‘The World Is Not Black Or White’: Pro-Choice Campaigner Urges Empathy Ahead Of Malta’s First-Ever Rally
With abortion still a fiercely divisive issue in Malta, Women’s Rights Foundation chairperson and pro-choice activist Andrea Dibben is urging ’empathy’ from the other side of the debate for people experiencing a crisis situation.
“If people read the human stories, they would change their views. We need to look at the situation and realise that the world is not black and white,” Dibben said in an interview with Lovin Malta.
After decades of taboo, Dibben spoke to the newsroom ahead of Malta’s first-ever rally for choice later today. With a pro-life counter-protest also taking place, the debate around abortion has reached the mainstream.
However, with the overwhelming majority still firmly against abortion, Dibben asked whether the rally had any relevance with such widespread opposition.
“Abortion is a reproductive right, a right to access health care. When it comes to rights, it is not a matter of majority opinion. Even if there was only one person who wanted abortion in Malta, it should be available.”
A low turnout to today’s rally doesn’t faze her, acknowledging that today is a starting point for the movement.
“Even if 20 people turn up, I’d still be happy. Just look at Pride. I remember the first one when just 50 people turned up. When I went to the last one, there were thousands of people who can celebrate real change in society. We’ll get there eventually,” Dibben said.
Regardless of the legality, abortions remained a reality in Malta, with limited statistics showing that the rate of Maltese women who undergo abortions is the same as many other countries.
Abortion Support Network recently released figures showing that since February 2019, around 48 women have sought an abortion in the UK while hundreds more have requested abortive pills.
“We owe it to these women to be a voice for them when they cannot be a voice for themselves, whether it’s because of fear, stigma, or shame,” Dibben said.
“This is what we want the rally to focus on. Not a push for abortion, but to acknowledge these women and the challenges they face,” she continued.
Voice for Choice launch
She continued to say that the rally was not a push for abortion, but a push to acknowledge the challenges of women in Malta, not Maltese women, as Dibben was quick to point out, highlighting the severe challenges facing refugees and other vulnerable people who cannot afford to travel abroad for the procedure.
Abortion remains an entirely criminal offence in Malta and is not allowed in almost every circumstance. Since 2000, three women have been charged with the offence.
Despite the evident divisiveness surrounding the topic, Dibben is quick to stress that abortion should not be treated as a black or white issue.
“Even in our coalition, we diverge on certain points. The reality is when you discuss the topic with everyday people and speak about certain positions, you find that most people are not anti-choice.”
“If someone’s water breaks within the first 18 weeks, they won’t induce birth until there is a foetal heartbeat, they’ll keep waiting until it could potentially kill the mother.”
“We have cases of babies who have fatal anomalies; we have mothers as young as 12, there are people with mental health issues; it goes on and on. The world is complex,” she explained.
Adoption, she said, was also not the solution to an unwanted pregnancy.
“It is a highly commendable choice, but to expect every woman with an unwanted pregnancy to carry a child for nine months and then give it up is not the solution.”
A lack of political will also remain a stern challenge for pro-choice groups, with both the government and opposition even signing a pledge to enshrine the abortion ban in the constitution.
Prime Minister Joseph Muscat did say that abortion merited a national discussion during the MEP election cycle. However, this is yet to materialise.
The absence of mainstream political support doesn’t rattle Dibben, who points to widespread international support for the regulation of abortion in the country.
“Time and time again, Malta has been chastised by the UN, WHO, and the Human Rights Commissioner at the Council of Europe over the issue. Still, they are irrelevant if there isn’t a sustained local pro-choice movement.”
“I never thought there would be same-sex marriage, look at where we are today,” she said.
Both main parties are opposed to abortion
The conversation on abortion is already shifting, Dibben explained, with Doctors for Choice having a stand at’ Science in the City’ and law students union (GHSL) hosting a debate.
A common issue in the debate is the term ‘women’s rights’, with detractors often saying that it precludes men from the discussion and choice. Challenged on this, Dibben noted that men should undoubtedly be part of the debate, stressing that women do not and should not live in isolation.
“Ultimately, it is the woman who gets pregnant and carries the baby. Since it is her body, it’s her rights that are infringed.”
“Think of it from another perspective. If the father wanted an abortion, but the mother doesn’t, do he have the right to coerce her into having the abortion? That’s very much against the law,” she said.
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