Each year on this day, people around the world mark the International Day of Action for Women’s Health—a reminder that health isn’t a luxury, it’s a right. This year, WHAM adds its voice to the global call, with a message rooted right here in Malta:
Every woman and girl deserves the right to understand, protect, and care for her body, without shame, silence, or fear.
But let’s be honest. We still have a long way to go.
The Reality in Malta
In 2025, too many women in Malta still face:
- No access to abortion, even in cases of rape or risk to life
- No free contraception, despite it being an electoral promise
- Ongoing refusal by some pharmacists to dispense the Morning After Pill, creating barriers to urgent care
- Patchy sex education in schools, with many young people left confused or misinformed
- Silence around menopause and menstrual health, leading to shame and isolation
- Dismissive healthcare experiences, especially in areas of sexual, reproductive, and mental health
These aren’t just private struggles, they’re public health issues. And they deserve urgent attention.
WHAM’s 2025 Message
We’re done whispering, waiting, and apologising for asking for basic care.
Our health is our human right. And we will keep fighting until it’s fully recognised.
What We’re Calling For
Better Education: Age-appropriate, inclusive, and evidence-based education that empowers, not shames. This includes honest conversations about consent, contraception, and periods.
Access to Clear, Local Information: From contraception to fertility, menopause to menstruation, every woman deserves trustworthy, stigma-free information.
Affordable and Unrestricted Access to Contraception: Free contraception must become a reality, not just a promise. Emergency contraception, including the Morning After Pill, should be available without judgment or delay.
Healthcare That Listens: Judgment-free, compassionate, and informed care from every provider, at every life stage, including sexual, reproductive, and mental health.
Policy That Protects: Laws and policies that prioritise women’s health and bodily autonomy, aligned with human rights and real-life needs.
How You Can Get Involved
- Talk to your friends and family about women’s health: Help normalise the conversations that matter.
- Reach out to us: Share your experiences, ask questions, or suggest the changes you’d like to see.
Together, let’s turn awareness into action.
This May 28, Let’s Say It Loud
- We deserve access, dignity, and choice.
- We deserve care that reflects our needs and realities.
- We deserve to be heard.
Our health. Our voice. Our right.
