Prostitution laws and good sense – Claudette Buttigieg

When it comes to women’s equality, it is difficult to know where to begin. So many issues, so little time, there is bound to be contrasting ideas about the best place to start. Still, I do not think many people would begin with the area chosen by Rosianne Cutajar, our new Parliamentary Secretary for Equality: prostitution, of all subjects.

And announced on Women’s Day, of all days.

I’m not saying it doesn’t need tackling. I’m questioning the prioritisation.

Then there is the particular approach the government is insisting on. It wants to decriminalise prostitution totally. Meaning that not only will the prostitute not face criminal charges, neither will those buying sex.

This decision flies against the approach that is overwhelmingly favoured by all organisations and authorities concerned with women’s equality. No wonder some 40 NGOs in Malta are absolutely furious.

They are urging the approach that is sometimes called the Nordic model because it was pioneered by the Scandinavian countries. Since then, it has been urged by the European Parliament after conducting an extensive report on the effects of this approach as opposed to full legalization. It has been adopted by Canada, France, Ireland and Northern Ireland and, most recently, Israel.

The Nordic Model approach to prostitution is with good reason also known as the Equality Model. It decriminalises all those who are prostituted and provides support services to help them exit.

But, importantly, it makes buying people for sex a criminal offence, in order to reduce the demand that drives sex trafficking. The legislation has been very successful in the countries where it has been adopted. It has led to a reduced demand for sexual services. It has become a powerful tool in combating sex trafficking.

Scandinavia, France and Israel are hardly conservative when it comes to sex. They have a record of important initiatives for sexual emancipation. If they favour this approach, we should be paying attention.

What is the alternative? The government favours decriminalising buying sex.

Since there are other countries that do that, let’s see what happens there to contemplate what could happen in Malta too.

In Germany, it is legal to buy sex. It has brothels the size of supermarkets. There are over 500,000 prostitutes. Each one is

We cannot afford to make mistakes. The preponderance of evidence points to this: if you decriminalize prostitution without criminalizing the buyers, demand for prostitution will explode

bought, on average, by three men daily.

In New Zealand it is legal to buy sex. It has seen loitering for prostitution get totally out of hand. Soliciting takes place at bus stops.

In school areas it is a common sight.

In Spain, with the same kind of law, apartments being used for prostitution are sprouting everywhere. In all these countries, there is a very strong movement to change the route and adopt the Nordic Model. The reason is very simple. The Nordic Model, which is not perfect, focuses on the vulnerable women in prostitution who are owned by pimps (mainly men) and offers them a way out.

Meanwhile, Cutajar says that Malta needs to find an approach tailored to its needs. She says that some women choose to enter prostitution.

Really? How about evidence of concrete studies on the Maltese situation then, Honorable Parliamentary Secretary?

Elsewhere, studies show that only 1% of prostitutes choose to be in prostitution and are their own bosses. The rest are exploited and very vulnerable women and girls who have very little options in life.

Is Malta dramatically different? Are we seriously saying we should draft laws with the 1% in mind, instead of the 99%? Hasn’t this country had enough of laws and regulations tailored for the few, with the vast majority paying the heavy price?

We cannot afford to make mistakes. The preponderance of evidence points to this: if you decriminalize prostitution without criminalizing the buyers, demand for prostitution will explode.

It will create a huge need for prostitutes and human trafficking will also increase dramatically.

Forty Maltese NGOs, concerned with women and equality, have spoken loud and clear. Experts and researchers have presented strong evidence in favour of the Equality Model. Even the government-appointed Equality Commission, led by Renee Laiviera, is warning government not to go ahead with the plan.

We have a golden opportunity to learn from other countries. We don’t need to reinvent the wheel. Sadly, Malta is being governed by a group of people who have their priorities upside down.

Announcing the full decriminalisation of prostitution as an achievement for women’s day is nothing short of an insult to all who cherish women’s rights and who have been working hard for true equality. Let’s hope someone in power realises how wrong all this is.