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MALTATODAY 13 March 2019 Midweek

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6 1. The debate itself may change public opinion SURVEYS presently show an overwhelming majority against abortion. Yet back in 1995 ac- cording to the Maltese Values Study only 16% of respondents in Malta are favourable to the introduction of divorce, 56.5% are totally against, whereas 27.5% thought that this de- pends on the circumstances. Still surveys indicate that op- position to abortion is more pronounced, with majorities of over 66% opposing abortion in all circumstances except when the mother's life is in danger. Still one has to consider that so far there has been a no debate, with the pro choice camp asso- ciated with fringe candidates or movements. The Irish experience has shown how in the space of two decades mainstream public opinion shifted towards pro- choice positions. Back in 1983 a majority of 67% of Irish voters supported a constitutional ban on abortion. The ban was re- pealed by 66% in a referendum last year. Subsequently Prime Minister Leo Varadkar who is a member of the European People's Party, ensured the ap- proval of the Regulation of Ter- mination of Pregnancy Act of 2018, through which abortion is permitted during the first twelve weeks of pregnancy. One main factor which changed opinions in Ireland was how the way arguments were presented by the respec- tive campaigns. While the pro life camp based its arguments on the attribution of person- hood to embryos, the pro choice campaign was based on real life and painful dilemmas faced by ordinary women. It was these hidden stories, which ultimately changed public opin- ion in countries like Ireland. 2. Opposition to abortion may be a stronger identity marker than Catholicism itself and it may be more ingrained than opposition to divorce ever was A large segment of the Maltese population may have grown to define themselves from the rest of the world by holding their ground on abortion. A roman- ticised idea of motherhood is also strong, something which explains why feminism is weak- er in Malta than in other Euro- pean countries. Exceptionalism may also thrive in a world full of uncertainties and constant change, with the pro-life stance, becoming one of the fixed iden- tity markers. This explains why opposition to abortion in Malta is not limited to Catholics. In fact one expects that while the church whose moral author- ity is shaken by the interna- tional clerical abuse scandals will shun confrontation on this issue, the gap may be filled by more extreme pro-lifers, who are more influenced by US style evangelism which attributes personhood not just to the em- bryo but also to cells. The Mal- tese pro-life cause has already lost its battle against embryo freezing in IVF. The increased militancy of the pro-life camp carries with it a big risk. For their mind frame may be alien to the Maltese whose opposi- tion to abortion is also qualified by a tolerance and compassion to women who seek treatment abroad. In fact nobody clam- ours for the enforcement of abortion laws which themselves carry a different penalty for murder than for abortion. The growing extremism of pro-life campaigners which may even infringe on doctors' discretion in cases where the mother's life is at risk, may backfire as pro choice arguments start ap- pearing more mainstream and rational. 3. Maltese who were born abroad will bring a different perspective to the debate Maltese demographics are changing and modern Malta also includes people born in countries where termination of pregnancy is seen as a personal issue and where the procedure is provided in public hospitals. This is not limited to immi- grants from EU countries but also those hailing from Russia, China, Tunisia, Morocco and Turkey which also have more liberal abortion laws than Mal- ta. This segment of the popu- lation will increasingly see the ban on abortion as the impo- sition of one particular philo- sophical viewpoint. It is inevi- table that after living here for years, these people will not only demand greater integration, but are bound to become more ac- tive in civil society and debates on social and political issues. Another possibly darker side of this cosmopolitan reality is the presence of disenfranchised and poorer foreigners including women with unwanted preg- maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 13 MARCH 2019 NEWS ANALYSIS After the launch of Voice for Choice, Malta's first pro- choice coalition, will the abortion debate follow the same trajectory of the divorce issue as suggested by the Irish experience which introduced abortion, 23 years after its divorce referendum? Or are there over-riding cultural factors which makes legal abortion a no-go? JAMES DEBONO explores six factors which may either change or entrench public opinion on the abortion issue After divorce… abortion? Operational Programme I – European Structural and Investment Funds 2014-2020 "Fostering a competitive and sustainable economy to meet our challenges" Advert part-financed by the European Regional and Development Fund Co-financing rate: Public Eligible (80% European Union; 20% National Funds) ANNOUNCEMENT Business Enhance ERDF Grant Schemes Information Session Operational Programme I – Cohesion Policy 2014-2020 Fostering a competitive and sustainable economy to meet our challenges The Measures and Support Division within the Ministry for European Affairs and Equality, designated by the Managing Authority for Cohesion Policy 2014-2020 as the Intermediate Body responsible for administering aid schemes for enterprises under the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) 2014 – 2020, would like to announce the organization of an Information Session in relation to the Business Enhance ERDF Grant Schemes initiative. The Information Session will be held on 27 th March 2019 between 15.00 and 17.00 hours at Dar l-Ewropa, 254, St. Paul's Street, Valletta. Interested participants are to register their participation through this link https://businessenhance.gov.mt/en/Pages/Information-Sessions.aspx Further information on the Calls for Applications including the respective Guidance Notes and the Guidelines for Implementation may be obtained from https://businessenhance.gov.mt ANNOUNCEMENT Business Enhance ERDF Grant Schemes Information Session Operational Programme I – Cohesion Policy 2014-2020 Fostering a competitive and sustainable economy to meet our challenges The Measures and Support Division within the Ministry for European Affairs and Equality, designated by the Managing Authority for Cohesion Policy 2014-2020 as the Intermediate Body responsible for administering aid schemes for enterprises under the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) 2014 – 2020, would like to announce the organization of an Information Session in relation to the Business Enhance ERDF Grant Schemes initiative. The Information Session will be held on 27 th March 2019 between 15.00 and 17.00 hours at Dar l-Ewropa, 254, St. Paul's Street, Valletta. Interested participants are to register their participation through this link https://businessenhance.gov.mt/en/Pages/Information-Sessions.aspx Further information on the Calls for Applications including the respective Guidance Notes and the Guidelines for Implementation may be obtained from https://businessenhance.gov.mt ANNOUNCEMENT Business Enhance ERDF Grant Schemes Information Session Operational Programme I – Cohesion Policy 2014-2020 Fostering a competitive and sustainable economy to meet our challenges The Measures and Support Division within the Ministry for European Affairs and Equality, designated by the Managing Authority for Cohesion Policy 2014-2020 as the Intermediate Body responsible for administering aid schemes for enterprises under the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) 2014 – 2020, would like to announce the organization of an Information Session in relation to the Business Enhance ERDF Grant Schemes initiative. The Information Session will be held on 27 th March 2019 between 15.00 and 17.00 hours at Dar l-Ewropa, 254, St. Paul's Street, Valletta. Interested participants are to register their participation through this link https://businessenhance.gov.mt/en/Pages/Information-Sessions.aspx Further information on the Calls for Applications including the respective Guidance Notes and the Guidelines for Implementation may be obtained from https://businessenhance.gov.mt ANNOUNCEMENT Business Enhance ERDF Grant Schemes Information Session Operational Programme I – Cohesion Policy 2014-2020 Fostering a competitive and sustainable economy to meet our challenges The Measures and Support Division within the Ministry for European Affairs and Equality, designated by the Managing Authority for Cohesion Policy 2014-2020 as the Intermediate Body responsible for administering aid schemes for enterprises under the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) 2014 – 2020, would like to announce the organization of an Information Session in relation to the Business Enhance ERDF Grant Schemes initiative. The Information Session will be held on 27 th March 2019 between 15.00 and 17.00 hours at Dar l-Ewropa, 254, St. Paul's Street, Valletta. Interested participants are to register their participation through this link https://businessenhance.gov.mt/en/Pages/Information-Sessions.aspx Further information on the Calls for Applications including the respective Guidance Notes and the Guidelines for Implementation may be obtained from https://businessenhance.gov.mt

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