Protecting the unborn child

Two years ago the Social Assistance Secretariat (SAS) of the Malta Catholic Action took the initiative to promote the rights, protection and development of the unborn child from the moment of conception.

Lately, the SAS noted the positive stance on this subject taken by the two main political parties. It also noted the Civil Court judgment on this matter by Judge Giannino Caruana Demajo on August 24, 2000. The unborn child's right of inheritance is already protected by law.

The SAS is promoting the right for protection, general health, and wholesome development, from the moment of conception, to every unborn child who, eventually, is born in the Maltese Islands.

The SAS is also recommending that the Constitution of Malta be amended to give these rights to the unborn child.

The emphasis on the development of the unborn child is intended to focus on the responsibility of all not only to avoid abortion, to avoid the killing of a human being in the mother's womb, but also not to let unborn children feel rejected, but accepted and loved, and given the chance for wholesome development in their mothers' womb from the moment of conception until birth... and beyond.

The protection of children, of any age, from any type of abuse is now occupying a prominent place on the national agenda. The same agenda should further promote the protection of the unborn child from neglect and abuse, of any type, firstly, from the mother, from the moment of conception.

The life, health and development of unborn children is greatly affected by the acceptance or rejection, love and the behaviour of their mothers. Unfortunately, some mothers' irresponsible drinking, smoking and drug-taking habits during pregnancy leave greatly harm the life, general health and development of their unborn children.

Managers at the place of work should become more aware of their responsibility to provide adequate protection to mothers and their unborn children from toxic substances to which may be exposed.

Unborn children cannot protest, protect themselves or fight for their rights. Mothers should be their first protectors by not drinking alcohol, misusing or abusing drugs, and smoking during pregnancy. These are other forms of child abuse and domestic violence - this time against their unborn children. They should also spare their unborn children from any forms of neglect, or emotional abuse.

Surrogate mothers cannot be spared this responsibilty either. Respect for the unborn child befits the dignity of every human person from the moment of conception irrespective of how, and whether, a child eventually is born.

It is about time that the general health and the wholesome development of the unborn child are protected by further legislation. The law already protects the civil rights of the unborn child.

It should be a big priority for the State to invest in the general health of unborn children to prevent them from developing any type of physical, psychological and/or mental illnesses. Besides, it is in the interest of the welfare state to invest in formative and preventive care.

The SAS is committing itself, and at the same time appealing to the State, so that together with all those who have this issue at heart, by means of education and legislation, to draw the attention, mainly, of establishments that sell alcohol, to display boards that show that alchohol drinking and pregnancy just do not go together.

Producers and importers of alcoholic drinks should also display health warnings on their products.

Manufacturers of cigarettes should continue to display health warnings, not in small print, on all cigarette packets.

Trade unions should continue to be protectors of unborn children. In all collective agreements, and in all individual cases, they should protect the overall health of the mother and her unborn child from exposure to any kind of toxic substances at all places of work.

Maltese society should show the way by declaring December 28, feast of the Holy Innocents, as the day dedicated to the life, health and development of the unborn child.

Tony Mifsud, DSS (Oxon.), is a social worker and consultant to the Social Assistance Secretariat