Final Abortion Policy Paper
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A Reproductive Right, Or a Moral Profligacy?
A REPRODUCTIVE RIGHT, OR A MORAL PROFLIGACY? A POLICY PAPER DISCUSSING THE LEGISLATIVE FUTURE FOR MALTA An Għaqda Studenti Tal-Liġi Policy Paper © Għaqda Studenti tal-Liġi 2020 OPENING REMARKS INTRODUCTION It is with great pleasure that I present A multidisciplinary modus operandi was to you this year’s GħSL policy paper employed to offer a holistic discussion addressing the subject of Abortion, a and this was achieved through a paper which is the culmination of the thorough examination of pertinent comprehensive work of the GħSL Policy areas beyond the legal sphere such as Office. medical research, ethical considerations involved, as well as the psychological GħSL strives to keep law students as aspects, among others. well as society as a whole abreast regarding current legal issues in Malta. Moreover, a comparative exercise was An ongoing area of contention featuring carried out, whereby the laws regulating, across local media centres around the restricting and prohibiting abortion were topic of abortion. Due to the polarised evaluated. This contributed towards a views on this subject, the GħSL comprehensive outcome of this policy Executive Board decided that it would paper and provided a robust reference be opportune to delve into this topic. point for active and potential students alike. As a body representing the interests of law students, throughout this paper our Finally, I would like to thank the main focus was to maintain and uphold colleagues of GħSL, including all those an impartial appreciation of the law who contributed to this paper, namely while taking into account the sensitive Dr Desiree Attard, Andrew Sciberras, nature of this topic. -
Women's Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights – Malta
About The Foundation Women’s Rights Foundation (WRF) is a voluntary organisation committed to informing, educating and empowering women concerning their legal rights. WRF aims to ensure that women’s rights are protected through policy and law reform, raise awareness and offer training to end violence against women. WRF also provides free legal advice and initial legal representation to women who are survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking and discriminated against due to their gender. Training to individuals and organisations on issues related to women’s rights is also provided and can be customised on request. This Position Paper was produced by Women's Rights Foundation Malta Written by Dr.Lara Dimitrijevic (founder) & Dr.Andreana Dibben. Further editing was done by other members of the Foundation. Designed by Proteus Malta Ltd. Readers are encouraged to quote and reproduce material from issues of this Position Paper in their own publication. In return, WRF requests due acknowledgement and quotes to be referenced as above. © Womens Rights Foundation 2018 Table of Contents Executive Summary 1 Introduction 4 A Rights-Based Approach 5 A National Plan 7 Comprehensive sexuality education 8 Conctraception & Family Planning 11 Access to Safe + Legal Abortion 14 References 17 Executive Summary Women’s sexual and reproductive health and rights are recognised worldwide as a priority health issue. Women are more likely to fall victims to sexual violence, make decisions on contraceptive use and carry sole responsibility for pregnancy. This paper advocates for all women and girls in Malta to have access to comprehensive sexual and reproductive health and explores areas through which good sexual and reproductive health can be achieved. -
Abortion: Breaking the Barriers of Patriarchy
Abortion: Breaking the Barriers of Patriarchy Mary Grace Vella [email protected] Abstract Abortion in Malta is a taboo. Abortion in Malta is a crime. Abortion in Malta is a sin. Women who perform abortion in Malta are breaking barriers, the barriers of patriarchy. Historically, birth control has always been socially regulated. Radical feminists have indeed emphasised the control of women’s reproductive role and how this is defined and controlled as being the root of patriarchal oppression. Since the emergence of the feminist movement, the right of access to effective and safe contraception, including the right to abortion on demand, has been a focal point around which many campaigns have been fought. There has however been strong resistance to demands for women’s right to control their own bodies, with abortion on demand as of right. Traditionally, the state, religion, and the medical profession have been pivotal agents in controlling access to safe abortion and instilling the discourse that it is criminal, sinful and abnormal. Nonetheless, women have always performed abortions by any means necessary regardless of restrictive legislation, religious dogma, and medical provision, often at considerable risk to their own health and lives. Consequently, this paper will provide an analysis of the social control of abortion in Malta through examining the medico-legal-moral discourse on the issue and the experiences of women who defied and broke through the barriers of this patriarchal control. Keywords: Feminism, Abortion, Power, Social Control Introduction: The nature and scope of barriers Barriers can take many forms. They can be cultural, legal, and moral. -
Abortion Debate in Malta: Between Progress, Catholic Morality and Patriarchy
Abortion Debate in Malta: Between Progress, Catholic Morality and Patriarchy Article by Raisa Galea September 18, 2020 When it comes to reproductive rights, Malta remains a conservative bastion in Europe. The pro-choice camp’s assertion of women’s right to abortion is hotly contested by an aggressive pro-life lobby with backing from the state and the church. Raisa Galea explores the contradictions of a debate which is bound to questions of national identity, morality and sovereignty in a post-colonial state grappling with a dual desire for progress and maintaining tradition. Apart from Vatican City, Malta is the only country in Europe which criminalises abortion under any circumstances. The provisions within the Criminal Code of Malta have practically remained untouched since their enactment in 1854. Yet, it is a fact that women living in Malta travel abroad to access abortion. As the law recognises induced miscarriage as a criminal offence punishable by up to three and four years of imprisonment – for a pregnant woman and a medical practitioner respectively – there are no official statistics on the number of women seeking the procedure abroad. The Maltese pro-choice coalition Voice For Choice estimates it to be around 300 a year. Although this number is significantly below the European average (183 abortions per 1000 live births, as reported by WHO Europe), even a possibly underestimated figure indicates that women in Malta are no exception and undergo the procedure despite the blanket ban. Celebrated by pro-life groups and challenged by the pro-choice lobby, the special status of Malta in relation to abortion is acknowledged by both sides of the divide. -
A Reproductive Right, Or a Moral Profligacy? a Policy Paper Discussing the Legislative Future for Malta
A REPRODUCTIVE RIGHT, OR A MORAL PROFLIGACY? A POLICY PAPER DISCUSSING THE LEGISLATIVE FUTURE FOR MALTA An Għaqda Studenti Tal-Liġi Policy Paper © Għaqda Studenti tal-Liġi 2020 OPENING REMARKS INTRODUCTION It is with great pleasure that I present A multidisciplinary modus operandi was to you this year’s GħSL policy paper employed to offer a holistic discussion addressing the subject of Abortion, a and this was achieved through a paper which is the culmination of the thorough examination of pertinent comprehensive work of the GħSL Policy areas beyond the legal sphere such as Office. medical research, ethical considerations involved, as well as the psychological GħSL strives to keep law students as aspects, among others. well as society as a whole abreast regarding current legal issues in Malta. Moreover, a comparative exercise was An ongoing area of contention featuring carried out, whereby the laws regulating, across local media centres around the restricting and prohibiting abortion were topic of abortion. Due to the polarised evaluated. This contributed towards a views on this subject, the GħSL comprehensive outcome of this policy Executive Board decided that it would paper and provided a robust reference be opportune to delve into this topic. point for active and potential students alike. As a body representing the interests of law students, throughout this paper our Finally, I would like to thank the main focus was to maintain and uphold colleagues of GħSL, including all those an impartial appreciation of the law who contributed to this paper, namely while taking into account the sensitive Dr Desiree Attard, Andrew Sciberras, nature of this topic. -
Tilburg University the European Court of Human Rights, the EU Charter
Tilburg University The European Court of Human Rights, the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights and the right to abortion Fabbrini, F. Published in: Columbia Journal of European Law Publication date: 2011 Document Version Publisher's PDF, also known as Version of record Link to publication in Tilburg University Research Portal Citation for published version (APA): Fabbrini, F. (2011). The European Court of Human Rights, the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights and the right to abortion: Roe v. Wade on the other side of the Atlantic? Columbia Journal of European Law, 18(1), 1-72. General rights Copyright and moral rights for the publications made accessible in the public portal are retained by the authors and/or other copyright owners and it is a condition of accessing publications that users recognise and abide by the legal requirements associated with these rights. • Users may download and print one copy of any publication from the public portal for the purpose of private study or research. • You may not further distribute the material or use it for any profit-making activity or commercial gain • You may freely distribute the URL identifying the publication in the public portal Take down policy If you believe that this document breaches copyright please contact us providing details, and we will remove access to the work immediately and investigate your claim. Download date: 25. sep. 2021 ARTICLES THE EUROPEAN COURT OF HUMAN RIGHTS, THE EU CHARTER OF FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS AND THE RIGHT TO ABORTION: ROE V. WADE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ATLANTIC? Federico Fabbrini * This Article analyzes the legal regulation of abortion within the context of Europe’s multilevel system for the protection of fundamental rights. -
Sexual Health Media Resource Pack Ministeru Tas-Saħħa, L-Anzjani U L-Kura Fil-Komunità
Sexual Health Media resource pack Ministeru tas-Saħħa, l-Anzjani u l-Kura fil-Komunità Copying and using of the material does not require any consent of the publishers provided that such actions serve non-profit and teaching purposes and that the materials are not being sold to third parties. Readers are encouraged to quote or reproduce material from this document for their own publications. The Ministry requests due acknowledgement and a copy of the publication. Ministeru tas-Saħħa, l-Anzjani u l-Kura fil-Komunità Palazzo Castellania, 15 Triq Merkanti, Il-Belt Valletta VLT 2000, MALTA Tel: (+356) 2122 4071 January 2013 3 Contents Introduction .................................................................................................... 5 Topic 1: Sexuality and sexual health ......................................................... 6 Topic 2: Adolescent sexuality ....................................................................10 Topic 3: Sexual diversity .............................................................................16 Topic 4: Love and intimacy ........................................................................22 Topic 5: Stages of interpersonal relationships ......................................28 Topic 6A: Reproductive health I ...............................................................34 Topic 6B: Reproductive health II ..............................................................46 Topic 7: Contraception and family planning .........................................54 Topic 8: Sexually transmitted -
Position Paper on Abortion
Position Paper on Abortion And the implications of Malta's complete ban on abortion on women, children, and their doctors Version 1.0 - February 2020 This Position Paper was produced by Doctors for Choice Malta. Written and prepared by Dr Christopher Barbara,a Dr Gilbert Gravino,b Dr Jamie Grech,c Dr Natalie Psaila,d Dr Elena Saliba,c and Prof Isabel Stabilee. a. Psychiatry b. Clinical Radiology c. Paediatric Medicine d. Family Medicine e. Obstetrics and Gynaecology All authors are active members of Doctors for Choice Malta who advocate for comprehensive sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) and work to achieve better public health outcomes. Readers are encouraged to quote and reproduce material from this Position Paper in their own publications. In return, Doctors for Choice Malta requests due acknowledgement. © Doctors for Choice Malta Table of Contents About Us 1 Aims of the Position Paper 2 Abortion is Healthcare 3 Current LeGal Situation in Malta 4 Abortion Ban: The Impact on Doctors’ Work 6 Abortion Ban: A Risk to Women’s Lives 9 Abortion Ban: A Risk to Women’s Physical and Mental Health 13 Abortion Ban: A Risk to Children’s Lives 16 Our Aim: Decriminalisation of Abortion in Malta 18 Our Aim: ChanGe to Law and Policy to Allow the Provision of 19 Abortion Services in Malta Medical Evidence: Abortion is a Very Safe Procedure 21 Conclusion 23 About Us Doctors for Choice is a non-profit orGanisation reGistered in Malta (VO/1816). It is primarily composed of qualified medical professionals from various specialities, and it also enrols medical students as associate members. -
Abortion Care in Highly Restrictive Legal Regimes: the Experiences of Health and Social Care Professionals in Malta
Abortion care in highly restrictive legal regimes: the experiences of health and social care professionals in Malta Briefing Paper May 2021 Claire Pierson and Liza Caruana-Finkel Author details: Dr Claire Pierson ([email protected]) is a Lecturer in Politics at the University of Liverpool and co-founder of the Reproductive Health Law and Policy Advisory Group; Liza Caruana-Finkel ([email protected]) is a PhD researcher at the University of Liverpool. Recommended citation for this paper: Pierson, C. & Caruana-Finkel, L. (2021). Abortion care in highly restrictive legal regimes: the experiences of health and social care professionals in Malta. University of Liverpool. 1 Information about the project The aim of this project is to investigate health and social care professionals’ experiences of providing abortion care within a highly legally restrictive regime. Legal abortion care within the Maltese context includes pre- and post-abortion care, more specifically the provision of information and counselling and the provision of necessary medical care post-abortion. Our study also asked about medical training on abortion and the impact of the law on the provision of care. Due to the timing of interviews, we additionally asked about the impact of COVID-19. This project was funded by the University of Liverpool and subject to ethical review within the University. The project is managed by the Principal Investigator, Dr Claire Pierson and Research Assistant, Liza Caruana-Finkel. The project comprised of desk-based research and 15 interviews: 11 with a range of health and social care professionals based in Malta, 3 interviews with international providers including the Abortion Support Network, Women Help Women and Women on Web, and 1 interview was undertaken with the Family Planning Advisory Service (FPAS) Malta. -
The Specialist Training in Family Medicine Curriculum
The Specialist Training in Family Medicine Curriculum Malta College of Family Doctors Revised by the Curriculum Board 2019-2021 1 Dedication To all GP trainees and their GP trainers, and to all those who support them in their mission, making our common vision for the future of Family Medicine in Malta come to fruition. In living and loving memory of an affable colleague, the late Dr Saviour Cilia, whose infective enthusiasm to see the STPFM take off, will be fondly remembered by all those who had the privilege of making his acquaintance. 2 Authors First edition 2010 Dr Alessandra Falzon Camilleri Dr Daniel Sammut Second edition 2021 Editor Dr Natalie Psaila Authors Dr Jurgen Abela Prof Pierre Mallia Dr Jason Bonnici Dr Ian Psaila Dr Christopher Deguara Dr Natalie Psaila Dr Maria Deguara Dr Anne-Marie Scerri Dr Simone Deguara Dr Jean Karl Soler Dr Marco Grech Dr Jacob Vella Dr Marilyn Harney Dr Dorothy Zammit 3 Peer Reviewers Prof Dr Med Erika Baum, Universität Marburg, Germany Prof Christophe Berkhout, MD, MSc, PhDR, France Prof Francesco Carelli, University of Milano, Italy Prof Dr Ayşe Çaylan, Trakya University Medical School, Turkey Prof Dr Med Jean-François Chenot, MPH, Germany Dr Ana Rita de Jesus Maria, MD, Portugal Prof Lyubima Despotova-Toleva, MD, PhD, Bulgaria Assoc Prof Rositsa Dimova, MD, PhD, Bulgaria Dr Filipa Granado, USF Reynaldo dos Santos, Portugal Dr Marina Guisado Clavero, MD, PhD, Spain Assistant Prof Bruno Heleno, Universidade Nova da Lisboa, Portugal Assoc Prof Didem Kafadar, MD, PhD, Turkey Prof Oleksii Korzh, Kharkiv Medical Academy of Postgraduate Education, Ukraine Dr Mohammed Morad, MD, Israel Enda Murphy MA, RGN, RPN, DipREBT, MCBPI, MICP.