Challenging coalitions: building networks for abortion change in Malta

Malta has the most restrictive abortion laws in the EU. Whilst the island is known for its progressive approach to LGBT rights, there has been no political traction to liberalise abortion laws with activism only becoming more organised and vocal since 2019. This paper investigates the momentum for abortion rights activism in this current moment and its potential to activate change on abortion law in the region through the lens of coalition and network building. Abortion continues to be a contentious political issue which has seen abortion activists operating alone and struggling (at times) to build coalitions with other social justice movements. Through our workshops and interviews with abortion rights activists and other social movement actors in Malta we locate this difficulty to maintain coalitions within Malta within the religiously conservative environment, outline the strategies used to build coalitions on abortion rights and address the role of global abortion movements as support networks for local activists.