A Children’s rights law is necessary
Laws concerning children’s rights should amalgamated in one comprehensive law, Labour family and equality spokesperson Justyne Caruana said.
According to the Labour spokesperson, children’s rights are currently legislated through several scattered laws, but now is the time for these laws to be collected and strengthened as a single comprehensive law.
Dr. Caruana referred to the case of Sean Attard, a boy who was forced, by a court order, to live with his mother in the UK, against his will in 2006. The boy returned to Malta recently, after his father was granted custody by the British courts.
According to the Labour spokesperson, children’s rights are currently legislated through several scattered laws, but now is the time for these laws to be collected and strengthened as a single comprehensive law.
Dr. Caruana referred to the case of Sean Attard, a boy who was forced, by a court order, to live with his mother in the UK, against his will in 2006. The boy returned to Malta recently, after his father was granted custody by the British courts.
Justyne Caruana said, that whilst in Malta there has been an improvement in the means available for children to voice their opinions, we are still far from allowing children a voice in court. Whilst the court, sometimes opt to allow a child to speak, at its discretion this is not the norm. Additionally, a court order is required for the appointment of a children’s advocate to speak on the child’s behalf, she added. Requests for this appointment have often been refused.
The Labour spokesperson said that Shaun Attard’s case is a clear example that highlights the flaws of the present legislation. She called for the right of children to express their own views in court to be strengthened and for more Children’s advocates, along with a legal framework that establishes how these lawyers should operate. Dr Caruana also urged the Commissioner for Children and relevant authorities and public entities, to follow Malta’s progress in relation to the United Nations’ Convention on the Rights of the Child, and to declare what needs to be done to ensure that Maltese laws fully conform to the convention that the country signed and ratified.
The Malta Labour Party extended its solidarity with Shaun Attard and his family.
The Labour spokesperson said that Shaun Attard’s case is a clear example that highlights the flaws of the present legislation. She called for the right of children to express their own views in court to be strengthened and for more Children’s advocates, along with a legal framework that establishes how these lawyers should operate. Dr Caruana also urged the Commissioner for Children and relevant authorities and public entities, to follow Malta’s progress in relation to the United Nations’ Convention on the Rights of the Child, and to declare what needs to be done to ensure that Maltese laws fully conform to the convention that the country signed and ratified.
The Malta Labour Party extended its solidarity with Shaun Attard and his family.
©
2008 - Justyne Caruana
