Producing this magazine has been full of bizarre experiences. Like sitting at my desk reading some rather explicit material while several of my colleagues grovelled on the floor with life-size pink plastic dummies. No, it wasn't part of my research. They were quite coincidentally taking part in a First Aid course.

Then there were the problems with the photo agencies. True, I was asking for something difficult. I didn't want the normal run-of-the-mill prostitution pictures. I wanted prostitutes as people, not as victims or 'happy hookers'.

The first agency didn't stock photos of prostitutes on principle, because they were concerned about the exploitation angle. The second wouldn't allow me to use photographs of families in case I offended someone's sensibilities. And the third had had legal problems with some photos they'd used of women in fur coats in a red-light district, who had been labelled as prostitutes when they weren't. So they only stocked photos of prostitutes who were in a state of undress or otherwise clearly demarcated as prostitutes.

In the end, with the assistance of helpful and interested women researchers at the various agencies, I found what I wanted. I also met with great enthusiasm from the various female illustrators and cartoonists that I commissioned, who came up with superb ideas and vibrant, colourful pictures. Sisterhood is global after all.

It proved to be less so on the issue of what angle I should take in the magazine. Everyone - male and female - had an opinion that they felt I should air, and usually a ribald comment to go with it. I felt the NI should be listening to prostitutes themselves. If possible they should write most of the magazine. But I also knew that by doing this I would alienate a whole range of other people. As a feminist, I would get flack from feminists. Moralists wouldn't like it; nor would some campaigners. I wasn't sure what my mum would think either.

In the end I decided that I would just have to get on with it. I'd have to annoy somebody whatever I did. But I'll be clearer about what I'm taking on board next time I do a magazine that has anything to do with sex. And I'm not sure I'm ever going to be able to do that First Aid course...

Soliciting for change
The subject of prostitution produces strong opinions and much confusion. Nikki van der Gaag suggests a simple way through the moral morass.

The whore, the punter,
her stigma and his wife
Nickie Roberts charts a history of prejudice against prostitutes.

The World Charter
for Prostitutes' Rights

Home truths
Child prostitution is an emotive issue.
Maggie Black unearths some facts.

Simply - strange behaviour

The healthy hooker
Prostitutes as health workers? Catherine Healy and Anna Reed argue the case.

PROSTITUTION & THE LAW - THE FACTS

The meeting of the michês
Paulo Longo on being a prostitute and gay in Brazil.

Toy boys
Maureen Freely tells a tale with a twist.

The money market
What money has done to prostitution in Africa by Oumar Tandia.

Unfair cop
The law is stacked against prostitutes everywhere. Cheryl Overs argues for a bit of justice.

Worth reading on... PROSTITUTION

Letters
Letter from Lagos
Updates
Reviews: plus Barry Lopez classic
Curiosities
Endpiece: by Paul Rogers
Country profile: Jordan

FRONT COVER ILLUSTRATION BY WENDY HOILE.
MAGAZINE DESIGNED BY ALAN HUGHES.
ONLINE MAG MAINTAINED BY SIMON LOFFLER