David Schembri
Cohabitation law in the works - PM
A law regulating cohabitation is in the works and the issue "should be addressed" this year, Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi said yesterday.
"We're considering a Bill internally and it still hasn't been passed to Cabinet... but this is an issue which should be addressed this year," the Prime Minister said at a meeting in Senglea yesterday.
A law regarding cohabitation has been included in the Nationalist Party's electoral programmes since 1998 and the party has often been criticised for dragging its feet on it.
One of the latest salvos came from within the Nationalist camp, with PN Sliema councillor and gay rights activist Cyrus Engerer criticising the government for not doing anything about the issue.
Asked about this yesterday, Dr Gonzi said: "This issue should be addressed forthwith. Without a law, there is no responsibility. In Malta, a person can live for four years with another person, have children, and one fine day leave with no consequences.
"There must be responsibility, and this is borne of a relationship which has its legal consequences. And I feel it is our duty to do this for society, to introduce responsibility and regulate this reality.
"We have to address society as a whole, and we can let no one get left behind or be in a situation the country doesn't address, so it's our duty to provide laws and services to support all families," Dr Gonzi said.
Speaking at a debate on homosexuality in Malta, organised by student group Move on the University campus last week, Mr Engerer criticised his own party for not having clear policies on the issue.
"We can't keep on speaking about discrimination, marriage and adoption as if gays were any different," he said as he commended Alternattiva Demokratika for being the only party that was clear in its policies on homosexuals.
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Oscar Cassar
Mar 30th 2010, 08:52
@ Dr Ing. Patrick Attard
I think that in Malta we still have no rights at all to take a ‘medical decision in case your partner is unable to do so’ for example while he or she in is a vegetative state. Generally speaking I am against euthanasia, but just because it is also a taboo subject in Malta, I believe that we do not have any law that give rights to ‘family or direct relatives’ to regulate or refuse ‘forced medication’ to a person.
Oscar Cassar
Mar 30th 2010, 08:40
As it is being proposed, it is as if the Government is only interested in addressing and regulate ‘this reality’ to become politically attractive with gay rights activist, while at the same time still ignoring vulnerable persons that are still awaiting a reform of the incomplete Civil Marriage laws introduced in the 1970s.
Although the PN is bound by a promise of the 1998 electoral programme, I think that in 2010, it is a mistake to consider the introduction of cohabitation while completely ignoring divorce. By doing so, we will be accommodating persons like Cyrus Engerer (PN Sliema councillor and gay rights activist), but doing a lot of harm to the Family in general.
Oscar Cassar
Mar 30th 2010, 08:24
A law on cohabitation was required in the 90s when it was originally proposed by the PN. Malta still need to update its laws introduced in the 1970’s regarding Civil Marriage, that recognize divorce granted by foreign courts but discriminates against locals (at least those who cannot go abroad for such proceedings)
Even the Church recognizes the fact that cohabitation is worse then divorce - that can give a ‘second chance’ for a new family unit. Therefore if we really believe in the family as an asset to our nation, we must introduce cohabitation in parallel with or after a divorce legislation. Only gay and lesbian couples will benefit if we introduce only a cohabitation act. Therefore like in the 1970s we will be introducing an incomplete reform just because Divorce is still a taboo in the 2010.
Dr Ing. Patrick Attard
Mar 29th 2010, 13:54
Any basic form of civil partnership MUST include the following:
- Hospital visitation rights in case of accident or serious illness of the partner.
- The right to take a medical decision in case your partner is unable to do so.
- The right to take urgent family leave from work to take care of your sick partner
- The right to organise the funeral in case of death of your partner
- The right to take bereavement leave from work to mourn your partner.
- The right to live and work in Malta for partners who don't have an EU nationality
Take a look here at the list of rights in Australia's same-sex reform:
http://patrickattard.blogspot.com/2009/04/australian-attorney-general-same-sex.html