### Women’s Organisations Slam Podcast for Bid to ‘Launder’ Image of Justin Haber In a recent turn of events that has ignited discussions across Malta, several women’s organisations have condemned a podcast episode featuring former Maltese footballer Justin Haber. The episode, which seeks to present a more favourable image of Haber, has been accused of…
In a landmark move reflecting societal progress, Malta is set to become one of the first countries in Europe to introduce bereavement leave for women who experience miscarriages. This legislation, set to come into force from January 1, 2024, marks a significant step towards recognizing and supporting women’s health and emotional well-being in the workplace….
**Pro-Choice and Pro-Life Activists Face-Off in University Abortion Debate** In the heart of Valletta, the ancient walls of the University of Malta were the backdrop for a heated debate that has been stirring the pot of Maltese society for years. The topic: abortion. Pro-choice and pro-life activists gathered in a packed lecture hall, each side…
### Maternity Leave Extension: A Compassionate Step Forward for Maltese Mothers In a significant move that underscores Malta’s commitment to supporting women’s health and well-being, the government has announced plans to extend maternity leave for mothers who experience a miscarriage at five months. This decision marks a crucial step forward in recognizing the emotional and…
In a landmark decision that signals a shift towards modernity and gender equality, Malta has officially axed an outdated law that imposed restrictions on the “moral behaviour of females.” This archaic legislation, which had been on the books for decades, has long been criticized for its sexist undertones and infringement on personal freedoms. The move…
PM rules out introducing abortion, disagrees with suspended jail-term for woman By Hot Malta Newsroom Valletta – Prime Minister Robert Abela has slammed the courtroom door on both liberalising Malta’s abortion ban and on the 18-month suspended sentence handed to an American tourist who took abortion pills in 2022, insisting that “Malta’s soul is pro-life,…
Valletta’s Republic Street fell silent for 60 seconds on Saturday afternoon as 500 placard-waving protesters marked the anniversary of Malta’s total abortion ban. The minute of silence—one second for every year since the 1981 criminal-code amendment—was followed by a roar: “Decriminalise now!” The annual pro-choice rally, organised by the Campaign for the Right to Safe…
**Man Denies Threatening Ex-Girlfriend in Domestic Violence Case, Prompting National Reckoning** A 34-year-old man from Birkirkara pleaded not guilty on Tuesday to charges of threatening his former partner, reigniting Malta’s ongoing struggle against domestic violence. The case, which prosecutors say involves a series of escalating threats made over several weeks, has struck a nerve in…
**‘She was left to drown’: Maltese NGOs demand court trauma training after magistrate berates domestic-violence survivor** A coalition of Maltese women’s shelters, lawyers and psychologists is demanding mandatory trauma-informed training for every magistrate, police officer and court official after a Gozo magistrate last week scolded a domestic-violence victim for “crying too much” and “wasting the…
**Domestic Violence Cases Need Management, Not Mayhem: Malta’s Urgent Call for Systemic Change** The echo of breaking glass at 3 AM on a narrow Valletta street. A neighbour’s whispered phone call to 179. The blue flashing lights that follow. These scenes have become tragically familiar across Malta’s townhouse-lined villages, where behind centuries-old limestone façades, domestic…
Domestic violence case dropped at victim’s request – the terse courtroom sentence echoed across Valletta’s historic halls last Thursday, but on the stone steps outside, the silence felt heavier than any verdict. For the third time this year, a Maltese woman has formally withdrawn charges against a partner who, police records show, had fractured her…
**Judge rejects domestic violence sentence appeal, calls for tougher punishments** A Maltese judge has thrown out an appeal to reduce a domestic violence sentence, instead using the courtroom as a platform to demand harsher penalties for abusers and sparking a national conversation about protecting victims in the island nation. The decision came from Judge Consuelo…
