The National Family Commission could be set up again in near future - Minister

The National Family Commission, which has been defunct since last May, could be reconstituted in the “near future”, according to Family Minister Dolores Cristina.

In a television interview on Monday, anti-divorce lobbyist Andrè Camilleri criticised the government for paying lip service to the family but not backing this up with the necessary support mechanisms. He also sardonically thanked pro-divorce MP Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando for reigniting the debate on the family by presenting his Private Member’s Bill on divorce.

On Bondiplus, Dr Camilleri quoted a parliamentary question by Labour MP Justyne Caruana about the activities of the National Family Commission. Mrs Cristina’s reply was that the commission was never reconstituted.

When asked for more details, a ministry spokesman said the commission’s term expired in May and a Centre for Family Studies at the University of Malta was set up over the past months.

The commission, set up in 2001, was intended to advise the government and propose appropriate measures to promote the “well-being” of Maltese families in the context of rapid changes taking place. Dr Camilleri, who now heads the anti-divorce movement, was its first chairman.

The ministry spokesman said the Centre for Family Studies would, among other things, serve as a resource centre and offer consultative services in family matters to governmental and non-governmental institutions assisting families.

“While it is the government’s intention to reappoint the commission in the near future, in view of this development it is considered advisable to rethink its terms of reference and composition to avoid duplication of work between the two entities,” the spokesman added.