Amendments to the prostitution law are currently underway, to ensure that proposals put forward through public consultation match the local context, a spokesperson for the Parliamentary Secretariat for Reforms and Equality said.

Contacted by The Malta Independent for an update with regards to the prostitution law reform, which was presented in 2020 by former Parliamentary Secretary Rosianne Cutajar, the spokesperson said that amendments are underway.

Cutajar had sought to decriminalise sex work with a legal framework drafted by the prostitution reform technical committee. Controversy had arisen among NGOs, activists, as well as The Coalition on the Human Trafficking and Prostitution reform, who said that the reform being proposed aimed to normalise prostitution and legitimise it “like any other job.”

The Coalition had urged Cutajar to revisit the data she has been given and see “the disastrous consequences” felt in other countries that legalised prostitution.

The reforms now fall under the remit of Parliamentary Secretary for Reforms and Equality Rebecca Buttigieg.

A spokesperson for Buttigieg said that during the last legislature, government held a public consultation on the matter during which many members of civil society and NGOs participated by providing their feedback.

“On the basis of this consultation, amendments to the law are currently underway to ensure that the proposals put forward correspond to the local context,” he said.

He said that the matter cannot be treated as a one size fits all, as it is not a matter of adopting a particular model over another.

“The prostitution law reform is a sensitive topic and unfortunately, a stigma still surrounds the issue, thus making it more difficult for persons to come forward and discuss openly,” the spokesperson said.

He said that one must draw a distinction between people who are forced into prostitution, and others who engage in sex work willingly.

“While government believes in the freedom of the individual, it also believes that the solution is not to put vulnerable people in prison,” he said.

The spokesperson said that services provided by the State, such as the voluntary exit programme, will be strengthened and further cooperation with NGOs who work with persons who have been exploited in prostitution will be increased.