12/04/2022 22:19 (act. 12/04/2022 22:19)
Thousands of people protested changes to Malta’s strict ban on abortion on Sunday. The country’s top Catholic bishop and leader of the conservative opposition also took part in the archipelago’s biggest demonstration in years. Traditionally Catholic, Malta is the only EU country to ban abortion in general. This applies even if a woman’s life or health is endangered by the pregnancy.
Health Secretary Chris Fearne recently tabled a motion in Parliament that would remove doctors’ punishment of up to four years in prison for helping women with serious health problems terminate a pregnancy. So far, however, no doctor has been prosecuted for such an allegation in Malta.
The change dates back to a dramatic incident: In June, a pregnant American tourist in Malta suffered a severe hemorrhage. Doctors who treated her said the woman’s life was in danger. However, she had been denied termination of an unviable pregnancy. She was then transferred to Spain, where an abortion was performed. The woman later sued the Maltese government, asking the courts to declare that the ban on abortion violated human rights.
Malta’s powerful Catholic Church, the centre-right opposition and some non-governmental organizations have opposed the proposed change, saying it paves the way for the full liberalization of abortion. Prime Minister Robert Abela’s government has a comfortable majority in parliament and is also in agreement within the party on the proposed change. However, surveys show that a large majority of the population in Malta is against abortion, including the elderly in particular.