MGRM – Malta LGBTIQ Rights Movement has joined the Voice for Choice coalition, a group of organisations fighting to decriminalise abortion, the coalition announced.
“We are proud that MGRM – an organisation with a strong history of grassroots activism and providing a voice for its community- has decided to join our coalition,” Voice for Choice said.
“Malta’s current laws mean that everyone faces the threat of imprisonment if they have or provide an abortion – regardless of their gender identity or sexual orientation,” the coalition added. “We seek to represent and fight for all those who find themselves at risk of imprisonment if they have an abortion,” the coalition said.
MGRM noted that criminalisation and lack of abortion access has long been an issue that affected the LGBTIQ community as well.
“LGBTIQ issues and abortion access are both inextricably linked because they both involve undue political interference in individual autonomy. We want to move away from the myth that decriminalisation of abortion is only needed for cisgender, heterosexual women. All people who need abortion should be able to access it safely, without worrying about facing prison time,” MGRM added.
The Voice for Choice coalition is also currently active in ongoing debates on Bill 28- a proposed amendment to the current law that criminalises abortion which will provide an exception in cases when the woman’s health is in grave jeopardy.
The Voice for Choice coalition includes MGRM – Malta LGBTIQ Rights Movement, Young Progressive Beings, Women’s Rights Foundation, Moviment Graffitti, Doctors for Choice, Students for Choice, Lawyers for Choice, Integra, Aditus, Men Against Violence, Parents for Choice and Malta Humanists Association.
Photo: Pro-choice Rally last September
Il-MGRM – Malta Drittijiet għal-LGBTIQ ingħaqdu mal-koalizzjoni Voice for Choice, li huwa grupp ta’ organizzazzjonijiet li qegħdin jissieltu sabiex jiddekriminalizzaw l-abort, il-koalizzjoni ħabbret.
“Kburin li l-MGRM – organizzazzjoni bi storja twila u b’saħħitha fejn jidħol attiviżmu u li serviet ta’ vuċi għall-komunitá tagħha – iddeċidiet li tingħaqad mal-koalizzjoni tagħna,” tgħid il-Voice for Choice.
“Il-liġijiet ta’ Malta kif qegħdin issa jsarrfu għal theddida ta’ priġunerija jekk persuna tipprovdi jew tagħmel abort – irrespettivamenent mill-identitá tal-ġeneru u l-orjentazzjoni sesswali,” żiedet il-koalizzjoni. “Aħna rridu nirrappreżentaw u niġġieldu għal dawk li jsibu ruħhom f’riskju ta’ priġunerija jekk dawn jagħmlu abort,” kompliet tgħid il-koalizzjoni.
“Hekk kif Malta tħejji ruħha għaċ-ċelebrazzjoni tal-Europride, insibu ruħna kuntenti li l-koalizzjoni tagħna hija iktar rappreżentattiva ta’ membri differenti tal-komunitajiet tagħna,” il-koalizzjoni tgħid.
Il-MGRM tinnota kif il-kriminalizzazzjoni u n-nuqqas ta’ aċċess għall-abort hija kwistjoni li tmur lura għal ħafna żmien, u li taffetwa wkoll il-komunità LGBTIQ.
“Il-kwistjonijiet tal-LGBTIQ u l-aċċess għall-abort huma t-tnejn totalment marbuta għax fiż-żewġ każijiet hemm indħil politiku fl-għażla awtonoma tal-individwu. Irridu nimxu ’il bogħod mill-ħrafa li d-dekriminlizzazzjoni tal-abort hija meħtieġa biss minn nisa cisgender eterosesswali. L-individwi kollha li għandhom bżonn l-abort għandhom jaċċesawh b’mod sigur, mingħajr l-ebda rikatt ta’ priġunerija,” il-Moviment ikompli jgħid.
Il-koalizzjoni Voice for Choice bħalissa hija wkoll attiva fid-dibattiti li għaddejjin dwar l-Abozz 28 – fejn qiegħed jiġi propost tibdil fil-liġi kurrenti li tikkriminalizza l-abort, sabiex ikun hemm eċċezzjoni meta s-saħħa tal-mara tkun fil-periklu.
Il-koalizzjoni Voice for Choice tinkludi dawn l-għaqdiet: MGRM – Malta Gay Rights Movement, Young Progressive Beings, Women’s Rights Foundation, Moviment Graffitti, Doctors for Choice,Students for Choice, Lawyers for Choice, Integra, Aditus, Men Against Violence, Parents for Choice and Malta Humanists Association.
Ritratt: Rally favur l-Għażla li saret Settembru li għadda
