Businesses which glamorise the exploitation and objectification of women for profit should be closed not regulated, the Malta Confederation of Women's Organisations said, saying that they were “in reality hubs for prostitution, human trafficking and crime”.

The MCWO was referring to a report that government is planning to regulate 'Gentlemen's Clubs'.

The clubs have always operated in a legal lacuna since licensing has never catered for this brand of entertainment

“International research shows that often there are strong links between these adult clubs and crime, prostitution and human trafficking. In this environment, like in brothels, victims of human trafficking often go unnoticed or unidentified. Besides, strippers are routinely sexually harassed and assaulted by owners and patrons and are sometimes pressured to offer sexual services.

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“The Confederation stresses that such working conditions for women should never be tolerated or regulated by law and Malta should follow the Icelandic stand on Gentlemen's Clubs, which placed a ban and made it illegal for any business to profit from the nudity and the objectification of their employee,” it said.

The confederation represents 12 local member organisations which collectively have around 24,000 female members.

Tourism Minister Konrad Mizzi yesterday identified the clubs, particularly their hard-sell marketing techniques, as one of the problems facing Paceville.

The clubs have always operated in a legal lacuna since licensing has never catered for this brand of entertainment.