Women’s confederation claims obscenity laws’ decriminalisation opens door to TV porn

The Malta Confederation of Women’s Organisations (MCWO) has claimed a Bill decriminalising pornography in a series of laws removing artistic censorship, was “promoting the sex shops and the licensing of TV channels that transmit pornographic content.”

The MCWO claimed the decriminalisation of obscenity laws, spearheaded by Justice and Culture Minister Owen Bonnici, were “a huge step backwards” and against gender quality.

“It’s a far cry from the pledge of being a ‘feminist government’,” the MCWO said.

“Although the general intention may be to decrease censorship in art, the MCWO strongly argues that the Bill, promoted under the guise of ‘civil rights’, violates human dignity and bodily integrity, and therefore works against women’s rights.”

The MCWO said pornography, like prostitution, is yet another form of violence against women and in the majority of cases feeds into the system of exploitation of vulnerable women and young girls. 

“The porn industry seeks to make profit from material that is targeted mainly for male consumers with lack of mutual pleasure and a void of crucial concepts of mutual consent and respect between women and men,” they added.

The MCWO said pornography sent the wrong message that sex in porn was “enjoyable to women when in fact many find them degrading, distasteful and painful.”

“Especially when women and young girls are coerced to mimic these acts as if they are pleasurable when they are under pressure to engage in such activities.”

“There are more important issues at stake which have wider implications on society,” MCWO chairperson Lorraine Spiteri, said. “Pornography objectifies women, cuts up their  bodies into sexual parts, conveys distorted images of sexual relationships and influences the attitudes and behaviours in  relationships especially of young people.”

Spiteri said sexual violence against women, which also includes sexual harassment and unwelcome sexual gestures and touching, is increasingly being reported and that research has shown that media showing porn as well as violent imagery online and in music videos, together with a sexist culture nurtures the right environment for such abuse to happen and to be normalised in relationships.

“This requires a shift in culture to ensure that such behaviours are confronted before they are formed,” Spiteri said.

The MCWO urged the government to consider the damaging effects of pornography and the extent to which this proposed Bill will affect the wellbeing of the members of society, their dignity and the rights of both women and men.

“MCWO calls on all female and male MPs to reject this Bill as it undermines the dignity and rights of women and harms Maltese society in general,” the statement reads.