Why are you against the legalisation of prostitution?
Regularising prostitution would mean regularising abuse and violence against a group which is already vulnerable. Can you ever regularise abuse or violence just because it is a lucrative business? Obviously not. Legalising prostitution is a gift to pimps, traffickers and those who stand to gain from it. Legalising prostitution would mean legalised harm for the benefit of the few, while society picks up the cost which comes in the form of more people falling ill due to physical (HIV and Aids, Syphilis, Gonorrhoea, HPV leading to cancer, Herpes) and mental health problems (Violence, Post-traumatic stress disorders, Depression, attempted suicides, drug taking, drink problems). Furthermore, decriminalisation will simply encourage more people, especially those coming from poor or abusive backgrounds and school dropouts to use prostitution as any other option to make a living.
What are you inviting politicians to take cognisance of once this issue starts being debated in Parliament?
That they need to take a stand.
They can either take the side of the pimps, johns and brothel owners and close their eyes to the ugly underside of prostitution that feeds on the vulnerable, or they can choose to protect the vulnerable, the weak and the poor and recognise that prostitution is a form of violence against them, and decide to stop it by making the exchange of money for sex illegal. They cannot sit on the fence.
The sale of human organs has been made illegal across the world. So, if selling one’s organs is not allowed, should putting your whole body up for sale be made legal? There is something incredibly inconsistent here that does not make sense to us.
What do you predict the impact of this matter will be on society if we regularise this issue?
We are no different from other countries when it comes to prostitution. Look at what has happened in Germany, the Netherlands and New Zealand. Malta risks becoming a Mecca for the sex industry. With an increase in demand, the number of prostituted and trafficked women will surge exponentially, thus leading to the victimisation of yet more girls and women.