Protesters marched through Valletta yesterday evening calling for the decriminalisation of abortion in Malta, as the annual Voice for Choice rally returned for its seventh year.The demonstration, organised ahead of International Safe Abortion Day, began at Castille Square before making its way through the capital, with protesters carrying banners and placards calling for changes to Malta’s abortion laws.Participants could be heard chanting “Abortion is not a crime” and “My body, my choice”, while this year’s rally centred around the message “Hey sis, I’m thinking of you.”Voice for Choice said the theme was inspired by the forms of support that can take place between women behind closed doors, from checking in on a friend waiting for abortion pills to arrive to supporting someone after taking their first dose.The coalition said the rally followed months of activists heading into squares and public spaces to speak directly with people about abortion, deliberately moving conversations away from what it described as the polarisation and hostility of social media.According to the coalition, those conversations showed that while people did not always agree on abortion, many recognised the individual circumstances behind each decision and did not want to see women arrested or taken to court.The group also claimed that one or two women in Malta have abortions at home using pills every day, citing statistics and support services, and argued that abortion is already a reality in the country despite remaining criminalised in most circumstances.Voice for Choice said its network would continue offering information, logistical assistance and emotional support to people seeking abortions while campaigning for further changes to Malta’s laws.The demonstration ended with performances by Maltese artists REA and Tina, with music centred around reproductive rights.What do you make of the calls for abortion to be decriminalised in Malta?•