Reform of Malta’s abortion law insufficient, say critics – EURACTIV.com

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Malta’s recent reform from a total ban on abortion in all circumstances to now allowing it in cases where the life of the mother is in danger is seen by critics, including those in the European Parliament, as a small not insufficient towards safeguarding women’s reproductive rights.

Malta, a Catholic country in southern Europe, is home to the most draconian abortion laws. Currently, abortion is illegal in all circumstances, even in cases of rape, incest and when the life of the mother is in danger. In addition, no medical intervention can be performed, which can lead to the death of the fetus, even if it is to save the life of the mother.

In all cases, the mother and any health professional involved expose themselves to criminal prosecution and imprisonment, the latter risking not being able to continue to practice their profession.

The ruling Labor Party has proposed an amendment to the law that would allow abortion in cases where a woman’s health is at risk, but this was changed at the last moment to if her life is at stake, and a decision requiring the approval of three doctors except in the most urgent cases.

The legislation passed will not serve its purpose of advancing the protection of women’s health and life during pregnancy in Maltese law, and access to abortion care in Malta will remain illusory for women who need it. , said Katrine Thomasen, associate director for Europe at the Center for Reproductive Rights.

This highly restrictive and unenforceable law will do little to address the impact of the total abortion ban, which has harmed so many women in Malta, she added.

While Malta removed the outright ban, some see the amendment as a way to avoid creating real change.

Maltese law is, in theory, an improvement, but in practice it can simply serve as a fig leaf for Malta to refrain from making the necessary changes to its healthcare legislation, said Karen, a member of the FEMM committee and MEP Renew, at EURACTIV.

Only being able to provide the necessary care when the mother is in mortal danger will put many pregnant women at risk, as doctors will be afraid to provide the necessary care. We are already seeing this happening in Poland, where women are dying because they are not getting the health care they need, she added.

The new proposal would probably not even cover cases like that of Andrea Prudente, so women’s lives are still at risk, Renew MEP Sophie in t Veld told EURACTIV.

Prudente was traveling to Malta with her partner to celebrate her pregnancy but started miscarrying. Doctors told her her 16-week-old fetus had no chance of surviving, but they couldn’t abort because it still had a heartbeat, leaving her at risk for sepsis, hemorrhaging and mental distress. severe.

She requested medical evacuation, but doctors refused to hand over the documents to her insurance company, and they were only made public after the intervention of a local lawyer. She was then evacuated to Mallorca, where she had an abortion and recovered. Prudente has since taken legal action against the Maltese state over the matter.

In early June, a Maltese woman, who was in an abusive relationship, had been assaulted by her partner and suffered from mental health issues at the time of her arrest, was charged with undergoing a medical abortion at home using tablets somewhere thing that is also illegal in Malta.

The court said that although her situation – referring to the abuse she suffered at the hands of her partner – does not excuse her actions, she could have sought help to remedy her emotional and mental state at the time. instead of opting for the extreme measure.

Meanwhile, several thousand Maltese women obtain abortion pills online every year, and hundreds travel abroad to go through the process.

Over the years, so-called pro-life groups have called for tougher laws, going so far as to require pregnancy tests for women traveling abroad or prosecuting those who leave the country, have abortions abroad. stranger then come back.

Abortion in Malta remains highly controversial as the country is predominantly Catholic, with very strong ties to the Vatican.

Those calling for full decriminalization, or even slight changes to the law, are met with fierce resistance, including online abuse, harassment, and even physical harassment in public. Even those who write about abortion or speak out in favor of relaxing the laws hide their names for fear of reprisals and losing their jobs.

While abortion laws are decided individually by member states, the EU is still encouraged to keep an eye on them. We encourage the Commission to ensure that EU law is observed and respected by all member states, LIBE committee chair and S&D MEP Juan Fernando Lpez Aguilar told EURACTIV, stressing that this includes the competence Member States on sexual and reproductive rights.

(Sofia Stuart Leeson | EURACTIV.com, Alice Taylor | EURACTIV.com)

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