NGO calls for government’s ‘immediate action’ for children in difficulty

“We feel that it is high time that the state, led by the central government, puts more resources into the services offered to children who are facing difficulties in their living environment,” the NGO said.

“A number of Maltese children are already from a young age experiencing the hard side of life. Children have been abandoned to fend for themselves by their families. Other children have been orphaned at a young age. Others have been abused by members of their own families. Some of these children, partly due to their difficult upbringing, have ended up on the wrong side of the law.”

CfK said that in such cases, the need often rises for a shelter or home where these children can live out their childhood with all their rights, like other children. “The church has done sterling work in this field,” it said.

Whilst the government has two children’s homes, Dar Fejda and Dar Jeanne Antide, the NGO stresses that “these however are not enough!”

“An NGO working in this sector has had to recently withdraw its hosting services. It is obvious that the state needs to step up to the plate. Unless the government acts decisively it will be failing innocent children who have no one to speak in their stead!”

CfK also called on civil society to contribute in looking after the rights and intersts of the children.