Press Release 10/04/24

Life Network urges all Maltese MEPs to vote against proposal of “right to abortion” in upcoming vote on EU Fundamental Rights Charter, citing misinformation, Malta-EU Assentation Treaty, EU Law, and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
 

The draft proposal to include the right to abortion in the EU Fundamental Rights Charter, includes misinformation in regard to the laws of Malta. In Malta there are no restrictions regarding medical lifesaving treatments available to women who are pregnant[1], as is claimed in the draft proposal. Further to this, Malta has the same maternal mortality rate as the EU average[2], demonstrating top quality maternity care.

 

The pressure being placed on Malta by the European Parliament, is highly inappropriate in light of the EU-Malta accession Treaty 2003, whereby “nothing … shall affect the application in the territory of Malta of national legislation relating to abortion”[3].

 

While the European Parliament may vote on amending the Charter, it has no competence (legal right) to change the Charter, as all changes to the Charter must be agreed unanimously by each member state, not the European Parliament.

The draft proposal uses the language of human rights, even though the Universal Declaration of Human Right makes no reference to abortion, but rather states that “equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world”[4]. To deny the humanity of one group within the human family, in this case unborn babies, is a travesty of justice.

⁠
It is particularly concerning that Maltese MEP Cyrus Engerer, is one of the proposers[5] of the draft which explicitly criticises Malta, in light of the fact that the Prime Minister, Leader of the Opposition, and every member of the Maltese Parliament only last year, voted unanimously in favour of the current law in Malta relating to the protection of mothers and their unborn babies.

 

The reference in the draft to people choosing “how to have children” seems to advocate for some form of right to surrogacy where women are used as incubators and babies are commodities.

 

Life Network encourages all to recognise that medical advancements have made it even clearer that an unborn baby, at every stage of development, is always a human being, and as such has inalienable rights and deserves protection.  Abortion does not protect women, but rather takes the lives of women, along with men, in the womb, while hurting mothers.  The way forward is to support women in their pregnancies and help them become great mothers to their children.

 

Dr Miriam Sciberras, CEO of Life Network said:
“This draft proposal, and all those who support and vote for it, are advocating for abortion up to the full 9-month gestation with no restrictions at all, as a matter of choice.  I urge all Maltese MEPs to proudly vote against it”.

“This draft proposal, framed in human rights language, is the antithesis of human rights.  It attempts to dehumanise the unborn child, giving him or her no rights whatsoever and turning children into commodities”.

 

Links: 

MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on including the right to abortion in the EU Fundamental Rights Charter

https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/B-9-2024-0205_EN.html?fbclid=IwAR2YpQqQCO8SlVk8GuhS8KBrPbbrWrvrsXgmsQd3qBherEk-goSavzb_-IM_aem_Afa2BFY-NZ6nKA5VVqwmrtD4YGKkBDwVv1qJnUxAKL-SgFEUzEPSLe7ZY1Eb15WCO1qsnx0zZA4T35ys9E8HdeaY

 

Life Network Foundation:

https://lifenetwork.eu/

 

Contact:

ceo@lifenetwork.eu, media@lifenetwork.eu

Footnotes
*1 Criminal Code, Chapter 9 Sub Title VII, https://legislation.mt/eli/cap/9/eng/pdf

 World Health Organisation: https://gateway.euro.who.int/en/indicators/hfa_97-1220-estimated-maternal-mortality-per-100-000-live-births-whounicefunfpa-estimates/#id=19020&country=MLT;WHO_EURO&fullGraph=true 

 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/treaty/acc_2003/act_1/pro_7/sign 

  https://www.un.org/en/about-us/universal-declaration-of-human-rights 

 https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/B-9-2024-0205_EN.html 

Mother, you will never need walk alone

Life Network Foundation has inaugurated “Id F’Id” (Hand in Hand), new premises providing material assistance services for pregnant women and young families raising infants.

 

The opening of Id F’Id complements the holistic support services for women run by Life Network Foundation…

 

Read the full Press Release (in English) here.

 

Read the Press Release in Maltese here.

With whom is the Government consulting?

18/2/ 2023  

Statement issued by the Coalition Int Tista Ssalvani: With whom is the Government consulting?

The Coalition Int Tista’ Ssalvani and the Group of 80 Experts and supported actively by over 25,000 petitioners, are being ignored.

According to media reports of comments made by the Minister for Health yesterday, Government will be holding meetings on the abortion bill with a “wide array” of stakeholders till next week or the following.

The PM has also been quoted as saying that Government will meet with everyone to understand the main concerns and fears presented by the amendment and to understand any concerns about how it can be abused.

The Inti Tista’ Ssalvani coalition wrote to the Prime Minister on 1st December 2022 to ask for “an urgent meeting”, but is yet to receive a reply.

Read full press release here.

PBS censorship of the President of Malta when speaking against abortion

28/1/ 2023 

PBS censorship of the President of Malta when speaking against abortion.

Life Network Foundation, Doctors for Life and I See Life, on behalf of the Inti Tista’ Ssalvani coalition, the leading campaign against the introduction of abortion in Malta, wrote to PBS and the Broadcasting Authority in regard to the Broadcasting Act. The coalition is complaining about the censorship carried out by PBS, in the news service that appeared on TVM on 26th January 2023, about what His Excellency The President of the Republic of Malta said in commemoration of the Holocaust.

Read full press release here.

New Distribution Hub

As part of Life Week, LNF announced the opening of a new Central Distribution Hub for Mothers and Babies in need.

Listen to an explanation below and read the press release here:

Celebrating All Women on Women’s Day-Press Release

Celebrating All Women on Women’s Day

The gift of a woman including her skills, intuition, nurturing, talents and maternity need to be appreciated daily. On the 8th of March, annually, we pay tribute to women. On this day, the world stops and gives women coming from all walks of life, ages, races, nationalities, cultures, and social backgrounds the acknowledgement and merit they deserve.

Life Network Foundation Malta joins in the celebration of all women from conception to natural death. This year, we are restricted to celebrating online.

We have messages from Pro-Life women which we will be broadcasting via social media.

Empowering pregnant women is part of our mission.

Last year, through our support branch Life Line, we had the privilege to assist women who were facing crisis pregnancies. The women chose life and we celebrate saving the lives of over 30 babies. 

We are horrified to see that in 2021, with the equality battle cry full on, sex-selective abortion in other countries still leads to the death of millions of babies. A five-year study by the publication Down to Earth shows that almost 23.1 million females are missing due to sex-selective abortions in 12 Asian and European countries. Generations of women are being wiped out before they take their first breath, depriving us of mothers, sisters, nurses, teachers, doctors, scientists and explorers.

Let us, therefore, celebrate all women on women’s day – including the baby girl in the womb – who is the woman of tomorrow.

 

Happy Women’s Day!

Life Network Foundation Malta

www.staging-lifenetwork.stagingcloud.co

#ProWomenProLife

Click here to view our video clip with messages from Pro-Life women celebrating Women’s Day https://fb.watch/45vcXw50Y7/

Niċċelebraw lin-Nisa Kollha f’Jum Il-Mara

Niċċelebraw lin-Nisa Kollha f’Jum Il-Mara

Il-mara, bil-ħiliet, l-intuwizzjoni, il-kapaċità li trabbi, it-talenti u l-maternità għandna napprezzawha kuljum. Kull sena, fit-8 ta’ Mejju, nonoraw lill-mara. Bħal-lum id-dinja tieqaf u tagħti r-rikonoxximent u l-ġieħ mistħoqq lin-nisa mill-isferi kollha tal-ħajja, ta’ kull età, razza, nazzjonalità, kultura u sfond soċjali.

Life Network Foundation tissieħeb maċ-ċelebrazzjoni tan-nisa kollha mit-tnissil sal-mewt. Din is-sena jkollna bilfors niċċelebraw online biss. Għandna messaġġi minn nisa favur il-ħajja li se nxandru permezz tal-media soċjali.

Parti mill-missjoni tagħna hija l-nagħtu l-ħiliet neċessarji lin-nisa li qegħdin jistennew tarbija – u li nsaħħuhom. Is-sena li għaddiet, permezz tal-fergħa tagħna li tipprovdi l-appoġġ, kellna l-privileġġ li ngħinu lil diversi nisa li t-tqala kienet se titfagħhom fi kriżi. Dawn in-nisa għamlu għażla favur il-ħajja u nistgħu niċċelebraw il-fatt li tletin tarbija ġew salvati.

Hija sitwazzjoni tat-tkexkix li fl-2021, minkejja l-ħafna kliem u l-battalji favur l-ugwaljanza bejn is-sessi, l-abort selettiv abbażi ta’ sess qed iwassal għall-mewt ta’ miljuni ta’ trabi. Studju ta’ ħames snin mill-pubblikazzjoni msejħa Down To Eath turi li hemm kważi 23.1 miljun mara fi tnax-il pajjiż Ażjatiku u Ewropew li, minħabba l-aborti selettiv, qatt ma kellhom ċans jitwieldu. Ġenerazzjonijiet ta’ nisa qegħdin jinqerdu qabel ma jroddu l-ewwel nifs, u l-umanità qiegħda tiċċaħħad minn ommijiet, aħwa, infermiera, għalliema, tobba, xjenzati u esploraturi.

Mela, f’Jum il-Mara  ejjew niċċelebraw lin-nisa kollha, inkluża t-trabi nisa fil-ġuf – li hija l-mara ta’ għada.

Awguri, f’Jum il-Mara!
Life Network Foundation.

#ProWomenProLife

Agħfas hawn biex tara l-filmat bil-messaġġi minn nisa favur il-ħajja jiċċelebraw Jum il-Mara

https://fb.watch/45vcXw50Y7/

 

 

World Down Syndrome Day 2021-Press Release

World Down Syndrome Day 2021

Sunday the 21st of March 2021 marks World Down Syndrome Day—a day to acknowledge people with Down Syndrome and their valid contribution to society.

Until the mid-twentieth century, people with Down Syndrome were commonly institutionalised, with many of them passing away at a young age due to health problems which were largely left untreated. In recent decades, however, attitudes towards them began shifting due to growing advocacy from parents, medical staff, and various organisations. People with Down Syndrome and other conditions were increasingly accepted into society, an integration which significantly increased their life expectancy to more than double. In fact, many of them live long and relatively healthy lives well into their sixties and seventies.

Today, people with Down Syndrome lead accomplished and ordinary lives. They receive their education in mainstream schools and universities. They are able to work, volunteer, marry, and live independently. They can vote and offer a beneficial and valid contribution to society. Many speak out publicly about their condition, creating awareness through their personal backgrounds. They demonstrate that their abilities are not restricted by their condition and that they are valuable members of today’s world.

Sadly, there are countries which do not validate the lives of people with Down Syndrome and other disabilities. In Iceland, nearly a 100% of women who confirm that their unborn child has Down Syndrome choose to abort their baby. The percentage of termination after diagnosis of this condition in Denmark is 98%; in France, 77%; in the United States, 67%. These percentages are shocking and heartbreaking. Iceland boasts of eradicating the condition, but in reality this practice is merely terminating the lives of the people with the condition. If expectant mothers and parents-to-be were instead offered more support and given information about what life with a person who has Down Syndrome entails, there would be fewer of them resorting to abortion.

Here in Malta, approximately five to seven babies are born with Down Syndrome annually. Our society has come a long way in accepting this condition with all the challenges it may bring. A measure of uncertainty and misinformation may occasionally be encountered locally, especially when it comes to slower child development. However, parents of children with Down Syndrome feel that the policy of inclusion here in Malta enhances their interaction with other children and aids greatly in their education. There is a lot of support from government and private organisations, which offer therapy, financial benefits, and other assistance to families. Discrimination against people with the condition has indeed gone down significantly, and they are nearly invariably treasured by Maltese society.

Life Network Foundation values every human life, whether in the womb or out of it. The protection of children in the womb is essential, even more so when an unexpected diagnosis leads to a crisis pregnancy due to fear or uncertainty. Life Network Foundation will continue to offer support and raise awareness about Down Syndrome and other conditions, because every single person is unique and deserves to be celebrated and loved.

Happy World Down Syndrome Day!

Life Network Foundation Malta

www.staging-lifenetwork.stagingcloud.co

Il-Jum Dinji tad-Down Syndrome 2021-Stqarrija għall-Istampa

Il-Jum Dinji tad-Down Syndrome 2021

Il-Ħadd 21 ta’ Marzu 2021 huwa il-Jum Dinji tad-Down Syndrome – jum li fih nirrikonoxxu lill-persuni bid-Down Syndrome u l-kontribut siewi li jagħtu lis-soċjetà.

Sa nofs is-seklu għoxrin, il-persuni bid-Down Syndrome kienu sikwit jinżammu f’istituzzjonijiet u ħafna minnhom kienu jmutu ta’ età żgħira minħabba problemi ta’ saħħa li, ħafna drabi, ma kinitx tingħatalhom kura għalihom. Imma fi żmien iktar reċenti, l-atteġġjamenti lejhom bdew jinbidlu minħabba li l-ġenituri tagħhom, il-ħaddiema mediċi u l-organizzazzjoni varji bdew jaqbżu għad-drittijiet tal-persuni b’Down Syndrome. Iktar ma għadda ż-żmien iktar is-soċjeta’ bdiet taċċetta lill-persuni b’Down Syndrome u b’kundizzjonijiet oħra. Din l-integrazzjoni tawlet ġmielu l-ħajja tagħhom tant li bdew jgħixu d-doppju li kienu jgħixu qabel – u aktar. Fil-fatt, ħafna jgħixu ħajja twila u relattivament f’saħħitha u jaqbżu s-sittin u s-sebgħin sena.

Illum, il-persuni bid-Down Syndrome jgħixu ħajja bħal kulħadd, bis-suċċessi tagħha wkoll. L-edukazzjoni tingħatalhom fl-iskejjel normali u fl-universitajiet. Jistgħu jgħixu, jagħmlu l-volontarjat, jiżżewġu u jgħixu m’mod indipendenti. Jistgħu jivvutaw u joffru kontribut validu u ta’ ġid lis-soċjetà. Ħafna jitkellmu fuq ħajjithom apertament u bl-esperjenzi personali tagħhom juru xi tfisser li tkun bniedem b’dik il-kundizzjoni. Juru wkoll li l-kundizzjoni tagħhom ma taffettwax il-kapaċitajiet tagħhom u li huma membri siewja tad-dinja tal-lum.

B’sogħba kbira infakkru li hemm pajjiżi li għalihom il-ħajja ta’ persuni bid-Down Syndrome u diżabiltajiet oħra ma jiswewx wisq. Fl-Islanda kważi 100% tan-nisa li jkunu jafu li t-tarbija fil-ġuf se jkollha d-Down Syndrome jiddeċiedu li jagħmlu abort. Fid-Danimarka 98% itemmu l-ħajja tat-tarbija fil-ġuf wara dijanjosi bħal din; fi Franza 77%, u fl-Istati Uniti 67%.Dawn il-perċentaġġi huma xokkanti u ta’ qsim il-qalb. L-Islanda tiftaħar li qerdet din il-kundizzjoni, imma fil-verità din il-prattika teqred il-ħajja ta’ dawk li għandhom din il-kundizzjoni. Kieku l-ommijiet u l-missirijiet li jkunu qegħdin jistennew tarbija jingħataw akatr appoġġ u informazzjoni dwar xi ġġib tfisser li tgħix ma; persuna bid-Down Syndrome, ikunu anqas dawk li jirrikorru għall-abort.

F’Malta jitwieldu bejn ħames u sebat itfal bid-Down Syndrome kull sena. Is-soċjetà tagħna għżamlet progress kbir u din il-kundizzjonai, b;isfidi kollha li ġġib magħha, taċċettaha. Kultant niltaqgħu ma; xi ftit inċertezza u informazzjoni żbaljata, speċjalment minħabba li fit-tfulija l-iżvilupp isir b’pass inqas mgħaġġel. Però il-ġenituri  ta’ tfal bid-Down Syndrome iħossu li, hawn Malta, il-politika ta’ inklużjoni tkattar it-taħlit ma’ tfal oħra u tgħinhom ħafna fl-edikazjoni tagħhom. Hemm ħafna appoġġ mill-Gvern u għaqdiet privati li joffru terapija, benefiċċji finanzjarji u assistenza oħra lill-familji. Id-diskriminazzjoni naqset b’mod sinifijattiv, u s-soċjetà Maltija kważi dejjem tgħożż ħafna lill-persuni b’din il-kundizzjoni.

Life Network Foundation, www.staging-lifenetwork.stagingcloud.co, tagħraf is-siwi ta’ kull ħajja umana, kemm fil-ġuf u kemm barra. Il-ħarsien tat-trabi fil-ġuf huwaessenzjali, aktar u aktar meta jkun dijanjosi mhix mistennija li twassal għal kriżi fit-tqala minħabba biża’ jew inċertezza. Life Network Foundation se tkompli toffri l-appoġġ u tqajjem kuxjenza fuq id-Down Syndrome u kundizzjonijiet oħra minħabba li kull persuna hija unika u jistħoqqilha li tkun ċelebrata u maħbuba.

Awguri, Dinji tad-Down Syndrome 2021!

Life Network Foundation

www.staging-lifenetwork.stagingcloud.co