Gift of Life urges Maltese participation in CoE abortion vote

Gift of Life, the anti-abortion NGO, has urged the government to ensure that Malta’s members of the plenary session of the Council of Europe are appointed in time to take part in a mid-April vote on a resolution on abortion.

The council will be called to vote on a resolution which calls for the de-criminalisation of abortion in all member states,including Malta, without restrictions.

“Such radical measures do not represent the views of the majority of the Maltese,” Gift of Life insisted.

“Despite the logistical and practical difficulties that may arise from the fact that Parliament has not yet convened, Gift of Life is appealing to the Government of Malta to do all it can to appoint a representative of Malta to the Council of Europe in time to ensure that our voice is heard on the matter.

“Although this resolution would have no legal bearing on Malta, we feel that the Maltese Government should do its utmost to ensure that Malta’s position is made clear at the plenary,” Gift of life said.

The resolution follows a report approved by a committee of the council earlier this month called “Access to Safe and Legal Abortion in Europe.”

The report called on the 47 Member States of the Council of Europe to make abortion an unconditional right and urged all the member states to “guarantee women’s effective exercise of their right to abortion.”.