Legal Prostitution In Malta

The Independent writes the election campaign has seen another move in a more liberal direction.

Prime Minister Joseph Muscat even went so far as to tell One Radio that he would be in favour in launching a discussion to regulate of prostitution.

It is hard to believe that the proposal will not alienate a significant portion of the population, considering that Malta is a mostly conservative country.

The legalization of prostitution presents a complex argument. The core belief is that anti-prostitution laws are counter-productive as they do nothing to ensure the safety of the women in the profession.

On the one hand, it could be argued that attempts to regulate prostitution and monitor working practices and standards will protect minors and women against exploitation. However, this may not necessarily be true and there are numerous reports on the subject that contradict each other.

There would undoubtedly be economic benefits from the legitimization. Beyond tourism, by taking the money out of drug traffickers, the government will be able to regulate the market and access previously untapped revenue streams.

With regard to prostitution, taxation and licensing may not only bring safety but will once again allow a significant amount of money to be claimed by the government. Finances could be used to fund numerous social and educational programmers around the island.

This may be a bridge too far  with the long-standing relationship with the Catholic Church. It seems unthinkable they would welcome such a controversial proposal.