RIZULTATI TAL-KOMPETIZZJONIJIET GHALL-KARNIVAL TA' MALTA 2001

1. Introduction

The electoral programme of the incumbent administration states that "the family is to be the cornerstone of the government's social policy" and that "…changes have provoked a crisis in the family but also open up new prospects which could lead to a happier future for it." (PN Electoral Programme, VIII). Moreover it adds "modern family life places greater demands on parents", "we commit ourselves to offering full support to those families who find themselves in difficulty…and supporting those families which break up" (ibid).

United Nations' resolution 52/81 (12/12/1997), entitled "Follow-up to the International Year of the Family" recognizes that the basic objective of the follow-up to the International Year of the Family should be to strenghten and support families in performing their societal and developmental functions and to build upon their strenghts, in particular at the national and local level. It urges Governments to take sustained action at all levels concerning families, including studies and applied research on families, and to promote the role of the families in development. Governments are also invited to develop concrete measures and approaches to address national priorities to deal with family issues.

In this regard, the strategy that has been adopted by the Ministry for Social Policy is based on a two-pronged approach, namely:

Strengthening the administrative set-up that covers both the service provision as well as monitoring and regulating welfare services;

Reviewing existing legislative instuments in the context of today's social realities and drafting new legislation to cover those areas that are not adequately catered for by existing legislation. This is being done within the context of Malta's commitments under international conventions signed and/or ratified by successive Maltese governemnts.

The experience gleaned over the past months has clearly indicated to us that different initiatives are necessary in order to succeed in providing adequate response to the challenges faced by Maltese families. Inevitably, Government has always focused most of its attention to those families that are facing a crises or no those persons who are most vulnerable. This notwithstanding, one must not lose focus on all those families which are not facing any crises and which require positive and affirmative action to be able to cope with present day challenges and realities. To achieve this, we require a holistic approach – one which can encompass a broad perspective and which is able to follow and analyse the impact that economic, social and cultural initiatives are having on the Maltese family.

Maltese society is increasingly becoming a plurastic one; the Maltese family carries within itself tendencies towards its strengthening as well as towards its weakening. All sociological research confirms the empirical evidence that the Maltese family is going through a process of radical and fast change; the present and future welfare of the family depends upon a positive and adequate response to this natural and inevitable process. The challenge is everybody's: young and old, parents and offspring, state and church, politicians and social workers. The 1993 Family Law (Act XXI, 1993) is a milestone in the history of the family, but not the point of arrival.

Moreover, it is pertinent to point out that as we embark on a national strategy to promote children's rights, it is essential that we reinforce as well a national ethos promoting healthy families as the strongest guarantor for a bright future for Maltese children.

2. A National Commission for the Family

Government shall be setting up a Natioanal Commission for the Family. This commission shall be informing government of the necessary action to safegaurd and promote family welfare as well as to see that government's efforts, in this area, are concretised in the most possible efficient and efficacious manner.The new Commission shall be providing the necessary support to the Ministry for Social Policy in its effort to integrate family and social policies. It will also provide for the appropriate forum that will allow the family to become an active and empowered subject.

Objective

The National Commission for the Family, within the Ministry for Social Policy, will advise Government and suggest appropriate measures so as to promote the well-being of Maltese families, in the context of the rapid social changes that are taking place.

Aims

The National Commission for the Family will be entrusted with the following tasks:

studying the impact of all legislation on the family - and where necessary proposing and promoting new legislation – ensuring that the families, and the fundamental rights of every human being within them, are adequately safeguarded;

examining the effects of economic changes on the Maltese families and ensuring that these benefit from the economic advances of the country;

examining all social welfare benefits as well as fiscal and other benefits, services, or policies in order to ensure that these are desinged in a manner which strengthens the family unit under all circumstances

promoting and ensuring the integration of social and family policies at all levels of society

Composition

The National Commission for the Family shall be composed of persons who hail from the following areas of expertise:

legal, particulary family law and human rights;

social policy, particulary social welfare, education and health;

social and community work;

the Catholic Church in Malta

medical, including general practice and psychiatry;

human sciences, specifically sociology, psychology and scientific research;

economical, fiscal, social security and income support policies; and

European Union, particulary family matters.

Functions

The activities proper of the National Commission for the Family is to include:

collaborating with the Ministry of Justice in the setting up of the Family Court;

serving as a clearing-house of family issues;

commissioning scientific research concering various aspects of the family condition (legislative, economic, cultural and social aspects are to be the principal areas for research);

ensuring that regular and correct information, particularly statistics, concerning the family is kept;

revising, from time to time, social welfare benefits and services, thus examining their impact and adequacy in meeting the families' needs;

proposing measures promoting the health and well-being of Maltese families;

suggesting ways and means at improving the family's access to housing, with special emphasis on social housing;

fostering contact with similar international fora, in particular the European Union;

ensuring the adequate provision of family support and therapeutic services;

designing initiatives aimed at promoting values cherishing family well-being;

making sure that fundamental values of the family are promoted and that appropriate measures are taken to promote healthy families, within the educational establishments to promote safe and healthy families;

promoting co-ordination between various government departments regarding familiar issues and initiatives; and

co-operating with other local bodies engaged in the promostion of family welfare.

Conclusion

The setting up of a National Commission for the Family will provide Government with a National forum which will hopefully achieve the above objectives, allow for better co-ordination and which will provide an important consultative body