Doctors For Life has urged the Commissioner for Children to declare her position in favour of the unborn.

The organisation, made up of nearly 700 doctors, said in a statement that it closely follows what the Office of the Commissioner for Children has to say about the welfare of children here in Malta. Particularly so, as one of the Commissioner for Children’s chief functions, as stated in Chapter 462 Commissioner for Children article 9(h), is to “promote special care and protection, including adequate legal protection, for children both before and after birth.”

However, recent media reports have raised concern by indicating that the Commissioner’s Office may be seen as wavering in its support of current Maltese legal protection.

Doctors For Life agrees with the Commissioner on the importance of implementing effective preventive measures. Education, including on contraception, should be further developed, strengthened, and be made mandatory in all schools, after a certain age. We also agree that these young mothers deserve the full support they need to face the challenges of child-bearing and child-rearing, so that such challenges do not stall their individual development. 

The Office of the Commissioner for Children must fulfil its statutory role in defence of the preborn child

Doctors For Life would like to reiterate that, since human life begins at fertilisation, then the preborn child is indeed deserving of the full protection of the law. This is clearly the case here in Malta. It is our intention to ensure that this continues to be so.

Doctors For Life therefore expects the Commissioner to fulfil her statutory role and unambiguously state her position in defence of the life of the pre-born child.