On the occasion of the International Day of Families, Alternattiva Demokratika – The Green Party said that it would like to see more concrete measures which support all family types, especially the most vulnerable.
Angele Deguara, AD Spokesperson for Social Policy and Civil Rights, said, “AD believes that in today’s social reality, we have to move away from traditional and restrictive definitions of the family.
“We believe that legislation and social policy should protect different family forms such as single parent families, same-sex couples, blended families and cohabiting couples not just nuclear families. In this regard, Malta still lags behind other European countries. The absence of a cohabitation law and of any legal recognition of same-sex couples are just two examples of this sad situation.
Angele Deguara continued, “As a Green Party upholding values of social justice, AD would also like to remind the Government that thousands of families in Malta, still live in poverty and cannot afford items which many others have long taken for granted. AD would like to see more concrete measures aimed at alleviating the poverty of so many families such as a revision of the minimum wage, less tolerance of precarious employment and more opportunities for women to access the labour market. It is such initiatives which show that a Government really has the family at heart.”
Michael Briguglio, AD Chairperson, said, “AD, as Malta’s progressive party, is proud to have set the ball rolling for the introduction of divorce in Malta, thus enabling many persons to adjust their family life according to their individual realities. We will remain on the forefront of progressive social policies which increase social inclusion of different identities.
“Social policy should focus on the concept of the universal caregiver, where everyone, irrespective of factors such as gender and sexuality, should have the rights and responsibilities to participate in public activities such as employment and civil society and in private activities such as caring for others,” the AD Chairperson concluded.