University Academic Clare Vassallo has announced her resignation from the National Council of Women following the group’s conservative stance against the morning after pill, communicated through a statement which was published by The Malta Independent today.

Writing on Facebook, Dr Vassallo  said: “I have just resigned from the National Council of Women. I have no desire to be associated with a group that prefers to back heavily conservative anti-women institutions.

“The MAP is an extension of contraception – and saves people having to deal with unexpected pregnancy. Over 50 years since these debates were held for the contraceptive pill, only in Malta could we be making them all over again. Shame on you.”

In the NCW statement, it was said that the group is against the morning after pill because it is an “established abortifacient.” The group also asserted that women are being misled with arguments that the current situation is discriminatory towards more vulnerable people because those who can afford to, may opt to hop on a plane and gain access to the drug overseas.

The statement said that a rich person can also afford to hire an assassin and kill somebody, but this doesn’t mean poor people are being discriminated, and what is wrong remains wrong no matter the circumstance.

The issue was sparked after a group of 102 women, coming from the Women’s Rights Foundation, filed a judicial protest calling on the government to change its stance on the emergency contraceptive pill. They also claimed that women’s fundamental rights are being breached.

The protest was filed against both the Health and Consumer Affairs, Civil Liberties and Social Dialogue Ministries. Since then, Civil Liberties Minister Helena Dalli has come out in full support of the morning after pill, calling for a public consultation where scientists are to present the facts on the various active ingredients found within the various pill brands.

Up till today, the judicial protest has been shown support by the Confederation for Women’s Organisations (MCWO), the Equality Commission, the Labour Party and Alternattiva Demokratika.

Lawyer Tonio Azzopardi has since filed a judicial protest against the National Commission for the Promotion of Equality calling on them to stop providing support based on “scientifically and legally incorrect considerations.”

Dr Azzopardi has been quoted as saying that his aim is to protect unborn children against “every violation of their right to life.”