Regulating prostitution would help protect sex workers and clients while weeding out the pimps, according to Labour deputy leader Toni Abela.
“The prostitutes themselves, as well as those who frequent them, will remain at risk as long as this sector is not regulated,” Dr Abela told Times of Malta.
The act of prostitution is not illegal in itself. However, living off the proceeds of the act, as well as loitering, is.
Dr Abela, however, yesterday expressed concern over the way young women employed as prostitutes were constantly winding up in court.
Whenever I read of a young woman in court, I think we need action
“Whenever I read of another young woman in court because of acts related to prostitution, I think that we need to take action,” he said.
“There are systems abroad, such as in Australia, where prostitutes are covered. This would also minimise the incidence of violence and the need for loitering and pimps,” he said.
This was his own personal opinion and not that of the Labour Party, he added.
Nearly a dozen women faced court proceedings this summer on charges related to prostitution. Last month a Romanian woman told a court how she was forced into the profession by her boyfriend who assaulted her when she tried to stop.
Dr Abela said it was about time the island took action to stop such cases from reoccurring.
Lawyer Edward Gatt shared his view, saying he had long argued that women involved in the sex industry should be protected.
“I totally agree with the idea. It would curb the number of unsafe establishments which are sprouting and provide a clearer structure for those involved,” he said.
Dr Gatt had raised the issue during a number of court cases which questioned the legal framework surrounding strip clubs.
He believes that the subjective issue of morality, upon which such cases are decided, is not sufficient to condemn those employed as erotic dancers.
The same could be said of prostitutes, he added.
“What is deemed moral is very subjective. You definitely can’t call a brothel moral, but with the way filth [pornography] has entered our homes through the internet, I think we need to review the way we define morality and the way we look at this problem,” he said.
Times of Malta last month revealed that less than one per cent of the population was engaged in the prostitution industry, but these collectively contributed several millions of euros to the economy.
In fact, the island’s GDP figures for 2013 increased by €20 million after the sale of drugs and prostitution were included last month.
Although exact figures on how many people are employed as prostitutes were not available, NSO director Michael Pace Ross had said the statistics office was looking into different areas of the sex market.
“There are those working the streets, others in hotels and those in clubs, all of whom offer different services at different prices. We are collecting data on all of these,” he had said.
Meanwhile, Malta’s top sexual health expert questioned whether regulating the industry would provide any concrete solution.
“Legalising or even just regulating something like this would likely push it deeper underground. Sex workers won’t want to pay taxes and be registered,” GU clinic consultant Philip Carabot said.
There was no final solution to the prostitution question, he added.