A seminar on family and divorce policy in the EU, was held at Europe House, Valletta, with the participation of organisers Alternattiva Demokratika – The Green Party and representatives from civil society, including Inizjamed; the Maltese Confederation of Women’s Organisations; Moviment Graffitti; and Zminijietna Voice of the Left
Michael Briguglio, AD Chairperson, said that, “Maltese divorce policy sticks out like a sore thumb in the EU. Despite the absence of divorce, separation is on the increase in Malta, for a variety of reasons. What is specific for Malta is that separated spouses cannot remarry whereas in other societies they can. Thus, Maltese persons who decide to remarry in their own country are being discriminated against and have to settle for cohabitation or a financially prohibitive divorce overseas, unless they have valid grounds for an annulment. Unless Malta legalises divorce within its shores, social policy will remain out of synch with the life courses of thousands of people whose marriage has ended. It is ironic that a society which declares itself as being a guardian of “family values” is prohibiting thousands from marrying.”
Angele Deguara, AD Spokesperson for Social Policy, said that, “nowadays the concept of the family has changed. Both in the EU and in Malta we are witnessing new trends as a result of which we cannot continue to regard the family as we did in the past. We have to respond to these changing realities in relation to families today rather than continue to ignore them. AD believes that both social policy as well as Maltese legislation have to be congruent with these realities so that there will be less obstacles and less suffering experienced due to these anomalies.”
David Friggieri, AD Spokesperson for Justice and Home Affairs gave a brief historical account of the way in which divorce was introduced in a few traditionally Catholic countries in Europe, drawing comparisons with the Maltese divorce debate.
Other speakers in the seminar, which was chaired by James Debono, were Maria Grech Ganado from Inizjamed; Renee Laviera from the Maltese Confederation of Women’s Organisations; Andre’ Callus from Moviment Graffitti; Mary Anne Zammit from Zminijietna Voice of the Left; and Stefano Moncada.