IN PHOTOS: Malta’s First-Ever Pro-Choice Rally
Malta’s first-ever pro-choice rally took place earlier today in Hastings Garden in Valletta, as the debate surrounding abortion pushes to the mainstream.
Over 100 people turned up to today’s event, as did local NGOs who form part of the pro-choice coalition, including Voice for Choice, Doctors For Choice, and Moviment Graffiti.
The rally took place on International Safe Abortion Day, with some foreign activists also in attendance.
All speakers put forward the basic demands of the rally, which is to finally decriminalise abortion and have a reform in reproductive laws.
“Abortion isn’t a positive thing, but it is necessary,” a doctor from Doctors for Choice said.
People shared very personal stories regarding abortion pulled from Maltese Facebook group ‘Break The Taboo’, however, the event still had a calm and peaceful atmosphere with music playing at the rally.
Abortion remains a criminal offence in Malta. It is illegal in every circumstance.
Yet, figures released by Abortion Support Network show that since February 2019, 43 women in Malta sought information on abortion abroad, with hundreds of Maltese residents also seeking information on accessing abortive tablets from home.