A Bill introducing civil unions for same-sex couples will be presented in Parliament in September and will become law by the end of year, Civil Liberties Minister Helena Dalli said.
Dr Dalli was addressing a press conference, during which she outlined the work accomplished by her ministry in the field of civil liberties, during the first 100 days in Government.
A Gender Identity Bill would also be presented in Parliament later this year, parliamentary agenda permitting, she said.
This bill aims to minimise legal problems for transgender people, such as changing their ID Cards to their new assumed gender.
We have big problems of attitude, culture and education that must be addressed
“Changing the law does not mean solving all problems… We have big problems of attitude, culture and education that must be addressed,” she said, adding that she was working with the education authorities to educate children from a young age.
“Our challenge is to change the way society looks at certain people who they perceive to be different,” she added.
She referred to the case of Joanne Cassar – who underwent gender reassignment surgery to become a woman – pointing out that the Government had reached a settlement agreement with her in relation to the case filed in the European Court of Human Rights against the Maltese State.
Government also proposed legal amendments to the Marriage Act that will grant those who undergo gender reassignment surgery the right to marry.
These amendments are being debated in Parliament and will reach Committee stage on Monday, she said.
Ms Cassar’s case before the ECHR is currently suspended until the amendments are enacted but a settlement of €10,000 has been paid to her.
Dr Dalli also pointed out that during the first three months in office her ministry also set up a consultative committee, made of NGOs representing the LGBT community, to share their views on civil unions and gender identity.
She spoke about Government’s commitment to separate State from Church marriage, the commitment to bring down the voting age to 16 and introducing sexual orientation as part of the description of discrimination in the Constitution.