Malta – ‘Referendum must decide abortion issue’ – new president

Myriam Spiteri Debono will not say whether she would sign an abortion bill

April 7, 2024
Mark Laurence Zammit

A referendum would be the fairest way to decide the contentious issue of abortion, according to Malta’s new president. Myriam Spiteri Debono said she is personally against abortion but would not say whether she would sign an abortion law if it were to land on her desk.

In her first interview with Times of Malta, the 71-year-old president said: “I’m personally against abortion but I won’t speculate further. But let’s not be delusional about this – just like it was introduced in other countries, it will eventually be introduced [here as well]. I speak with many young people, and I’m astonished at how some of them – a few of whom even frequent church – come to believe that abortion is acceptable in certain circumstances.”

Continued: https://timesofmalta.com/article/watch-referendum-decide-abortion-issue-new-president.1090606

07.04.2024

News

abortion law reform

George Vella

Myriam Spiteri Debono

Malta – ‘A historic mess’: Labour’s liberal wing unhappy with watered-down abortion bill

Labour insiders say abortion bill was badly handled 'from beginning to end'

July 2, 2023
Daniel Ellul, Mark Laurence Zammit

Several Labour MPs have expressed concern after the government backed down and amended the so-called 'abortion bill' even though they voted in its favour on Wednesday.

Bill 28 was unanimously approved in parliament, with no one calling a division (individual counting of votes).

The prime minister described the vote as a 'historic day', but several MPs in Labour's liberal wing are far less excited.

Continued: https://timesofmalta.com/articles/view/a-historic-mess-labour-liberal-wing-unhappy-watereddown-abortion-bill.1041335

02.07.2023

Activists riled as Maltese government tones down abortion law changes

By Alice Taylor Jun 26, 2023

The Maltese government toning down changes to the country’s abortion laws has sparked disappointment among local activists who have campaigned for change after one woman was denied life-saving care and had to be medically evacuated, and another was charged for procuring a medical abortion.

Malta, a Catholic country in southern Europe, is home to the bloc’s most draconian abortion laws. Currently, abortion is illegal in all circumstances, even in cases of rape, incest and where the mother’s life is in danger. Additionally, no medical procedure can be performed, which may risk the foetus dying, even if it is to save the life of the mother.

Continued: https://www.euractiv.com/section/politics/news/activists-riled-as-maltese-government-tones-down-abortion-law-changes/

Malta govt backs down on abortion bill after protests

Reuters
June 23, 2023

VALLETTA, June 23 (Reuters) - Malta's government on Friday backed down on a bill which would have allowed the abortion of pregnancies when the mother's health was at serious risk, saying instead that terminations would only be allowed when the mother's life was in danger.

Malta is the only country in the European Union which does not allow any form of termination, and the original bill had raised a storm of protest, with anti-abortion campaigners saying the definition of what constituted a health risk was too wide.

Continued: https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/malta-govt-backs-down-abortion-bill-after-protests-2023-06-23/

Malta – Pro-choice coalition warns against changes to abortion Bill that risk creating barriers to treatment

Voice for Choice says Bill 28 that decriminalises abortion if a woman’s life or health is at risk should pass as is, warning that any other legal obligations placed on doctors will be of no clinical benefit to the patient

16 January 2023
by Kurt Sansone

Suggested changes to the Bill decriminalising abortion if a woman’s life or health is in danger risk putting up barriers to treatment, a pro-choice coalition has warned.

Voice for Choice said it was concerned over the changes being suggested to Bill 28 by the government in the face of public backlash.

Continued: https://www.maltatoday.com.mt/news/national/120758/prochoice_coalition_warns_over_changes_to_abortion_bill_that_risk_creating_barriers_to_treatment#.Y8XqanbMKrQ

President Vella calls off Australia trip amid controversy on abortion debate

Speculation links decision to upcoming vote in parliament

Jan 14, 2023
Mark Laurence Zammit

President George Vella has called off a scheduled trip to Australia in February, indicating he intends to be in Malta when the abortion amendment goes through parliament.

That way he can sign off on the law himself if he agrees with the amendment’s wording, or else resign if he remains uncomfortable with it.

Continued: https://timesofmalta.com/articles/view/president-vella-calls-off-australia-trip.1007266

15.01.2023

Malta – 2022 in review: A health crisis that sparked an abortion debate2

Malta’s blanket abortion ban has been questioned many times in the past... but 2022 saw its most serious challenge yet

Claudia Calleja
Jan 1, 2023

Abortion: a word that is guaranteed to spark a tense debate. Throughout the years, Malta has been nudged into considering its introduction but has held firm against. In 2013, the International Commission of Jurists told the UN that Malta’s blanket ban on abortion puts women at risk of torture and cruel, inhumane or degrading treatment. Nothing happened.

Three years later, the UNs Committee on the Rights of the Child recommended the decriminalisation of abortion “in all circumstances”, urging the government to ensure adolescent girls have “access to safe abortion and post-abortion care services”. Several international appeals persisted, including from the Council of Europe’s Commissioner for Human Rights. Nothing happened.

Continued: https://timesofmalta.com/articles/view/2022-review-health-crisis-sparked-abortion-debate.1004578

Malta – From Metsola to Bill 28: how politicians got talking on abortion

It was once a taboo subject in the political arena but 2022 saw abortion making it to the parliamentary agenda as Malta was cast in the international spotlight over its draconian anti-abortion law. Maya Dimitrijevic outlines the trajectory of the abortion debate

26 December 2022
by Maya Dimitrijevic

The tone for the abortion debate in 2022 was set early when Nationalist MEP Roberta Metsola signed the Simone Veil Pact just after becoming tEuropean parliament president.

The pact calls on signatories to preserve, promote and strengthen women’s rights at European, national and local level. It explicitly calls for guaranteed access to contraception and abortion.

Continued: https://www.maltatoday.com.mt/news/national/120443/looking_back_at_2022__from_metsola_to_bill_28_how_politicians_got_talking_on_abortion#.Y6nWPHbMK3A

Malta – ‘Women should not be prosecuted over abortion’ – ADPD

By Jurgen Balzan
May 29, 2021

Decriminalising abortion is the first basic essential step, ADPD leader Carmel Cacopardo said as he insisted that the debate should centre around empathy.

“Decriminalising abortion with respect to women is the first basic essential step which requires urgent action in Malta. It is essential as women who undergo abortion need the protection of the state and not being threatened with prosecution and persecution,” Cacopardo said, criticising the Labour Party and the Nationalist Party for stonewalling the debate.

Continued: https://newsbook.com.mt/en/women-should-not-be-prosecuted-over-abortion-adpd/

29.05.2021

decriminalisation of abortion

Malta – President Vella: I would rather resign than sign abortion bill

George Vella reiterates that he will never sign a bill that 'authorises murder'

May 17, 2021
Jessica Arena

President George Vella has reaffirmed his stance in strong opposition to abortion, repeating that he would rather resign than sign a bill concerning abortion.

“I will never sign a bill that involves the authorisation of murder,” Vella said in comments to Net News on Monday, stating that his position on the matter has always been clear.

Continued: https://timesofmalta.com/articles/view/president-vella-i-would-rather-resign-than-sign-abortion-bill.872527

17.05.2021