The Face of Abortion Campaign
Last year, 500 women in Malta made the deeply personal choice to have an abortion. They took pills and went through the process at home. In doing so, they broke the law—just as 1,500 others have over the past eight years. These women acted in secret, fearful of prosecution, of being judged, and even of imprisonment. Others traveled abroad, where they didn’t break any laws, yet still live in fear of revealing their decision, even to their closest friends and family.
But some of these women are ready to break the silence. They no longer wish to hide. They want to share their stories, to show their faces, and speak their truths without shame. They’ve asked pro-choice advocates for support, and many of us—women and people who can become pregnant—stand with them in solidarity. Together, we form a group, some of whom have had abortions, united in our belief that no one should be forced into hiding for making a decision about their own lives.
If you’ve ever wondered who in Malta has had an abortion, they are not faceless or nameless. According to research conducted in Malta and published internationally, the average person who has had an abortion here is 29 years old, and often, she is already a mother.
Today, 75 women and people who can become pregnant stand before you. They have lived in Malta for years—most, all their lives. A third of them have had an abortion. They are showing their faces and sharing their names because they are tired of living in the shadows.
We are no longer afraid to speak out. We refuse to be shamed, judged, or threatened for making decisions about our own lives. Instead of being criminalized, we believe we deserve compassion and understanding.
Abortion is healthcare. It is necessary. No woman should be turned into a criminal for taking care of herself. It’s time to decriminalize abortion in Malta.
This is a message to our politicians: you cannot continue to ignore us. We are your constituents, and you have a responsibility to us as citizens and residents of Malta.
It is time: Action not words.
Join the campaign! ✊
Women in Malta are having abortions and want to declare it, despite the risk of prosecution. Join The Face of Abortion project to stand in solidarity with them. Your support will help protect these women by blending them with others who may or may not have had abortions.
We need:
• Your name (public)
• Photo (public)
• One-line bio (public)
• Whether you've had an abortion (optional, private)
📱 Message us on WhatsApp (with disappearing messages on):
+356 99335044 or +356 79059604
