President Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca has called for the appointment of a guardian to safeguard the rights of children during the adoptions process.

She made the proposal when the prime minister and the members of the Cabinet paid her a courtesy call.

The appointment of a guardian is already included in the draft Child Protection Act .

Prime Minister Joseph Muscat agreed with the proposal and said that cases involving care orders should not be within the remit of politicians but in the hands of experts.

Dr Muscat referred to the vote tonight on the Civil Unions Bill, saying this would be a historic development in the interests of equality which would also work in the interests of children.

No one, he said, should suffer discrimination.