abortion remains a crime in the country

Malta is the last European country where abortion is still a crime that can land a woman and her doctor in prison. A 22-year-old young woman, met by the France 2 teams, had to terminate an unwanted pregnancy in secret, with no one to confide in. “My parents still don’t know“, she confides. She found a doctor abroad who prescribed her an abortion pill, which she received by post. The young woman does not know where the stamp comes from. Every year, 500 Maltese women abort in isolation.

Gynecologist, Dr. Isabel Stabile tries to change mentalities and tries to raise awareness among the population. She wants abortion to be legalized in the country. The specialist regularly faces refusals, with some people throwing her leaflets in the trash. Maltese society is Catholic and conservative. Last May, the government rejected a bill granting the right to abortion. He does not intend to change the texts or the penalties provided for by law. Some sentences can go up to three years in prison for women and people who help them, four years for doctors. In practice, there are no women incarcerated in Malta for abortion, but the legal pressure induces terrible guilt.