Abortion is a fact of life in modern malta

Abortion is a Fact of Life in Modern Malta “Please help me. I am pregnant and I can’t tell anyone what is going on or they might stop me. I can’t continue this pregnancy and please I’m so scared.” "I am pregnant and I need an abortion. I have one child and can’t afford to have another one. Please help me." Every time someone resorts to calling me “murderer” and a “shredder of babies” or some such nonsense, all of which is a regular occurrence in maltese online discourse, it is an admission that they have no argument whatsoever. Rather than criticise me and the organisation I represent for wishing to allow women the choice of what happens after they become pregnant, perhaps they should reflect on the privileged position from which they state unequivocally that the introduction of abortion in Malta is an “evil step”. Whatever others may believe, my colleagues and I do not “shred babies”, because: (1) the vast majority of the 500 or so abortions taking place in Malta each year are medical abortions; (2) before birth we refer to a fetus; it’s only a baby after birth which is when it derives its rights. Women who are happy to be pregnant will use the same term, but those who are not, do not; (3) providing information about safe and accessible abortion methods is not against the law; and (4) although every doctor has the right to choose not to provide abortions, part of their duty to care for every woman is the requirement to refer appropriately. Moreover, our sexual and reproductive health helpline, received more than 1200 calls since its inception over the past two years, with people asking questions about contraception, the morning after pill and also abortion. All have received objective, unbiased and non-judgemental advice. It is a shame that our country ignores their needs and that our volunteers have to make up for the failure of the state. Criminalising abortion puts lives at risk because people will access abortion care regardless of what the law says. Forcing someone to give birth against their will by removing from that person the possibility of being true to their moral beliefs in their own lives makes no sense at all to me. I have never had an abortion myself, nor have I ever performed one, but I believe there is a strong moral case for freedom of reproductive choice and there should be nothing stopping any person from choosing to have an abortion.