The Malta Women’s Lobby hopes that women`s voices will not be ignored on the issue of prostitution and human trafficking, it said in a statement.
The statement was issued after a number of European organisations expressed their support to the Maltese government in its effort to develop new laws to ensure that the rights of sex workers are protected. “Our organisations, after careful consideration, consultation and research wholeheartedly support the decriminalisation of sex work”, those organisations had said in a joint statement.
In reaction, the Malta Women’s Lobby (MWL) issued its own statement, arguing that “none of the 8 EU-based groups who are pushing for the decriminalisation of prostitution in Malta are directly involved in women’s rights.”
“As an organisation representing women, the MWL seriously questions the logic behind the push for full decriminalisation of prostitution by these eight international organisations as reported in the local press last week. In doing so they seem to be blinded to the harsh realities of prostitution which causes physical, mental, and emotional harm and often leaves those involved self-medicating or intoxicating themselves in order to be able to cope."
Prostitution largely affects vulnerable women and girls who are being coerced, the MWL said. “Given that more than 95% of sex buyers are men, we argue that this is a gender issue, and as such should be treated accordingly.”
“We reiterate that through decriminalisation, demand will surge resulting in increased trafficking of more individuals to cater for sexual exploitation. Such shocking realities are already occurring locally, with evidence of women being trafficked to Malta with the false promise of employment, only to find themselves having to perform sexual activities against their will.”
“If the buyers are not sanctioned, the message we would be sending out is that human beings may be reduced to products which can be bought and consumed. We would be promoting a toxic misogynistic culture encouraging the buying of human beings.”
It would be paradoxical if the government listens to these organisations whilst also claiming to be in favour of women’s rights, MLA said. “It is clear that decriminalisation facilitates the life of pimps, traffickers, and makes the buying of humans, mostly women a legal transaction.”
The Malta Women’s Lobby calls on the government to listen to those organisations who have women’s issues at heart and go for the Nordic model. “This model is built over years of research and based on the direct experiences of people caught in prostitution. This model has been adopted by 8 leading countries in gender equality who truly listen and are active towards women`s voices. This model is supported by the European Women`s Lobby (EWL) which is the largest coalition of women`s organisations across Europe. “
“We believe in equal and full opportunities for every individual, for their full potential to be discovered and developed, whilst denouncing any form of discrimination on every level. We will never tolerate exploitation or coercion of anyone, let alone of vulnerable human beings, the majority of whom are women and girls.”
“The MWL is an umbrella organisation and is a full member of the EWL which is joined by more than 100 civil society organisations in the campaign Brussels’ Call: Together for a Europe Free from Prostitution.”