This Is What A National Debate On Malta’s Abortion Ban Could Actually Look Like
Photo from a recent pro-life rally in Valletta. Photo Credit: Life Network
Though Malta has opened its doors to all sorts of ideas and changes in recent years, abortion remains a completely no-go area, with the vast majority of politicians refusing to even back a national debate on whether the law should be less restrictive.
Through an online survey on abortion, we have sketched out what a future national debate on abortion could look like and what the pro-life and pro-choice arguments could be.
The survey received 1,118 responses, out of which 56.4% were women, 59.6% aged between 22 and 35, and 71.4% had a university education. Although clearly not a snapshot of Maltese society, several of the responses to the question ‘What do you think of Malta’s abortion ban?’ make for some interesting reading.
The pro-life arguments
A recent ‘march for life’ in Valletta. Photo: Life Network
“Leave it as it is, abortion is murder” – woman aged 41-50 from Lija
“No to abortion. If you are responsible enough to open your legs then you are responsible enough to be a parent (not literally because you will be a shit parent anyway)” – Man aged 19-21 from Fleur-de-Lys
“Abortion is not OK, we’re in a state where we’re defending animal rights – who we say cannot defend themselves, but we’re not defending the embryo – who cannot defend themselves and whoo are our own blood and flesh. We cannot have a discussion about “human rights” when we’re in favour of killing life once its being formed, in its early stages. “ – Woman aged 22-25 from Marsascala
“I completely agree. There is no need for abortion. People should use contraceptives. In case of rape a person has up to 48 hours to go to hospital where the sperm can be sucked out using special equipment.” – Woman aged 22-25 from Gozo
“Should remain as is. It’s not #yourbodyyourchoice unfortunately, it’s the child’s body.” – Man aged 19-21 from Fgura
“Unfortunately we are living in a country where we are cultivating the trend that nothing is wrong and everyone has rights as long as we benefit from them and that we want to be like the other countries. Hopefully we don’t start cultivating the idea that killing someone is another person’s right. I don’t agree with the phrase many women say that “my body , my choice”‘ because the baby’s body is NOT you’re body. We don’t have any right to kill a human life!! If you don’t want the baby, at least give him for adoption! It is the couple’s responsibility to be careful if they don’t want to get pregnant! and not to use abortion as an “easy way out” solution! Thus for sure I agree that abortion should be banned from Malta.” – Woman aged 19-21 from Birzebbuga
“It may sound medieval, but as a Catholic, knowing that the state upholds the rights of beings in the womb makes me content, that no life is legally at risk of termination… but I hear these stories and understand the pleas of countless women, who opt to terminate the life of their unborn. This should be done in their home country, i assume.” – Man aged 19-21 from St Paul’s Bay
“It stands for our beliefs, our culture. It is part of our identity, hence why I agree that abortion should continue to be banned apart from health risks either for the child or the mother. I have worked with children with various disabilities and I have witnessed the amount of suffering, both of the children and the parents” – Woman aged 22-25 from Kirkop
“I believe that the legalisation of abortion will lead a breach of the right of the life of many vulnerable individuals (after all, the right to life is the most basic right of all). Undoubtedly unplanned pregnancies, especially in cases of rape, are extremely difficult to face. However, I think that there are better ways to help mothers in such a situation.” – Woman aged 19-21 from St Julians
“There are so many ways one can actively NOT get pregnant that i cannot find any possible way to justify abortion. As regards to the rape situation – 1) most rapes do not end up in pregnancy, 2) in the eventuality that it does, adoption and fostering are very much alive in our country – is anyone questioning how couples who cannot get pregnant are being supported or what happens to raped girls and their mental health? No! These services in Malta are abysmal! The blatant truth of the matter is that the great majority of abortions are a followthrough of irresponsible behaviour. Isn’t it better to invest in social and mental health and proper education? Funny how all the fuss is being put on the killing of an innocent soul rather that offering actual support to women whose unborn children have defects which are not compatible with life. Even a child who is not expected to live has the right to be loved, cherished and die of natural causes with dignity. Every life has value. There is no dignity in chopping up a living being just for convenience.” – Woman aged 22-25 from Zurrieq
“We shouldn’t be deciding who is to live and who is to be born. So yes, I agree with Malta’s abortion ban. “ – Woman aged 22-25 from Mosta
“The ban is justified, considering the rather low level of education and understanding of early pregnancy and obstetrics at large.” Man aged 26-30 from Haz-Zebbug
“I am OK with it because after all it is murder even it’s in the first month and it really isn’t our decision to choose whether we let it live or not. Besides, if the person got pregnant because there was no protection involved, then why should she be allowed to murder a life when she wasn’t being cautious?” – Woman aged 19-21
“It’s in line with the European Charter of Fundamental Human Rights. Any other interpretation is simply opportunistic and warped.” – Man aged 31-35 from St Julian’s
The pro-choice arguments
Pro-choice groups in Malta have so far been limited to anonymous Facebook pages
“Ridiculous, so much for women’s rights and equality bullshit. I was a teenage mother myself; I had a choice when I was 16, my parents gave me that. However now that I’m young, have had a child, and my career is where I want to be, I would want the freedom to abort if I get pregnant now. If we were so Christian about letting women discontinue their lives because a male priest said No, then why should we let women go out to work? Why should women be in iGaming? why should women be in construction or anything considered taboo or what not? Even though it’s nice to have kids, it’s not right that a woman has to pay her baby sitter to do that job for her. It’s not fair on the child.” Woman aged 26-30 from Swatar
“Just like every other aspect of society dictated by the Roman Catholic Church, it’s keeping us back compared to the rest of the world, causing an inequality between the rich that can obtain the service/right abroad and the poor that are left without options. As always the Church looks after the rich and its interests first.” – Man aged 36-40 from Birkirkara
“I am 100% pro-choice and I think the ban is highly influenced by men who think that they know what is best for women under the false appearance of being “pro-life”. Whether abortion is good or bad, individuals with a womb should have the right to make the choice themselves as they have a right do whatever they want with their body. We should not deny the option and religion should definitely not be brought into the debate.” – Woman aged 22-25
“Ridiculous! Unbeknownst to a lot of people there are unplanned kids who are suffering.” – Man aged 31-35 from Birzebbuga
“I feel very strongly about this. I really believe that we cannot come close to gender equality when women are still forced to carry their pregnancy to term against their will, only to be told to take responsibility for their actions. I blame Catholic guilt.” – Woman aged 26-30 from Valletta
“It’s like talking to a wall. Just mentio the subject and you’ll just hear “murder, murder, murder”. No one is willing to even mention the subject and we can’t even discuss exceptional cases (like rape or that the mother’s life could be at risk)” – Man aged 26-30 from Naxxar
“I think it’s the real indicator of how backwards we truly are. To truly believe we should impose on a woman’s choice when that choice impacts no one else’s life but hers is another scary aspect about the highly misogynistic and morally corrupt society we live in.” – Woman aged 22-25 from Gozo
“Selfish – it’s easy to say that abortion is wrong when you do not need an abortion. Unfortunately, most do not even bother to try and put themselves in the shoes of those less fortunate, financially or otherwise, than them. Ignorance is the best word to describe it.“ – Woman aged 22-25 from Naxxar
“Purposeless. Women who can afford it get abortions anyway. Effectively it’s gross inequality whereby people of low economic standing who need most control over their lives are denied it due to the hefty cost of having to travel in secrecy for a period of time to get it done abroad.” – Man aged 26-30 from Gzira
“The most frustrating thing about the abortion ban is that it’s there because the people in charge are afraid of change! There is no denying that it is a touchy subject for many, but we need to move forward like the rest of the world is – we are still stuck in the past, where the straight white male has the final say on any decision the country needs to make.” – Woman aged 19-21 from Ibragg
“Ridiculous. Why should a woman have to travel to get an abortion? Why are we still fearmongering kids at school ? Why are we teaching that abstinence is the best form of contraception? Why is there no proper sex education for kids in school? Why is the church saying abortion is bad when in fact it has pardoned pregnancy terminations in the past? Why is the church still controlling and having a say in policy making and law making?” – Woman aged 22-25 from Attard
“Women should be able to choose what happens to their body. A pregnancy can change your body as well as your life. It should not be anyone’s choice except for the woman herself! Instead of protecting the embryo / fetus we should first protect women” – Woman aged 22-25 from Gozo
“For a country who wants to be democratic and progressive, it’s a ridiculous double standard. Taking away someone’s right to choice is neither democratic nor progressive. Having said this, lifting the ban on abortion needs to happen in conjunction with a revamp to sex education with real factual information (not scaremongering) being compulsive in schools starting from an early age and with free courses and advice available to adults too” – Woman aged 31-35 from Birkirkara
“Coming from a highly conservative family, i feel dismayed at the fact that the liberties of people are undermined based on the fact that the older generations are too close-minded and often express themselves on the subject as thought it was going to affect them. They tend to believe the ban on abortion is beneficial, yet they dont consider the fact that women go through trauma just because they haven’t been through it themselves. I find it highly selfish and ironic that, in this day and age, abortion is discretited by even some of our top politicians as a sideline issue so as not to receive backlash for instituting a fundamental change in the thought and cognition of the Maltese mind.” – Man aged 19-21 from Rabat
What do you make of Malta’s blanket ban on abortion?
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