Pro-Choice Malta, a newly set up voluntary organisation, is calling on lawmakers to give women the right to choose to have an abortion, particularly in cases where their life is in danger.

It is not yet known who the individuals forming this organisation are. No contact details were provided in the statement, except for a link to the organisation’s Facebook page, which does not highlight who is behind the association.

Attempts made by the Times of Malta to contact the persons involved with the organisation went unanswered by time of print.

The ‘phantom’ organisation is claiming to be made up of individuals who believe that the current situation in Malta regarding women’s access to abortion is severely outdated and that it is time to open up the debate.

In its statement, the organisation said that 42 out of 44 countries in Europe permitted abortion to save a woman’s life, but in Malta abortion was completely banned, making it the only EU country without a life-saving abortion law.

Having an abortion is a tough decision but women should feel empowered and have the right to choose

It further claimed that “Maltese women do carry out abortions in other countries where abortion is allowed, such as the UK, so why shouldn’t we provide women with the chance to have a safe abortion in their own country?”

Illegal abortions put women’s lives in danger and women should have access to safe medical procedures in their own country, together with the help and support of their friends and family, the organisation said.

“Having an abortion is a tough decision but women should feel empowered and have the right to choose. It is a woman’s body that will be affected by the pregnancy.”

It pointed out that a pregnancy could have both mental and physical risks, especially if the woman was raped or had a certain medical history, which might affect her health during the pregnancy.

“Abortion is a must-have to save the mother’s life if it is in danger, and this reality needs to be mirrored in current legislation.”

Pro-Choice Malta also called for more education on contraceptives in schools to avoid unwanted pregnancies and for women to have access to the Morning After pill, which, to date, is also illegal to purchase in Malta.

Questions sent by the Times of Malta to the official Pro-Choice Malta e-mail address remained unanswered by the time of going to print.