Several Women Share Their Personal Experience After Woman Taken To Court Over Home Abortion
Break the Taboo Malta, an advocacy group seeking to decriminalise abortion in Malta, has issued a response to the recent controversial case where a Maltese woman was conditionally discharged for having a medical abortion at home – and it’s full of more women coming forward with their own experiences.
In an event that stirred nationwide debate and international attention, a Maltese woman was recently brought to court for undergoing a medical abortion at home.
The case, which was guided by the legal team from Doctors For Choice, was seen as a troubling precedent, fuelling concerns over Malta’s stringent anti-abortion laws and their impact on women’s rights.
Break the Taboo Malta’s response was emphatic and compassionate. The group expressed their support for the woman at the centrw of this case and highlighted the personal stories of other individuals who had self-managed their abortions with pills. The group stressed the reality and fear these individuals face due to the criminalisation of abortion in Malta.
“No one should ever be criminalised for accessing the care that they need. Abortion is a human right. Abortion is healthcare. This is why we insist that abortion MUST be decriminalised. So that no other person ever has to face charges in court for doing what is best for themselves, their bodies, their lives.”
Some of the highlighted experiences revealed how widespread home abortions are becoming in Malta – though they remain illegal.
The woman at the centre of the recent case was treated with dignity and respect during the investigation and proceedings, according to Women’s Rights Foundation (WRF). However, WRF stressed that the occurrence of this case represents a failure in the system and should have never taken place.
This case has reignited discussions on reproductive rights in Malta, and Break the Taboo Malta’s response serves as a stark reminder of the work yet to be done in advocating for women’s healthcare and rights.
What is your opinion on Malta’s abortion laws?