The Parliamentary Secretariat for Equality and Reforms has filed a right of reply in response to an article that appeared in the Malta Independent on 21 October 2020 titled: "Rosianne Cutajar 'finally acknowledges' that prostitution is not always a free choice."

In the reply, the Parliamentary Secretariat said that the 2017 PL Manifesto read that the government is committed to protecting sex workers, especially the most vulnerable. It also said that it is the government's role to protect everyone by proposing laws and policies that address the different realities and experiences and understand the impact of these decisions.

Full right of reply

In view of the article published on The Malta Independent on Wednesday 21 October 2020, the Parliamentary Secretary for Equality and Reforms wishes to remark that, in its Manifesto of 2017, the Government committed to protect sex workers, especially the most vulnerable, acknowledging from the very beginning that sex workers should be recognised and protected from violence and coercion.

As Parliamentary Secretary, I always said that people choose to work as sex workers or get involved in prostitution because of various life circumstances, including financial reasons.I also understand that there are sex workers who are forced into this work, and there are those who do not work against their will. It is our role as a Government to protect all by proposing laws and policies that address the different realities and experiences and understand the impact of these decisions. Whatever the situation or reason, we believe that all sex workers should be legally recognised, treated with respect, and protected with all the necessary help that one may need.

Moreover, I reiterate the Government's firm commitment to strengthen our fight against human trafficking, including sex trafficking.

In the past three years, Government has consulted several stakeholders, including women's rights organisations, LGBTIQ groups, sex workers rights organistaions, other governments and European institutions, trade unions, academics and others. We are in a position to work towards increasing protections to sex workers by decriminalising them; supporting sex workers by setting up specialised support services and programmes; and work towards a comprehensive strategy that recognises the fundamental human rights of sex workers, their health and well-being above anything else.