Around 150 children are currently under care order, Family Minister Michael Falzon said on Friday morning, as he unveiled the final version of the Child Protection Act.

Speaking during a joint press conference with the Opposition before the act’s second reading in parliament soon, Dr Falzon said the changes to the law would impact hundreds of children who were often robbed of their childhood because of the situations they faced on a daily basis.

Dr Falzon said the 150 children placed under care order was a conservative figure.

By inviting the Opposition to the event, the minister said the government wanted to send the message that there were certain issues that should never be politicised - the protection of children being one of them.

Nationalist MP Claudio Grech, present at the press conference, said the Opposition believed that parliament was made up of two sides and it wanted to be an essential part of the process to draft the act.

“We want to do whatever is possible to ensure that no child is robbed of their childhood. We know that a lot of children who are robbed of their childhood end up going down certain paths later on in life,” the Opposition spokesman said.

Outlining the changes that would come into force once the act is approved, Dr Falzon said that among these were those on the appointment of directors, the reporting to the authorities, the appointment of a children’s lawyer as well as strengthening of the board that oversees fostering.

The new act, the minister added, was not set in stone and would be updated according to the children’s needs as these change over the years.