PR12/03/2026 Robert Abela jibqa’ gallerija waqt li n-nisa jeħlu l-ħabs

ADPD-The Green Party jinnota l-kummenti tal-Prim Ministru Robert Abela li fihom eskluda kull riforma tal-liġi dwar l-abort filwaqt li indika li jista’ jirrakkomanda bidla fil-piena f’każijiet individwali. Dan wara li mara reċentement ingħatat sentenza ta’ 18-il xahar ħabs sospiża wara li l-qorti iddeċidiet li kienet temmet it-tqala tagħha billi użat pilloli.

L-approċċ ta’ Robert Abela huwa diskors għall-gallerija biex jevita li jieħu deċiżjonijiet politiċi ċari favur in-nisa f’diffikultà. Jekk il-Prim Ministru verament jemmen li n-nisa m’għandhomx jintbagħtu l-ħabs, allura għandu jkollu l-kuraġġ ibiddel il-liġi minflok joffri soluzzjonijiet każ b’każ u skont kemm iqum agħa jew le. Din mhix serjetà. Huwa ċar li Robert Abela huwa ostaġġ ta’ uffiċċjali, membri parlamentari u partitarji Laburisti intransiġenti u fundamentalisti li ma tantx għandhom empatija għan-nisa f’diffikultà.

Iċ-Chairperson ta’ ADPD, Sandra Gauci, qalet: Il-Prim Ministru m’għandux is-sinsla politika biex jindirizza l-problema b’mod strutturali. Li l-Kabinett joqgħod jikkunsidra każ b’każ minflok ibiddel il-liġi hija prova ċara ta’ nuqqas ta’ tmexxija.

Aħna ilna s-snin ngħidu b’mod ċar li l-ebda mara m’għandha tiffaċċja sentenza ta’ ħabs talli ħadet id-deċiżjoni, ħafna drabi diffiċli, li ttemm tqala. Il-kriminalizzazzjoni tal-abort ma tipprevjenix l-abort, sempliċiment tpoġġi lin-nisa f’riskju u tgħaddihom minn proċessi kriminali, stigma u inċertezza legali.

Din hija wkoll ir-raġuni għaliex it-tobba għandhom jipprovdu l-kura mingħajr biża’ ta’ konsegwenzi kriminali. Mara li għandha emoroġija hija mara li għandha bżonn kura medika u daqshekk. F’Malta qegħdin f’sitwazzjoni fejn in-nisa li jkollhom bżonn jibżgħu jitolbu l-għajnuna medika.”

ADPD-The Green Party jtenni li l-protezzjoni tas-saħħa u d-dinjità tan-nisa teħtieġ bidla ċara fil-liġi. Il-politika ma tistax tibqa’ taħrab mir-responsabbiltà billi tgħaddi d-deċiżjonijiet lill-Kabinett wara sentenza tal-qorti. Malta għandha bżonn qafas legali li jirrispetta d-drittijiet u s-saħħa tan-nisa, mhux sistema li tkompli tikkriminalizzahom.

Hemm ħtieġa ta’ dikriminalizzazzjoni immedjata, temmet tgħid Sandra Gauci.

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PR 12/03/2026: Robert Abela plays with words while women face prison

ADPD – The Green Party notes the comments made by Prime Minister Robert Abela in which he ruled out any reform of the abortion law while indicating that he may recommend changes to the penalty in individual cases. This follows a recent case in which a woman was given an 18-month suspended prison sentence after a court decided that she had terminated her pregnancy using abortion pills.

Robert Abela’s approach is little more than playing to the gallery in order to avoid taking clear political decisions in favour of women facing difficulties. If the Prime Minister truly believes that women should not be sent to prison, then he should have the courage to change the law instead of offering ad hoc, case-by-case solutions depending on whether a case attracts public attention or not. This is not serious governance. It is clear that Robert Abela is a hostage to intransigent and fundamentalist Labour supporters, officials and MPs who show little empathy towards women in difficulty.

ADPD-The Green Party Chairperson, Sandra Gauci, said: “The Prime Minister lacks the political backbone to address the problem in a structural way. Having Cabinet consider cases one by one instead of changing the law is clear evidence of a lack of leadership.”

“For years we have stated clearly that no woman should face a prison sentence for making the often difficult decision to terminate a pregnancy. Criminalising abortion does not prevent abortion; it simply puts women at risk and exposes them to criminal proceedings, stigma and legal uncertainty.”

“This is also why doctors must be able to provide care without fear of criminal consequences. A woman suffering a haemorrhage is a woman who needs medical care, full stop. In Malta we are in a situation where women who need help are afraid to seek medical assistance.”

ADPD-The Green Party reiterates that protecting women’s health and dignity requires clear legislative change. Politics cannot continue to avoid responsibility by shifting decisions to Cabinet after a court sentence. Malta needs a legal framework that respects women’s rights and health, not a system that continues to criminalise them.

There is a need for immediate decriminalization, Sandra Gauci concluded.