COVID-19 travel restrictions are harming women in Malta seeking an abortion abroad, Abortion Support Network founder Mara Clarke has warned after the organisation received a flood of emails from those seeking the procedure.

Last week Abortion Support Network received eight calls from Malta – the same number it usually deals with in one month, founder Mara Klein Clarke said.

“Abortion is an essential and time-sensitive procedure, and delays caused by social distancing, healthcare shutdowns and travel restrictions will have a profound impact.”

(Chrome does a good translation for non-Polish speakers)

Doctors were questioned about their views on legalisation of abortion in different circumstances and gestational ages. A clear majority were in favour of legalisation, for at least up to 12 weeks gestation, in case of ‘woman’s life in danger’ (66.8%) and ‘non-viable fetal anomaly’ (63.0%). These two circumstances also gained a narrow majority in favour…

Taylor said that forcing women to travel so they can have an abortion ‘creates a class divide’. “Those who have resources like money, support and time can access the abortion they want,” said Taylor.

Today  marks exactly one year since the services of Abortion Support Network (ASN) were extended to Malta, Voice for Choice said in a statement.

Those who needed financial help were given a total of £8,882.74 (€10,700.34) in grants from the charity, £2,263.52 (€2,726.69) towards the cost of travel and accommodation and £6,619.22 (€7,973.66) towards consultations and abortion care services, or an average of £888.74 (€1,070.60) per client.

“While we are unhappy that people from Malta need to contact our charity for help in order to receive factual information about pregnancy options and help with abortion care, we are glad to be of service to anyone in Malta who wants or needs to terminate a pregnancy and lacks the information or funding to…

82 women in Malta have reached out to UK-based charity Abortion Support Network (ASN) over the past year, with 10 of them receiving funding for traveling, consultations and abortion care.