Watch: Pro-Choice Protestors Are ‘Courageous’ And Must Be Listened To, Malta’s Reforms Secretary Says
Malta’s reforms parliamentary secretary praised pro-choice protestors who took to the streets of Valletta last weekend, stating they have the “courage to make their voices heard”.
Rebecca Buttigieg spoke out at a session of the National Youth Parliament this afternoon, where youths publicly debated the pros and cons of abortion legalisation.
While she didn’t expressly come out on either side of the fence, she gave a shoutout to people who attended last weekend’s pro-choice protests, one of the biggest pro-choice demonstration Malta has ever seen.
“A few days ago, a number of people came here and demonstrated their belief that the laws need to change,” she said. “I will be clear over here – their courage to make their voices heard about what they believe in must be given value too.”
“We know we live in a society that has repeatedly shown it is ready to judge and condemn, sometimes in an absolutely non-moderate manner.”
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Her reference to a recent pro-life rally in Valletta was far more muted.
“Other people were arguing that changing the law shouldn’t even pass through our minds. Undoubtedly, these are also arguments that we must carefully listen to.”
Buttigieg urged people on both sides of the abortion debate to stick to the facts and be respectful to each other.
“Let’s not fall into the trap of attacking those we disagree with. Like all topics, arguments [about abortion] should be based on honesty and respect to different beliefs, even those minorities, without sensationalism or stigmatisation. Experience has taught us that we shouldn’t be scared of any debate.”
Photo: Women's Rights Foundation
She also referred to the case of Andrea Prudente, an American woman who was denied an abortion after suffering a miscarriage while on holiday in Malta and who has since sued the authorities, arguing that the island’s abortion laws breached her human rights.
“No pregnant mother should be placed in danger, and when the [Prudente case] erupted a few months ago, practically everyone agreed with this,” she said. “Many questions were raised about whether what happened to Prudente was common practice, whether these decisions should be left up to the mother or medical experts, and if the latter then when and how.”
“The Prudente case raised awareness on realities that we had been comfortable letting exist in silence. Perhaps we didn’t find the courage to discuss them in public because society didn’t give us that space, through subtle and not so subtle messages.”
“I don’t want to enter the merits of the case itself but it was the best example of how what appeared to be obvious for many people might not have been obvious.”
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