The parliamentary Social Affairs Committee is holding a public consultation on the role of the father within the family and in the upbringing of children.

The committee said the consultation follows its discussion on a document on the role and value of the father within the family and when there are separations.

The document can be seen at http://www.parliament.gov.mt/socialaffairscommittee

The document says that the role of the father should be explained through education to engaged and married couples in the context of education on communication between parents and between parents and their children.

The document proposes the removal of registration of ‘unknown father'.

It says there should be family therapy units in schools and there should be more involvement of fathers in pre-natal preparations.

In other recommendations, the document calls for a review of social services, sexual education, an improvement of child services in court and better research into the effect of the absence of fathers in families.

Submissions to the public may be made to Edwin Vassallo, committee chairman, at the House of Representatives Valletta or on socialaffairs.parliament@gov.mt