Abortion Rights Rally in Malta 2025: “No One Should Go to Prison for Accessing Healthcare”

On Saturday 27th September, activists from Voice for Choice gathered outside the Law Courts in Valletta to protest under the banner “L-Abort Mhuwiex Reat” (“Abortion is Not a Crime”), calling for the decriminalisation of abortion in Malta. The demonstration, supported by the Aditus Foundation, sent a clear message: “No one should go to prison for accessing healthcare.”

Organisers urged lawmakers to prioritise women’s rights and ensure safe, legal access to reproductive healthcare. Participants carried placards and marched through Valletta, emphasising the urgent need for legal reform and raising awareness of the challenges faced by those seeking reproductive healthcare in Malta.

Speakers at the rally included Prof. Marceline Naudi of Academics for Choice, who highlighted that personal beliefs should not be imposed on others; James Buhagiar from Men Against Violence, who called on men to support women’s rights; and Dr Emma Portelli Bonnici from Lawyers for Choice, who stressed that abortion is healthcare and demanded equity and justice.

The protest follows recent prosecutions of women for abortion, with activists warning that criminalisation forces people into unsafe situations. Voice for Choice reiterated that abortion is common, that criminalisation does not prevent it, and called on lawmakers to end the injustice immediately.

#MaltaDaily