1 comment.MCWO applauds France’s adoption of the new law on prostitution
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The Malta Confederation of Women's Organisations (MCWO) has said that it celebrates the adoption of the French law to reinforce the fight against the system of prostitution.
"We applaud the French National Assembly by adopting a law in support of persons in prostitution and reinforcing the fight against the system of prostitution on 6 April 2016. This law repeals all forms of criminalisation of persons who sell sexual acts while penalising buyers of sex, also known as pimps or johns, while providing assistance to prostituted individuals."
The MCWO said that France joins the ranks of other EU member states like Sweden, Norway and Iceland that acknowledges that ending the demand for commercial sexual acts is key in the fight against pimping, procuring and trafficking. Hopefully Ireland will be next in the adoption of the abolitionist law to end prostitution and sex trafficking.
The MCWO, is a full member of the European Women's Lobby is a signatory of the Brussels Call "Together for a Europe free from prostitution" launched in 2012 calling for urgent action for the abolition of prostitution and to acknowledge prostitution as a form of gender-based violence, as a form of exploitation of inequalities, as a violation of human dignity and human rights.
The French law comprises a holistic series of measures:
Recognises prostitution as a form of violence and an obstacle to gender equality
Repeals all forms of criminalisation of prostituted persons
Offers new protections and a better access to financial compensation for victims of prostitution, pimping, procuring and trafficking
Sets up a national exit policy and local coordination mechanism to improve the protection of victims and their access to social support and exit options
Permits the granting of a temporary residency permits to foreign victims of trafficking in human beings
Reinforces the fight against pimping, procuring and trafficking on the Internet
Prohibits the purchase of sex acts
Creates an education policy on the non-commodification of human bodies to be developed in schools.
Lorraine Spiteri, the MCWO Chairperson said, "the value underlying the abolition of the system of prostitution is one that aims to change mentalities on prostitution and strives for a society free from the oppression of the sex industry and of the trafficking in human beings for sexual exploitation."
Prohibition is the water of Mafia fish and it is better to avoid it where it is possible, as the paying sex among adult and consentient people. In fact, prostitution is a sex right way choice and it must be respected in a democratic State. Moreover, it is better to legalize and tax prostitution to cope with the crisis.