There is no prenatal right to life and therefore countries such as Malta must legalise abortion as a matter of “human rights” and “equality”, the Human Rights Commissioner of the Council of Europe, Mr Nils Muižnieks has claimed. Mr Muižnieks is formerly programme director of the pro-choice Soros Foundation/Latvia. Writing in the Times of Malta on Monday, Nils Muižnieks said “I am aware that some argue in favour of restrictions on access to abortion on the basis of a purported ‘prenatal right to life’”. However, he continued, “after a thorough analysis of how the right to life is interpreted within core treaties, it is clear to me that this right does not apply prior to birth and that international human rights law and mechanisms do not recognise a prenatal right to life.” Furthermore, he argued there is a duty to legislate for abortion.