Women Handed Suspended Prison Sentence For Having Abortion

A 28-year-old woman has received a 22-month suspended prison sentence after admitting in court to having undergone an abortion, still considered a criminal offence in Malta except in limited circumstances.

Court proceedings revealed that the woman had ordered abortion pills online and sought medical help in November 2024 after experiencing pain.

Upon informing doctors of her self-managed abortion, the case was reported to the authorities, and criminal charges followed.

The case was presided over by Magistrate Donatella Frendo Dimech, with Police Inspectors Wayne Buhagiar and Ian Vella leading the prosecution. Legal procurator Peter Paul Zammit represented the accused.

Abortion in Malta remains illegal in nearly all cases, despite amendments passed in 2023 that allow the procedure only when the woman’s life is at serious risk. All other forms of abortion, including medical abortions using pills, remain punishable by law.

The case has reignited debate surrounding Malta’s restrictive abortion laws.

According to recent reports, around 590 shipments of abortion pills were sent to Malta in 2023 alone, an increase of 14% compared to previous years, signalling a growing reliance on self-managed abortions.

The woman’s sentence was suspended, meaning she will avoid prison if no other offences are committed within the suspension period.

#MaltaDaily