L-abort għandu jkun legalizzat, taħt kundizzjonijiet stretti u trasparenti mill-Istati Membri – Alfred Sant

L-eks Prim Ministru Alfred Sant sostna li d-drittijiet inerenti tan-nisa għall-awtonomija tal-ġisem u t-teħid ta’ deċiżjonijiet indipendenti għandhom jiġu rikonoxxuti u rispettati. “Meta dan għandu x’jaqsam mal-kumplessitajiet marbuta mal-abort, iridu jsiru diskussjonijiet miftuħa u inklużivi fi ħdan il-komunitajiet, li jirrispettaw in-normi kulturali filwaqt li jiġu prijoritizzati d-drittijiet fundamentali. Madanakollu, dawn id-diskussjonijiet għandhom iseħħu primarjament fil-livell nazzjonali, b’parteċipazzjoni minima mill-istituzzjonijiet tal-UE u r-rappreżentanti tagħhom”. Huwa stqarr dan fl-intervent tiegħu lill-plenarja tal-Parlament Ewropew dwar riżoluzzjoni li titlob li d-dritt għall-abort jiġi inkluż fil-Karta tad-Drittijiet Fundamentali.

Ir-riżoluzzjoni tipproponi li l-Artikolu 3 tal-Karta tad-Drittijiet Fundamentali jiġi emendat biex jiggarantixxi lil kulħadd id-dritt għall-awtonomija fiżika u aċċess universali għal servizzi tas-saħħa sesswali u riproduttiva, inkluż abort sigur u legali, mingħajr diskriminazzjoni. Kwalunkwe emenda għall-Karta tad-Drittijiet Fundamentali teħtieġ l-unanimità tal-Istati Membri, u s-saħħa tibqa’ kompetenza nazzjonali. It-test iħeġġeġ ukoll li l-abort jiġi dekriminalizzat fl-intier tiegħu, skont il-linji gwida tal-Organizzazzjoni Dinjija tas-Saħħa tal-2022.

L-Ewroparlamentari Laburista Alfred Sant esprima qbil li l-abort għandu jkun legalizzat, taħt kundizzjonijiet ta’ operazzjoni stretti u trasparenti. Madanakollu, l-Istati Membri għandhom jeżerċitaw il-kompetenza tagħhom huma nfushom, mingħajr l-ebda involviment tal-UE f’din il-kwistjoni.

“L-inklużjoni tal-abort bħala dritt fil-Karta tad-Drittijiet Fundamentali tal-UE jikkwalifika aktar bħala gimmick politiku milli bħala miżura li verament tikkontribwixxi valur ġdid miżjud għall-protezzjoni tad-drittijiet tan-nisa għall-awtonomija tal-ġisem u teħid ta’ deċiżjonijiet indipendenti”, sostna wkoll Sant.

Ir-Riżoluzzjoni ġiet adottata bi 336 vot favur, 163 vot kontra u 39 astensjoni. Alfred Sant astjena.

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Abortion should be legalised, under strict and transparent conditions at a national level – Alfred Sant

Former Prime Minister Alfred Sant has argued that the inherent rights of women to bodily autonomy and independent decision-making must be acknowledged and respected. “When this relates to the complexities surrounding abortion, open and inclusive discussions must be held within communities, respecting cultural norms while prioritizing fundamental rights. However, these discussions should primarily occur at the national level, with minimal participation from EU institutions and their representatives”. He stated this in his contribution to the European Parliament plenary on a resolution calling for the right to abortion to be incorporated into the Charter of Fundamental Rights.

The resolution proposes that Article 3 of the Charter be amended to guarantee everyone the right to physical autonomy and universal access to sexual and reproductive health services, including safe and legal abortion, without discrimination. Any amendment to the Charter requires the unanimity of the Member States, and health remains a national competence. The text also urges that abortion be fully decriminalised, in line with the 2022 WHO guidelines.

Labour MEP Alfred Sant expressed agreement that abortion should be legalised, under strict and transparent conditions of operation. However, Member States should exercise their own competence, with no EU involvement on this matter.

“Enshrining abortion as a right in the EU Charter qualifies more as a political gimmick than as a measure that really contributes new value added to the protection of women’s rights to bodily autonomy and independent decision making”, Sant also argued.

The Resolution was adopted with 336 votes in favour, 163 votes against and 39 abstentions. Alfred Sant abstained.