Children’s rights still neglected in Malta – PL

Referring to a report by the committee monitoring signatory countries to the International Convention of Children's Rights, Labour said that many of the same serious shortcomings identified by that report in Malta's transposition of these rights concern the same problems the Labour Party has been complaining about for years. 

"Government has not even established the legal procedures to ensure that the International Convention on Children's Rights becomes an integral part of our laws, and thus enable the law-courts to invoke such legislation," the PL said in a statement. "Despite Malta having ratified and signed the convention, people who feel their rights have been infringed still cannot fight their cases in court."

According to the PL, Maltese children cannot intervene to ensure their voices are heard in legal procedures where decisions are taken regarding their own circumstances and which will affect how they live their lives.

"Children end up being used as footballs in legal and other procedures which concern them, and are not being heard."

This legal anomaly is even costing certain children the right to a family life. Elsewhere the lack of proper facilities results in children being imprisoned.

The Labour Party expressed particular concern at the plight of vulnerable and/or exploited children.

"All this violates the rights of children as laid out in the convention, and this report confirms the many shortcomings in our country - shortcomings the Labour Party is determined to address, as declared in our electoral manifesto."

Labour proposes a children's law that incorporates all their rights and guarantees procedures to enable children's voices to be heard and respected.