New legislation should be subject to family impact assessments before this is enacted, the anti-divorce movement proposed.

It said in a statement that as environment impact assessments were held when projects were proposed, the family, as the backbone of the society, should be given even more importance

The movement also proposed the setting up of a family coalition between the different components of civil society to be a lobby for the family. The coalition should work for legislative amendments and changes in policies with the aim of always putting the family built on everlasting marriage at the centre of society.

The movement said that on May 28, the Maltese would have the opportunity to say no to divorce and give legislators a clear message to dedicate more time and resources to strengthen the family, on which the country's strength depended.

Legislators, it said, had a major responsibility towards the strengthening of Maltese society so they should continue to strengthen the measures aimed at helping those who went through difficulties in their marriage.

They should also find effective new measures which strengthened, rather than broke up families.

They should allocate more funds to the university's Centre for Family Studies so that, through research, which could be carried out in cooperation with other competent entities, one would find out which were the challenges and opportunities facing the Maltese family

The research should serve as a basis for a social policy in favour of the family.

The movement said that on the occastion of World Family Day, it wanted to express its appreciation to the dedication Maltese and Gozitans had for the family. It appealed to all to stop and think about the benefits everlasting marriage had given society.