Legalisation of the sex trade will lead to greater demand, women's group warns
Legalisation of the sex trade will not simply affect the few who are currently in prostitution but it will lead to a greater demand for women, girls, boys, gays, trans and men to service the growing abusive and exploitative buyers, a lobby group has warned. "We must not allow this to happen by legalising the sexual exploitation of human beings and trying to pass it off as a ‘legitimate job’. The country deserves better than this," the Malta Women's Lobby, (MWL) previously known as the Malta Confederation of Women’s Organisations (MCWO) said on Saturday. "The increased recognition of much-needed reforms to address the sex trade is significant, but the policy responses must be thoughtful, and grounded in the voices and experiences of the most marginalised women and young girls." The group was reacting to comments by Parliamentary Secretary Rosianne Cutajar who said earlier this week that society must be realistic and admit that while thousands of people become prostitutes against their own will, either because they have drug problems or a pimp, there are others who want to be working the sex industry. "Since for the overwhelming majority prostitution is a trap, we can never...