Silent Shadows of the Past: Women March Against Centuries of Reproductive Control

(Aqra l-istqarrija bil-Malti iktar 'l isfel)

Women walked along the streets of Valletta dressed in traditional Maltese clothing, including the għonnella. 

This event was organised by the Voice for Choice coalition and held on the 28th May, which is the International Day of Action for Women’s Health.

Walking silently, the veiled women carried a “pavaljun” with the quote “noħlom b’ġisem li hu biss tiegħi.” The pavaljun was created by Lana Spiteri and included symbols related to feminism, justice, fertility (il-mara l-ħoxna), and the Maltese landscape. “We wanted to draw attention to the injustice that women, non-binary individuals, and trans men face due to the lack of abortion rights in the country,” Voice for Choice said.

The women’s procession moved without speaking, which they said represented how abortion laws and stigma silence women. The black, historic clothing symbolises the oppressive reality of living in a female body in Malta, they explained. “There is no other healthcare issue that is so heavily restricted.”

Activists from Voice for Choice said: “Our lives do not belong to us, but are governed by laws rooted in the 19th century.” They stated that Malta’s abortion laws were introduced when Malta was a British colony. “While Britain has since liberalised their abortion laws, we remain governed by them. It’s time to break free from the shackles of colonialism,” the activists said.

On the International Day of Action for Women’s Health, Voice for Choice calls for the decriminalisation and the destigmatisation of abortion in Malta. “As the sunrays on the pavaljun represent – we will remain resilient and keep moving forward towards our goal of abortion rights for all,” they said.

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Dellijiet Siekta mill-Passat: Nisa Jimmarċjaw Kontra Sekli ta’ Kontroll Riproduttiv

Xi nisa mxew fit-toroq tal-Belt Valletta libsin ilbies tradizzjonali Malti, inkluż l-għonnella.

Dan l-avveniment ġie organizzat mill-koalizzjoni Voice for Choice: L-Għażla Tagħha u sar fit-28 ta’ Mejju, li huwa l-Jum Internazzjonali ta’ Azzjoni għas-Saħħa tan-Nisa.

Waqt li mmarċjaw fis-skiet, in-nisa bil-velijiet ġarrew “pavaljun” bl-istqarrija “noħlom b’ġisem li hu biss tiegħi.” Il-pavaljun inħoloq minn Lana Spiteri u kien jinkludi simboli relatati mal-femminiżmu, il-ġustizzja, il-fertilità (il-mara l-ħoxna), u l-pajsaġġ Malti. “Ridna niġbdu l-attenzjoni lejn l-inġustizzja li n-nisa, individwi non-binarji, u irġiel trans jaffaċċjaw minħabba n-nuqqas ta’ drittijiet għall-abort f’pajjiżna,” qalet kelliema mill-Voice for Choice: L-Għażla Tagħha.

Il-purċissjoni tan-nisa mxiet bla kliem, li huma qalu kienet tirrappreżenta kif il-liġijiet u l-istigma tal-abort isikktu lin-nisa. Il-ħwejjeġ suwed u storiċi jissimbolizzaw ir-realtà oppressiva li tgħix f’ġisem femminili f’Malta, spjegaw huma. “M’hemmx kwistjoni oħra tas-saħħa li hija daqshekk ristretta.”

Attivisti minn Voice for Choice: L-Għażla Tagħha qalu: “Ħajjitna mhix tagħna, imma hija mmexxija minn liġijiet antikwati li ilhom jeżistu mis-seklu 19.” Huma ddikjaraw li l-liġijiet dwar l-abort f’Malta ddaħħlu meta Malta kienet kolonja Ingliża. “Filwaqt li r-Renju Unit illiberalizza l-liġijiet tiegħu dwar l-abort, aħna għadna mmexxijin minnhom. Wasal iż-żmien li ninħelsu mill-ktajjen tal-kolonjaliżmu,” qalu l-attivisti.

Fil-Jum Internazzjonali ta’ Azzjoni għas-Saħħa tan-Nisa, Voice for Choice: L-Għażla Tagħha sejħet għad-dekriminalizzazzjoni u d-destigmatizzazzjoni tal-abort f’Malta. “Kif jirrappreżentaw ir-raġġi tax-xemx fuq il-pavaljun – aħna nibqgħu reżiljenti u nkomplu nimxu ’l quddiem lejn l-għan tagħna ta’ drittijiet għall-abort għal kulħadd,” qalu huma.