A new group of NGOs has launched a bid to legalise abortion in Malta.

Voice for Choice, made up of a wide spectrum of organisations and individuals, will be campaigning for the decriminalisation of abortion and advocating for laws which ensure that the health of pregnant people is protected in line with international human rights standards, through proper abortion care.

The coalition, which was launched on Friday afternoon at an event in Valletta, said it would be “striving for a society based on equal respect and justice, free from discrimination for all genders and minority groups”.

It will also be “ensuring that barriers in accessing sexual and reproductive health and rights are removed”, “promoting equality in (this) area” and “removing the shame and stigma related to (such) rights”.

"Abortion is illegal in all circumstances in Malta but women are still doing it. Since Malta has made progress in social inclusivity, we should now revisit our abortion laws," social policy academic Andrea Dibben said.

"As George Carlin said, life began billions of years ago and it still carries on. We just want females to never have to face prison for their choices," she said, adding that every woman had her own conscience and morality and that nobody had a right to impinge on that or judge her.

According to Dibben, so far all members agree that decriminalisation should be on the government's agenda.