community using legal narrative techniques might encourage empathy towards street sex workers and promote awareness of the dangers they face. This sparking of empathy could lead to policy initiatives and legislative change to better protect street sex workers in Victoria.