Left: A recent pro-life rally in Valletta, Right: aditus director Neil Falzon

The aditus Foundation, one of the largest human rights NGOs in Malta, has officially come out in favour of the legalisation of abortion in specific circumstances. 

“With human rights at the core of our activities, we full endorse and support the recommendations made by the Women’s Rights Foundation earlier this year, and look forward to participating in the forthcoming national discussion,” aditus said. “Their position paper adopts a rights-based approach to a topic that for too long has remained a national taboo, yet which continues to affect thousands of women, and men, in Malta. Sexual and reproductive rights are fundamental human rights and, as such, merit to be respected, protected and fulfilled.”

The Women’s Rights Foundation called for the legalisation of abortion last month

Malta is one of only five countries in the world that ban abortion entirely and the topic remains taboo, with surveys showing a strong majority against its introduction and politicians consistently refusing to even consider it. However, the Womens’ Rights Foundation broke the mould earlier this month when it called on Malta to legalise abortion in specific cases – namely in cases of rape, incest and fatal foetus impairment, and when a woman’s life or her physical and  mental health is at risk. The Foundation’s stance was also backed by the Network of Young Women Leaders and Moviment Graffitti.

“Maltese women who access abortion in other countries or through telemedicine do not face criminal proceedings and risk three years imprisonment especially when accessing local health services for possible post-abortion complications,” the WRF said.

Do you agree with the legalisation of abortion? 

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Tim Diacono

Tim is interested in the rapid evolution of human society and is passionate about justice, human rights and cutting-edge political debates. You can follow him on Instagram or Twitter/X at @timdiacono or reach out to him at [email protected]