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MALTATODAY 13 November 2022

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maltatoday | SUNDAY • 13 NOVEMBER 2022 OPINION 11 Julia Farrugia-Portelli Another electoral pledge kept (just as all the rest of us do, too) that the word 'abortion' has been misused so very often, over the past half-century – especially, by politicians – that its meaning has indeed 'changed', in today's context: if not in the eyes of the medical or legal professions – and even less, on the pages of any English dictionary - at least, in the eyes of the wider Maltese electorate. And this is something you can very easily test for yourselves: just ask any old random Maltese citizen – who is not, of course, either a doctor or a pro-choice activist – to define the word 'abortion'… and see what answer you get. How many people, do you reckon, will give the (technical- ly correct) answer provided by Doctors For Choice, above; and how many will simply assume that 'abortion' refers only to a medical procedure to terminate viable (and unwanted) pregnan- cies; and even then, for reasons of 'capricious convenience', alone? Leaving aside that the second (incorrect) definition also makes the mistake of judging even such 'capricious' abortions, using the same old blanket yardstick – thus blithely overlooking all the social, economic and health concerns that might also be in- volved, in such cases… ... but it also precludes all the (very real) medical conditions that might actually necessitate abortion, to save a woman's life: regardless whether the proce- dure itself is permitted, or not, by law. Ectopic pregnancies; ruptured membranes, and the risk of sep- sis (as was the case with Andrea Prudente); not to mention any number of random (or occasion- ally congenital) disorders and/ or pathologies, that may make a pregnancy both unviable, and potentially life-threatening, within the first 24 weeks… … all of those necessitate 'abor- tions', too. Yet not one of them is actually mentioned – or ca- tered for, in any way – by our 200-year-old legislation on the subject (which, incidentally, doesn't even use the word 'abor- tion' itself. Funnily enough, Mal- ta's Criminal Code uses the term 'termination of pregnancy' in- stead… you know: the very same 'termination of pregnancy' that both Chris Fearne, and Robert Abela, seem to suddenly think is 'absolutely NOT an abortion'…) But this only brings me back to a point I raised earlier: i.e., that the contradiction inherent in the above statements, is also mani- fest in the government's entire policy-approach, to an issue which the Prime Minister him- self now defines as: "a sensitive issue that shouldn't be monopo- lised by politicians." Well, guess what? It is precise- ly BECAUSE this issue has been monopolised by (insensitive) politicians, for so long, that peo- ple out there are so confused as to what the word 'abortion' even means in the first place. And this, in turn, is what has always allowed those politicians to so ruthlessly exploit this 'sensitive issue', for their own political gain: with results that now occa- sionally get reported – much to Malta's chagrin - in the interna- tional press. To be fair to both Chris Fearne and Robert Abela, however: both seem to have finally (and belat- edly) understood, that their pre- vious policy-direction on abor- tion was simply unsustainable, in the long run – and that, if left unchecked, it would only lead to more potentially-embarrassing cases like Andrea Prudente's, in future. And I'm pleased to have to conclude that… they both ac- tually did the right thing, under the circumstances: by tabling an amendment that would – if en- acted – put a stop to this bizarre legal anomaly, once and for all. Ah… but will it really be enact- ed, in the end? That, I suppose, depends entirely on whether we ever take the next logical step, in this long and painstaking pro- cess: by also putting a stop to our own consistent distortions, of what the word 'abortion' real- ly means. Julia Farrugia-Portelli is minister for inclusion, voluntary organisations and consumer rights So much has been achieved in the disability and vulnerability sectors in Malta, with a chain of reforms paving the way for even more reforms, more assistance and more opportunities that help create a more open and effective society that really cares IT is not unusual for Labour governments to punctually implement electoral promises, but this one, the Robert Abela Administration, in particular. Just a few months since the general election in March of this year we have seen a string of such pledges being kept, highlighted recently by the signing by Malta of the 2000 Hague Convention, which was also one of sev- eral commitments in the Budget 2023 propos- als. The signing of this Convention on the Inter- national Protection of Adults, which provides for the protection in international situations of adults who, by reason of an impairment or insufficiency of their personal faculties, are not in a position to protect their interests, is indeed a historic mo- ment for Malta, giv- en the Government has made it a prior- ity to mainstream Inclusion into every aspect of life. In more technical terms, "the Conven- tion avoids conflicts between the legal sys- tems of Contracting Parties in respect of jurisdiction, applica- ble law, recognition and enforcement of measures for the protection of adults. The Convention also ensures that a 'pow- er of representation' has force of law in another Contracting Party. The Conven- tion affirms that the interests of the adult and respect for his or her dignity and autonomy are to be primary considerations." So much has been achieved in the disabil- ity and vulnerability sectors in Malta, with a chain of reforms paving the way for even more reforms, more assistance and more opportunities that help create a more open and effective society that really cares and still seeks to strengthen all that is left to be done on the platforms of justice and social harmo- ny. We are the 17th EU member state to sign the Convention and we do so out of convic- tion and a determination to continue assist- ing marginalised groups by assuring them a voice and passing reforms that help persons in situations of vulnerability to be an active part of this far-reaching process of inclu- sion, equity and independence. As I said in my short address to the HCCH Special Com- mission held in The Netherlands to discuss salient matters related to the Convention, one key example of our incessant work is the disability sector where we have seen the adoption of a zero-tolerance policy through major reforms, such as by extending hate crimes legislation to cover not only disabled persons, but also older disabled persons, as a protected category. After all, we have been developing legisla- tion to create such domestic structures in support – and the protection – of these peo- ple, whether they are foreign nationals mov- ing to Malta or Maltese nationals moving abroad. We had, in our electoral man- ifesto, pledged to adopt such legisla- tion, and to sign and ratify the 2000 Con- vention, thus becom- ing a member of the ever-growing family of HCCH members that have signed it. Signing – and even- tually ratifying – the Convention confirms that we seek to bol- ster our commitment at both national and international levels. It is only fair to say that in recent years we have also made sure that words, so often expressed in the past by various administrations with good intentions, are finally turned into concrete action. The results are there for everyone to see and for all those involved in the disability and vulnerability sectors to ac- knowledge them as a way of further whetting our conviction and determination to keep on introducing reforms that make an actual difference to people who need our assistance for them to live a fruitful and fulfilling life. We certainly look forward to Malta's ratifi- cation of the Convention as we take the next steps in seeing the benefits of the Convention up and running on our Island, for the benefit of persons in situations of vulnerability not only among us but everywhere. A caring society cannot wish for a better challenge, one like many others that have been met and been dealt with over the past few years.

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