Updated - See reaction by Gift of Life below - Civil Liberties Minister Helena Dalli has backed a protest group calling for the morning-after pill to be made available over the counter.  

The group in an online petition said a parliamentary committee's conclusion last week that the emergency contraceptive pill should only be made available against a doctor's prescription was discriminatory and harmful to women. The recommendation was also slammed by the Malta Confederation of Women's Organisations. 

In its petition, the group argued that "this decision is...rooted not in a general regard for a woman’s health but a need to control the bodies and lives of women." 

Minister Dalli voiced her support to the protest group after touring Vodafone's Skypark offices with Employment Minister Evarist Bartolo. The two Cabinet members heard about  family-friendly measures put into place by the company.

“I have always said the MAP should be available over the counter. Unfortunately, the parliamentary committee decided otherwise, but it’s far from case closed," Dr Dalli said.

Women opposing the committee's conclusion intend to walk from St George's square to parliament on Sunday morning, protesting with placards marked with the hashtag #EmerġenzaGħalRaġun.

Last week, a joint meeting of the Social Affairs Committee, the Health Committee and the Family Affairs Committee concluded that the Medicines Authority should take a decision on the licensing of the Morning-After Pill, based on recommendations by Parliament. The Committee also recommended that if licensed, the emergency contraceptive should not be sold over the counter.

NGO DISAPPOINTED BY MINISTER'S COMMENT 

In a reaction, the pro-life Gift of Life Foundation, which is resisting the introduction of the morning after pill, said it was disappointed by the minister's comment that the issue was far from case closed despite the parliamentary committee's decision.

"This is indeed, very disappointing to us: Are we to understand that the marathon meetings held over the last five months were in vain? Why was a committee formed to discuss the drug in the first place, if Minister Dalli had already decided upon the outcome beforehand and is allegedly still insisting that the MAP is made available without a prescription," Gift of Life asked.

"This is of concern when one considers that the Medicines Authority, which is expected to make objective, impartial and well founded decisions, and which will have the final word on the matter, falls within Dr Dalli’s ministerial portfolio."

The foundation argued that "clear" scientific evidence suggested that the emergency contraceptive pill was "mostly abortifacient". It warned the Superintendent for Public Health that if he was to issue a licence for a contraceptive pill shown to be abortifacient, he "may be deemed guilty of committing a crime."

TOUR OF VODAFONE OFFICES

With regard to her tour of the Vodafone offices, Dr Dalli said: "When women are given the tools to help them achieve a balance between work and family life, they are able to become better members of society overall."

She underlined efforts being made by the government to help women who wish to go out to work, including free childcare and the Maternity Leave Fund.