Prostitution in Malta

Abstract

This dissertation's main objective is to explore different perspectives on prostitution focusing on prostitution in Malta. This desk-based, research will also explain different types of prostitution. This study will address different theories of prostitution, which result in why an individual be it male or female or LGBTIQ endorses this type of trade as a way of living. This research will give an overview of how prostitution evolved in Malta and how this development led to different legislation. It provides a detailed overview of how the local authorities addressed prostitution and what precipitated the need for different policies adopted through the years. It will also explain how prostitution had an impact on our Maltese culture. In September 2019, the government of Malta announced a public consultation to reform the sex work-related policies in Malta [MEAE, 2019). Several stakeholders proposed different policy recommendations to help with this reform. Various approaches to reform prostitution that were adopted by different countries were, evaluated, discussed, and critically analysed to determine what is the best way forward to reform sex workers in Malta. In these approaches, one would see, how the countries have approached various aspects of prostitution, including the advantages and disadvantages of these approaches and in how this approach affected the sex trade in the country, that endorsed it. Various research was done on other countries, to compare the approaches and how the adopted approaches had impacted the different countries in the reforming prostitution through the years. On the other hand, to reform prostitution in Malta, one should critically analyse prostitution, which is also looked at from different aspects including physical, mental, cognitive, social, emotional, cultural, financial/economic, sexual and psychological aspects of the sex workers, it is of prime importance that sex worker and their trade is endorsed holistically. Since prostitution like any other trade, is driven by demand and supply, one needs to consider all the aspects of prostitution in this matter too. To regulate sex work as any other trade one needs to evaluate other related aspects of the trade these include the risks, abuse, health, culture, stigma, social, rights and duties such workers go through in their daily routine and all the repercussions that can affect this trade. Three prevalent models were used to reform prostitution, these models were introduced to different countries and were evaluated through the years. These models were assessed, analysed, and critically researched so that it would facilitate in deciding which is the best approach, that is suitable to regulate prostitution in Malta. These models that regulate prostitution include the Prohibition approach which constrains all the acts related to prostitution and criminalises prostitutes. The Regularisation approach lawfully recognises this prostitution as formal employment and sets various regulations to organise this system. The third approach is the Neo-abolitionist approach which criminalises the customer and considers prostitution as commodification of women. The neo-abolitionist approach adopted in Sweden and the Regularisation approach applied in the Netherlands aim to achieve gender equality through empowerment and the right to self-determination through, the elimination of the objectification of women. Currently, Malta follows a prohibition approach with the difference that the practise of so-called voluntary prostitution is not regulated. The prostitutes are legally at a disadvantage since the law does not safeguard them. For this reason, prostitutes are abused by their pimps and their customers. The Maltese laws must be analysed and amended to protect, regulate and safeguard the vulnerable individuals who end up working as sex workers.