AD discusses divorce in seminar with NGOs

AD discusses divorce in seminar with NGOs

A seminar on family and divorce policy in the EU, was held at Europe House, Valletta, with the participation of organisers Alternattiva Demokratika – The Green Party and representatives from civil society, including Inizjamed; the Maltese Confederation of Women’s Organisations; Moviment Graffitti; and Zminijietna Voice of the Left

Michael Briguglio, AD Chairperson, said that “Maltese divorce policy sticks out like a sore thumb in the EU. Despite the absence of divorce, separation is on the increase in Malta, for a variety of reasons. What is specific for Malta is that separated spouses cannot remarry whereas in other societies they can. Thus, Maltese persons who decide to remarry in their own country are being discriminated against and have to settle for cohabitation or a financially prohibitive divorce overseas, unless they have valid grounds for an annulment. Unless Malta legalises divorce within its shores, social policy will remain out of synch with the life courses of thousands of people whose marriage has ended. It is ironic that a society which declares itself as being a guardian of “family values” is prohibiting thousands from marrying”.

Angele Deguara, AD Spokesperson for Social Policy, said that “nowadays the concept of the family has changed. Both in the EU and in Malta we are witnessing new trends as a result of which we cannot continue to regard the family as we did in the past. We have to respond to these changing realities in relation to families today rather than continue to ignore them. AD believes that both social policy as well as Maltese legislation have to be congruent with these realities so that there will be less obstacles and less suffering experienced due to these anomalies”.

David Friggieri, AD Spokesperson for Justice and Home Affairs gave a brief historical account of the way in which divorce was introduced in a few traditionally Catholic countries in Europe, drawing comparisons with the Maltese divorce debate.

Other speakers in the seminar, which was chaired by James Debono, were Maria Grech Ganado from Inizjamed; Renee Laviera from the Maltese Confederation of Women’s Organisations; Andre’ Callus from Moviment Graffitti; Mary Anne Zammit from Zminijietna Voice of the Left; and Stefano Moncada.

L-AD tiddiskuti d-divorzju f’seminar ma’ l-NGOs

Illum ittella seminar dwar il-familja u l-politika tad-divorzju fl-UE, f’Dar l-Ewropa, il-Belt, bil-partecipazzjoni ta’ l-organizzaturi, l-Alternattiva Demokratika, u rapprezentanti mis-socjeta` civili, inkluz Inizjamed; Konfederazzjoni ta’ l-Ghaqdiet tan-Nisa Maltin; Moviment Graffitti; u Zminijietna Lehen ix-Xellug.

Michael Briguglio, Chairperson ta’ l-AD, qal li “il-politika Maltija dwar id-divorzju tispikka b’mod ikrah fl-UE. Minkejja n-nuqqas ta’ divorzju, is-separazzjonijiet qeghdin dejjem jizdiedu, ghal ragunijiet varju. Li hu differenti hawn Malta hu li mizzewgin separati ma jistghux jergghu jizzewgu, filwaqt li f’socjetajiet ohra, jistghu. Ghaldaqstant, qed issir diskriminazzjoni kontra dawk il-Maltin li jiddeciedu jergghu jizzewgu f’pajjizhom, u dawn ikollhom jissodisfaw lilhom innifishom bil-koabitazzjoni, jew b’divorzju minn barra miinn Malta jekk ghandhom il-flus sabiex jaghmlu dan; dan sakemm m’ghandhomx ragunijiet validi ghall-annullament. Sakemm Malta tillegalizza d-divorzju, il-politika socjali tibqa’ differenti minn hajjet in-nies ta’ eluf ta’ persuni li spiccalhom iz-zwieg taghhom. Hija ironika li socjeta` li tiddikjara lilha nnifisha bhala wahda li thaddan il-valuri tal-familja qed tippojbixxi eluf miz-zwieg”

Angele Deguara, il-Kelliema ta’ l-AD ghall-Politika Socjali, qalet li “illum il-gurnata ma nistghux nibqghu inqisu l-familja bhal ma konna nqisuha fil-passat minhabba li bhal pajjizi ohra fl-Unjoni Ewropeja, f’Malta qed naraw xejriet godda fil-familja u li b’rizultat ta’ dawn il-bidliet, illum irridu nirrispondu ghal rejaltajiet godda fil-konfront tal-familji, rejaltajiet li ma nistghux nibqghu nitfghu taht it-tapit. Ghalhekk l-AD temmen li kemm il-politika socjali kif ukoll il-ligijiet tal-pajjiz ghandhom ikunu kongruenti ma’ dawn ir-rejaltajiet biex jittaffew it-tbatijiet u jitnaqqsu l-ostakli li ghadhom qed jaffaccjaw eluf ta’ nies minhabba dawn in-nuqqasijiet.”

David Friggieri, Kelliem ta’ l-AD ghall-Gustizzja u l-Affarijiet Interni, ta akkont storiku tal-mod kif id-divorzju gie introdott go ftit pajjizi Ewropej li huma tradizzjonalment Kattolici, filwaqt li kkumparhom mad-dibattitu dwar id-divorzju f’Malta.

Kelliema ohra fis-seminar, li kien presedut minn James Debono, kienu Maria Grech Ganado mill-Inizjamed; Renee Laviera mill-Konfederazzjoni ta’ l-Ghaqdiet tan-Nisa Maltin; Andre` Callus mill-Moviment Graffitti; Mary Anne Zammit minn Zminijietna Lehen ix-Xellug; u Stefano Moncada.

FacebookEmail