Don't decriminalise prostitution, participants say

Women in prostitution are “prisoners of circumstance” who end up providing sex for money as they run out of choices, according to experts. Very often, these women did not have a decent alternative income, were brought up by relatives who were already in prostitution or had experienced abusive relationships, a meeting at San Anton Palace heard. The activity was organised by the President’s Foundation for the Wellbeing of Society as the government prepares to kick-start a debate on the possible regularisation and decriminalisation of prostitution. The main aim of such changes, according to the Labour Party's promise in its latest electoral manifesto, is to protect sex work victims and strengthen the fight against human trafficking. As things stand, prostitution in the form of an agreement between two people that includes the exchange of money and takes place in a private place is not a crime. However, loitering and soliciting in public is illegal. The stakeholders attending the San Anton Palace meeting represented women and human rights organisations, victims of prostitution, experts in gender and equality, local authorities and religious organisations, all of whom asked to...