Disability Commission launches consultation process to update laws

KNPD Chairman Oliver Scicluna on the challenges disabled people face in Malta. Video by Ray Attard

With a view to addressing relevant issues within the disabled community in Malta, the National Commission for Persons with Disability (KNPD) will be updating their laws for the first time in 15 years.

“We found that issues related to the family – such as rights pertaining to people with disability who want to start a family – and sexuality weren’t being seen to in the laws as they are now,” KNPD Chairman Oliver Scicluna said during a press conference.

The KNPD aims to update the Equal Opportunities Law – which first came into effect in 2000 – following a round of public consultation, which officially commences today (28 October), and will go on until 28 November. Two seminars will then take place after public consultation is concluded, whose results will in turn be presented to the public for consultation once again.

“I see this development as an adventure – one which aims to strengthen the Commission’s bond with its clients,” Scicluna said, adding that the Commission aims to not just “listen” but to be pro-active in the way it addresses its clients’ concerns. To this end, Scicluna said that the Commission is involved in three court cases pertaining to issues related to accessibility on certain public sites.

Scicluna added that although Malta has ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in 2012, the convention in and of itself does not have any concrete legal basis in court – another reason he believes the laws should be updated and “strengthened”.

Asked to specify which ‘loopholes’ he believed the updated law should address, Scicluna said that “there’s nothing currently in the law which deals with disabled people who want to start a family”, adding that issues pertaining to the sexuality of disabled people are also currently lacking.

Adding that he believes the law should also help disabled people participate actively in public life – “even in politics, for example” – Scicluna also described the law as a tool towards the “mainstreaming” of disabled people.

“The law should exist to be used by anybody who needs it in order to live a better life. We don’t want to attack anyone with it, but we want to ensure that it’s there, and that’s read by as many people as possible.”

The public is encouraged to forward their suggestions to KNPD until 28 November via email on [email protected] or by post on Kumitat Reviżjoni tal-Liġi, KNPD, Bugeia Institute, Santa Venera, SVR1619.