Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1259447
LAURA CALLEJA WHILE pro-choice sentiment may be breaking through tradi- tional taboos of silence of late, it still remains rare for women who have had abortions to come to the forefront. With hotly polarised political debate and an associated social stigma making privacy and ano- nymity on the issue understand- able - and even, to a certain de- gree, inevitable - the end result is that Maltese women who have had abortions are pushed even further into the margins of soci- ety. But a team of young women want to take the message to legis- lators by attempting to place these women's experiences centre-stage in public conversations as way of pricking the public's ears. The Dear Decision Makers cam- paign is attempting to do just that – taking women's first-hand expe- riences to the forefront, through a safe confidential platform. "As Maltese women, we decided to take it upon ourselves to ensure that these stories and voices are heard. We are advocating for the right to reproductive health by sharing the experiences of women who didn't have choice, and oth- ers who faced multiple barriers when trying to access the abor- tions they needed. These experi- ences take place, more often than not, in secrecy and silence, and we are determined to change that," Project Lead, Laura Paris told MaltaToday. The campaign, which is sup- ported by the Young Progres- sive Beings and Break the Taboo Malta is focused on the power of shared experience, in the hope that it will encourage the public to empathise more directly. Par- is is assisted by Emily Galea, Liza Caruana-Finkel and Alessandra Baldacchino. "From the physical and mental agony to the local lack of financial and psychosocial support for vul- nerable women, the stories truly embody the injustice people in Malta are suffering," Paris said. Paris observes how due to the national criminalisation of abor- tion and the taboo surrounding it, the issue is scarcely discussed in the absence of shame, fear or anger. She said people needed to unlearn, rethink and reconstruct their opinions on abortion. "Through this process, we dis- covered the unspoken trauma, suffering, and loneliness that the blanket ban on abortion has brought about. When COVID-19 restrictions came into place, the urge for reform became particu- larly prominent. This is due to the current travel restrictions, the rise in domestic abuse, and the de- crease in availability of contracep- tives which are currently limiting women and pregnant people's op- tions even further," she said. Paris said the campaign plans on compiling the testimonies into a formal letter, addressed to the eponymous "dear decision mak- ers" in a bid to change the views of lawmakers. "Healthcare professionals are also encouraged to join in and recount their experiences. It is through these collective voices that we would like to convey to the Maltese public as well as the government that abortion servic- es are essential," Paris said. On a social level, Paris hopes that the campaign can help cor- rect misconceptions on abortion, paving the way for a healthy de- bate in Malta. "The next step is exercising more mindfulness of the various reasons why people have abortions, and understand- ing that hate and shame have no place in this debate." By sharing real experiences, the campaign aims at not only reduc- ing the stigma of abortion but fa- cilitate a constructive debate that is based on evidence and experi- ential knowledge. "Being pro-choice does not mean believing that every preg- nancy should end in abortion, but simply that you can accept, empathise and support those who choose to have abortions. We are not here to tell people what to think; we want to facilitate soli- darity and unity amongst the peo- ple of this country," she said. The feedback to the campaign has been positive, from both women submitting testimonies, as well as the general public. "Many people are afraid to publicly an- nounce that they are supportive of abortion and this initiative, but the support is there. Hopeful- ly, this is something that we can change. Abortion shouldn't have to be a taboo subject," Paris said. 'All walks of life after affected by the ban' Paris said one of the most strik- ing things the campaign had no- ticed so far, is that women of all ages, backgrounds, and walks of life need abortions and are nega- tively affected by the total ban. "This became evident not on- ly from the few stories we have collected but also from conversa- tions with peers and activists. In some cases, we have also observed trails of long-lasting harm that has stemmed from negative experi- ences associated directly with the blanket ban, including the high level of abortion stigma in Malta," she said. This reality is coupled with the local lack of institutional sup- port and other factors that are accounted for in countries where abortion is legal and accessible, creating an urgent call for action in Malta. 11 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 14 JUNE 2020 NEWS Malta's women find their voice in growing pro choice movement Individuals who feel that they have been affected or harmed in any way by Malta's blanket ban on abortion, as well as healthcare professionals who feel that they were unable to provide their patients with op- timal care, information or op- tions are encouraged to submit testimonies to the Dear Deci- sion Makers Facebook page or alternatively can share their stories by emailing deardeci- sionmakers@gmail.com Storytellers: Laura Paris, Emily Galea and Alessandra Baldacchino want MPs and the general public to learn from the experiences of women JAMES BIANCHI