For the first time Malta adopts a law authorizing abortion, but in a restrictive way

This is a historic vote for Malta. On Wednesday, June 28, parliament voted for the first time on a law authorizing abortion.

But only in one case: if the woman’s life is in danger, the fetus is not viable and all other procedures to save the patient are unthinkable.

However, if the woman’s life is not in imminent danger, the decision to abort requires the advice of a team of three doctors.

One vote after a high-profile case

The text was thus unanimously adopted by the parliamentarians, but this, after last-minute changes, welcomed by anti-abortion activists, according to theFrench media agency.

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This change in the law came after a case that had raised awareness in Maltese public opinion. In 2022, an American tourist traveling to Malta saw herself reject an abortion when her life was in danger. He urgently had to go to Spain to have an abortion.

A highly publicized case, which had pushed the prime minister Robert Abela propose a change in the law to authorize abortion when a woman’s life is in danger.

Until then, Malta was the single country of the European Union where abortion was formally prohibited, and this under all circumstances.

Doctors who have already performed abortions

For their part, the Maltese pro-choicers do repented that this text is equally restrictive: “ You gave us hope, but only to return to your old positions.”he said on Monday June 26 before a parliamentary committee Marcelin Naudiacademic and local activist. “Have you had a chance to instill the editbut you turned your back on human rights and women’s rights”she added.

Despite the outright ban, doctors at Malta’s main hospital had performed abortions in the past, even though they coped up to four years in prisonwhile the woman who had an abortion risked up to three years’ imprisonment.

No doctor has been prosecuted in this case in recent years.

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