Sexual exploitation

There is no doubt that trafficking of young women for sexual exploitation is fast increasing in Malta. Recent reports in newspapers of young women from Russia and Eastern European countries enticed to work in the "entertainment" business seem to be simply watering down the real situation.

The case reported last week of a man found guilty of living off the earnings of prostitution, but not of trafficking, has once again seriously raised the concern of the National Council of Women. The appeal by the Attorney General in regard to the Magistrates' Court decision clearly indicates that measures are being taken to ensure that justice is done. However, although the evidence, given by one of the two Russian women describing the links between a Russian agency and the Maltese owner of the brothel, sheds further light on what is actually happening, the man was acquitted of human trafficking as a result of insufficient evidence.

The latest press reports of the body of a young 25-year-old Russian woman found at sea and allegations of organised human and drug trafficking cannot be treated as simply "another" murder case.

In Malta, although the authorities attach a lot of importance to drug trafficking, they tend to treat trafficking of women differently. Although Catholic Malta condemns prostitution on moral grounds, our society is not really aware of the circumstances that drive Eastern European women into prostitution. These women, who come to Malta to earn money, are often enticed by the myth that in Western Europe there is a better life. Coming from a life of poverty and no opportunities for employment, they are often offered the choice to make use of their physical appearance to make money fast.

The disillusion sets in when it is too late, when they start working and find they get a very small share of the earnings negotiated in the transactions. They often end up as "slaves", losing their freedom, sometimes not even allowed to leave the place of accommodation provided for them. Visa permits that expire after six months are taken from them and this makes it easier to get rid of them without leaving any traces.

Some questions need to be put: Why are individuals being charged of human trafficking not found guilty? Is it because of lack of adequate laws? Is it because of lack of evidence? What legal protection do we give to these young women? Are we taking the "it's their fault" attitude simply because they are prostitutes? What is the attitude of the police?

What protection, respect to the dignity of these women as human beings are they being offered? How much information do the police have on the "entertainment" industry and the links with trafficking and prostitution and what action are they taking in order to protect these women? The United Nations Palermo Protocol, which Malta has signed and ratified, clearly states: "Trafficking in persons means the recruitment, transfer, harbouring or receipt of persons by means of threat, use of force, or other forms of coercion, fraud, deception, abuse of power or of vulnerability or of giving or receiving payments or benefits to achieve the consent of a person having control over another person for the purpose of exploitation". Moreover it stresses that "The consent of a victim of trafficking in persons to the intended exploitation is irrelevant."

NCW joins its counterparts in Europe, members of the European Network Against Trafficking In Women For Sexual Exploitation (ENATW) from Hungary, France, Greece, Lithuania, Poland, Sweden and Italy and strongly urges the government to ensure that measures regarding legal protection and all other forms of protection through social support structures are in place. It urges the government to include in Maltese legislation the buying of sexual favours as a crime against human rights.

While NCW will continue working, raising awareness of this affront to human dignity, the council believes that strengthening law enforcement measures and imposing heavy penalties for all those involved in the chain of organised crime, including individuals financing these activities, are the key to the elimination of this form of "white slavery".

Ms Attard is vice-president of the National Council of Women.