Voice for Choice coalition marches in Valletta to call on the government to decriminalise abortion.
Activists and members of the general public marched through the main streets of Valletta. The Abortion Rights Rally is organised annually by the Voice for Choice coalition to commemorate International Safe Abortion Day (28th September). 2024 also marks the 5th anniversary of the coalition, which was established in 2019. This year’s event focused on demanding concrete action from the state – the decriminalisation of abortion. The coalition explained that although healthy discussion is valuable, action must be taken to improve the dire situation in Malta. Just last year, a woman was prosecuted for having an abortion after being reported to the police by her abusive partner. This year, at least two women were investigated or charged after being reported by professionals or services who are supposedly there to support them. The situation is becoming untenable.
Voice for Choice has been critical of the government’s backtracking on Bill 28, which was initially meant to make the country’s abortion laws slightly less restrictive. They said that instead of taking the opportunity, the government enacted a risky and complicated legislation. The coalition also believes that because Bill 28 passed, people might have the perception that abortion is no longer an issue worth focusing on – this is not the case.
Each year, hundreds of Maltese residents have abortions – most by self-managing with abortion pills at home. Although the abortion pills (mifepristone + misoprostol) are medically safe, and on the WHO’s list of essential medicines, it is illegal to use them in Malta to terminate a pregnancy.
At the rally, fliers were given out with information about abortion support services available for people in Malta. The Voice for Choice coalition warned women to be careful about talking of their abortion with professionals and services apart from the ones on the leaflet as women are being reported and investigated by the police. The only services guaranteed not to report women are the Family Planning Advisory Services (FPAS), the Doula Support Services, Women on Web, Women Help Women, and the Abortion Support Network.
Speeches were also delivered by: Dutch physician and women’s rights activist Rebecca Gomperts, who is the founder of Women on Web and Women on Waves; Irish LGBTIQ+, socialist, and feminist activist Ailbhe Smyth, who co-directed the Irish campaign that won the right to abortion in 2018; and the Czech-based collective Ciocia Czesia, who help Polish residents access abortions.
During the rally, Doctors for Choice presented photos of 65 women, trans men and non-binary individuals who are either Maltese or who have spent years living in Malta. A third of them have had an abortion. By coming forward, they are no longer willing to remain hidden, choosing instead to share their names and faces. The message is a powerful one and others are invited to stand alongside them and be part of this movement.
Abortion bans do not and will never stop abortions. Instead, they serve to keep people scared of legal repercussions, feeling stigmatised and shunned. Voice for Choice said that they will continue to be vocal on the importance of decriminalising abortion. They said that abortion must be made available and accessible in Malta, and should be stigma-free.
It’s time. Action, not words!
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“Wasal iż-żmien. Azzjoni mhux paroli.” Il-koalizzjoni Voice for Choice – L-Għażla Tagħha – immarċjat ġewwa l-Belt Valletta biex issejjaħ lill-gvern biex jiddekriminalizza l-abort.
Attivisti u membri tal-pubbliku ġenerali imxew fit-toroq prinċipali tal-Belt Valletta. Ir-rally għad-drittijiet tal-abort jiġi organizzat kull sena mill-koalizzjoni Voice for Choice – L-Għażla Tagħha biex jitfakkar il-Jum Internazzjonali għall-Abort Sigur (fit-28 ta’ Settembru). L-2024 hija wkoll il-ħames anniversarju tal-koalizzjoni, li twaqqfet fl-2019. Din is-sena l-attività ffukat fuq it-talba biex tittieħed azzjoni konkreta mill-istat biex jiġi dekriminalizzat l-abort. Il-koalizzjoni spjegat li għalkemm diskussjoni konstruttiva fiha l-valur tagħha, jeħtieġ li tittieħed azzjoni biex titjieb is-sitwazzjoni prekarja li teżisti f’Malta.
Voice for Choice – L-Għażla Tagħha kienet ikkritikat lill-gvern talli ma żammx kelmtu dwar l-Abbozz 28, li inizjalment, l-għan tiegħu kien li jagħmel il-liġijiet tal-abort fil-pajjiż inqas restrittivi milli huma. Il-koalizzjoni qalet li minflok ma l-gvern ħa l-opportunità biex jagħmel dan, spiċċa biex għadda liġi kumplikata u riskjuża. Il-koalizzjoni temmen ukoll li peress li għaddiet din il-liġi, jista’ jkun li l-poplu jaħseb li l-abort m’għadux kwistjoni li ta’ min jagħtih importanza – u dan żgur li mhux il-każ.
Kull sena, mijiet ta’ residenti Maltin jagħmlu abort – jew billi jmorru fi kliniċi/sptarijiet barra minn Malta jew billi jieħdu l-pilloli tal-abort waħedhom id-dar. Għalkemm il-pilloli tal-abort (mifepristone + misoprostol) mhumiex perikolużi medikament, f’Malta huwa illegali li teħodhom. Dan ifisser li f’Malta, nisa u individwi oħrajn huma fir-riskju li jiġu arrestati u mibgħuta l-ħabs għax jieħdu pilloli li jinsabu fil-lista ta’ mediċini essenzjali tal-Għaqda Dinjija tas-Saħħa (WHO). Is-sena li għaddiet, mara ġiet arrestata u għaddiet mill-proċess tal-prosekuzzjoni għax għamlet abort wara li ġiet irrappurtata mis-sieħeb abbużiv tagħha. Din is-sena mill-inqas żewġ nisa ġew investigati jew akkużati wara li ġew rappurtati minn professjonisti jew minn servizzi li suppost qegħdin hemm biex jgħinuhom. Is-sitwazzjoni sejra mill-ħażin għall-agħar.
Qalb il-folla ġewwa l-Belt, kien hemm diversi kartelluni b’messaġġi li jirriflettu r-realtà tal-abort f’Malta. Dawn ġibdu l-attenzjoni għal-liġijiet restrittivi u ħarxa tal-abort f’Malta, l-istigma li jaffaċċjaw persuni li jagħmlu abort u dawk li jappoġġjawhom, u l-fatt li l-abort huwa komuni, fost oħrajn.
Waqt ir-rally, tqassmu fuljetti b’informazzjoni dwar servizzi ta’ appoġġ fuq l-abort għal persuni f’Malta. Il-koalizzjoni Voice for Choice – L-Għażla Tagħha wissiet lin-nisa biex joqogħdu attenti jekk jitkellmu ma’ professjonisti jew servizzi dwar l-abort, ħlief ma’ dawk li jidhru fuq il-fuljett għaliex xi nisa ġew irrappurtati jew investigati mill-pulizija. L-uniċi servizzi li b’garanzija ma jirrappurtawx lin-nisa huma l-Family Planning Advisory Services (FPAS), id-Doula Support Services, Women on Web, Women Help Women, u l-Abortion Support Network.
Waqt ir-rally, kelliema lokali u internazzjonali għamlu numru ta’ diskorsi. Christine Cassar mill-Moviment Graffitti tkellmet f’isem il-koalizzjoni Voice for Choice – L-għażla Tagħha. Diskorsi oħra saru minn: Rebecca Gomperts, tabiba Olandiża, attivista għad-drittijiet tan-nisa u fundatriċi ta’ Women on Web u Women on Waves; Ailbhe Smyth, attivista LGBTIQ+, soċjalista u femminista Irlandiża, li kienet waħda mid-diriġenti tal-kampanja li rebħet id-dritt għall-abort fl-Irlanda fl-2018; u mill-kollettv Ciocia Czesia mir-Repubblika Ċeka, li jgħin residenti Pollakki jaċċessaw l-abort.
Waqt ir-rally wkoll, Doctors for Choice ippreżentaw ritratti ta’ 65 mara u individwi oħrajn Maltin jew li ilhom jgħixu Malta għal ħafna snin. Terz minnhom għamlu abort. Permezz ta’ dawn ir-ritratti urew li ma jridux jibqgħu anonimi. Minflok, għażlu li jxandru isimhom u wiċċhom. Il-messaġġ huwa wieħed b’saħħtu u min irid jista’ wkoll jappoġġjahom u jkun parti minn dan il-moviment.
Il-projbizzjoni tal-abort, u l-kriminalizzazzjoni tan-nisa, irġiel trans, u persuni non-binary ma jistgħux u qatt mhuma se jwaqqfu l-abort milli jsir. Minflok, li jagħmlu huwa li n-nisa u persuni oħrajn jgħixu fil-biża’ li jinqabdu u jsofru l-konsegwenzi legali, li jħossuhom stigmatizzati u mwarrbin. Voice for Choice – L-Għażla Tagħha – qalet li din is-sena għażlu li jimxu fit-toroq ewlenin tal-Belt biex iwassalu messaġġ ċar – li se jkomplu jsemmgħu leħinhom dwar l-importanza li jiġi dekriminalizzat l-abort. Il-koalizzjoni qalet li l-abort hemm bżonn li jkun servizz aċċessibbli f’Malta, u li ma jibqax stigmatizzat.
Wasal iż-żmien. Azzjoni, mhux paroli!
It-13-l-organizzazzjoni li jagħmlu parti mill-koalizzjoni Voice for Choice coalition – L-Għażla Tagħha huma:
Academics for Choice
aditus foundation
Doctors for Choice
Grandparents for Choice
Lawyers for Choice
Malta Humanists Association
Men Against Violence
Malta LGBTIQ+ Rights Movement, MGRM
Moviment Graffitti
Parents for Choice
Students for Choice
Women’s Rights Foundation
Young Progressive Beings
