The Commissioner for Children, Carmen Zammit, said she strongly feels that the unborn child should be given due consideration as an individual and treated with the dignity and respect accorded to any other human being.

"It is vital that this idea of the child continues to be promoted in order for the unborn child to fully benefit and enjoy the rights which he or she is entitled to," she insisted.

Ms Zammit was underlining her stance in reaction to the resolution proposed by the Council of Europe's Committee on Equal Opportunities calling on all member states to decriminalise abortion if they have not already done so.

Ms Zammit said the preamble to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child refers to the Declaration on the Rights of the Child in stating that "the child, by reason of his physical and mental immaturity, needs special safeguards and care, including appropriate legal protection, before as well as after birth".

The unborn child is particularly vulnerable at such a delicate stage in development. It is necessary for parents, officials and adults to be diligent and conscientious in this issue and to advocate the best interests of the child where children themselves are unable to do so, she said.

Ms Zammit also pointed out that the Commissioner for Children Act itself stresses this, stating that one of the functions of the office is "to promote the highest standards of health and social services for women during pregnancy and to promote special care and protection, including adequate legal protection, for children both before and after birth."