The eagerly-awaited report drafted by the House Social Affairs Committee regarding the reality crassly labelled as "the unknown father" has now been published. This report follows the Caritas-sponsored conference held earlier last year entitled Marriage- Quo Vadis? While the latter attempted to address a number of thorny issues surrounding the realities of marriage, the SAC report zeroed in exclusively on the role of the father and the impact of the absence of the father figure in the life and development of children.
The SAC report continues to confirm the continuing growing trend of single-parent families. The committee explicitly reveals its preoccupation with the disconcerting rise of undeclared fathers on birth certificates. Over a relatively short period of time (2003-2007), the increase of single-parent households in Malta increased by a staggering 112 per cent (from 1,720 families in 2003 to 3,650 families in 2007). In the following year, a quarter of all births were registered outside wedlock while a third of these children were registered as "father unknown". It seems abundantly clear that the trend is continuing to rise and has so far shown no signs of abating let alone diminishing.
The SAC held a number of public hearings with several professionals in the field of family issues with a view to drawing a clearer picture as to the realities and challenges facing Maltese families today. Having pondered on the facts presented, the committee had the unenviable task of putting forward a number of recommendations that seek to address the circumstances of the modern family and the apparent erosion of the traditional Maltese family nucleus. Since the exercise is a public consultation, the SAC made it clear that the recommendations were open to scrutiny and to further suggestions or improvements. In this sense, the report has its positives and, possibly, also some contentious aspects.
I was relieved to see that the economic aspect of the phenomenon was given the appropriate mention without too much emphasis on the monetary/fraud conundrum. Sadly, when this subject is discussed it is the social benefit angle that invariably takes the upper hand. Make no mistake in that I believe that this situation should be addressed as soon as possible. However, reducing the phenomenon of the single family/unknown father to pounds, shillings and pence (or euros!) is abjectly simplistic and artificially shallow.
The report's recommendations are built on four aspects.
Firstly, admitting the realities that our society faces and, thus, the importance of awareness. In this context, rights and obligations of both parents are to be highlighted. This is followed by the need for more training and preparation for couples both on a legal and psychological basis. At a more basic level, the case is made for further education.
This is, of course, none other than sex education, a subject that could be the key to more mature choices within relationships. Lastly, the need for more comprehensive and intense research that would give law makers and professionals a less anecdotal and more scientific basis for evaluation and concrete action in the future.
The committee has not minced its words. It is clear it believes that the role of the father is indispensable for the sake of the full development of the child.
Clearly, it has deduced that children from broken families are the ultimate victims in messy separations. Although it avoids to generalise, one feels that the committee was probably too harsh in its belief that children shorn from the traditional family face impending doom. Here again, the lack of precise national data hampers the discussion as such.
The SAC recommends that the registration of both parents should be obligatory. While one appreciates that law makers have to make hands-on decisions, the delicate nature of the subject makes the matter even more complex than it appears. Compulsory registration may address particular issues, yet, it fails to address the deeper changes that are occurring in our society. Mere names on certificates go a short way in resolving issues of relative poverty or social exclusion experienced by a significant proportion of non-traditional households.
The SAC understands the issues surrounding the present realities and gives credence to the need to strengthen values. This, unfortunately, cannot be done by mere legislation. Preservation of our values comes from personal beliefs and circumstances. In this sense, it seems strange that no mention has been made as to the realities behind many of the children born out of wedlock who are probably now part of stable relationships, which are unable to reconstitute themselves legally. One would have expected such an issue to be raised at least at this level.
Clearly, the family and the welfare of children continue to occupy the agenda both of this country and its people. There is now significant momentum to further this debate. The changes that will be proposed may have significant influence on our society in the future. Effective change can only happen through consensus and our participation is evidently crucial.
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