Not all prostitutes are trafficked or abused Malta-based sex worker and activist
Not all sex workers are trafficked, abused or have a socalled grim life, but an abundance of sex workers are empowered, independent and absolutely love life,” a sex worker and activist has said.
A sex worker and activist in the field spoke to The Malta Independent under the condition of anonymity regarding last week’s Indepth programme. She does not believe that the Nordic model is the best option for sex workers.
The Nordic model decriminalises all those who are prostituted, provides support services to help them get out of prostitution and makes buying people for sex a criminal offence in order to reduce the demand that drives sex trafficking.
The sex worker and activist told this newsroom: “There are sex workers who are providing for their families because most of them are single mothers.”
The activist highlighted the use of the right terminology when discussing sex workers; as the correct term for “prostitutes” is full service sex workers, emphasising sex education. “The stigma is what is killing our industry; the media and government assume all sex workers are doing sex work not of their own accord, but out of desperation. Yes, there are some unfortunate circumstances but not all are like this.”
The activist said that sex trafficking was an unfortunate but miniscule part of sex work, but that did not mean it should prevent other women from engaging in this line of work.
“Sex work should be decriminalised, as in parts of Australia, where trafficking and crime has decreased immensely,” she continued.
She pointed out that in other countries where sex work is stigmatised, people give sex workers a voice or the chance to work in society.
The activist says that it is time to move forward and away from the traditional way of discussing sex and sex workers.
The added that it would be a while before Malta had an open mind about the sex industry, as sex is still perceived as a taboo subject.
“There is an abundance of jobs in the sex industry. But all people ever seem to focus on is ‘prostitution’ when that isn’t even the biggest earner in sex work.”
Last September, the government launched a public consultation on the reform of human trafficking and prostitution laws, pledging to “launch a debate on the regularisation and decriminalisation of prostitution.” The main aim of the reform is to protect vulnerable people from being exploited as sex workers and to fight people trafficking.