Parliamentary Secretary for Equality and Reforms Rosianne Cutajar said that she has always been clear with NGOs on her choices and decisions on the Prostitution and Human Trafficking reform.

Cutajar spoke to The Malta Independent after it was announced that the proposed law to decriminalise prostitution would not make buying sex a crime. She said that since then, numerous newsrooms had contacted her for a clearer indication, as individuals and NGOs stated that the decision to ditch the Nordic Model is “an insult to women”.

“Many people have contacted me since then, and we will soon be publishing a proper press statement on the matter. I am aware people were concerned, but I also believe that certain individuals took it to an extreme,” Cutajar said.

When asked why she has made a decision when discussions are still taking place, she said that during, the Social Affairs Committee meetings she has always made it clear what her choices were.

“We have discussed this issue numerous times and I always make myself clear and, during the committee meetings, I challenge others to think differently.”

In September 2019, the government announced plans to decriminalise prostitution, which led to heated debates on whether prostitution should be recognised as any other job, and to go as far as to criminalise those who buy sex. A coalition of 40 NGOs have since come together calling for sex buying to be made a crime. The coalition published a statement on Monday saying that ditching the Nordic Model is an “insult to women and will take the country backwards.”

Malta should have its own model and legislation on prostitution, not a copy of one model or the other, Cutajar told this newsroom on Wednesday.

“Whilst I have stated that I do not wish to follow the Nordic Model, I believe that as a country we should have our own model and legislations which work on removing the stigma surrounding sex workers.”

A meeting of Parliament’s Social Affairs Committee is to take place later on today.

Whilst she said she does not wish to follow one particular model, Cutajar said that she preferred the way the New Zealand model works. This model regulates prostitution and has repealed all laws which criminalise sex workers. “There have been numerous studies which show that the New Zealand model works, and how it removes the stigma of sex workers and provides them to be able to work as equals and not alone.”

The New Zealand model decriminalises prostitution and safeguards the human rights of the sex worker and protects them from exploitation.

Cutajar explained that she wishes to remove the stigma sex workers face. “I know three sex workers who I speak regularly to, and they always inform me that they are too worried to go public about what they do because of the harsh stigma that we have on our island.”

She said that many people do not see sex work as a job, when in reality there are many who take it up freely and are not forced into the sex industry. “It is important that we protect and respect these women and their choices, and that we begin to have proper discussions on the sex industry and different forms of sex work.”

She also pointed out that she wants to continue fighting for the safety of those women who are in a vulnerable situation and need to exit.