[WATCH] Proposal to permanently extend full voting rights to 16-year-olds

National Children's Policy launched for public consultation • Video by Chris Mangion

The National Children's Policy was launched for public consultation this morning by the minister for Family and Social Solidarity, Michael Farrugia.

Farrugia said that this was “a major step being taken by the government to ensure that our younger generations not only have a lively, active and happy childhood, but also have all the necessary building blocks for a prosperous future."

This was echoed by Commissioner for Children, Pauline Miceli who said that this is an important step forward in the process of giving children rights as individuals.

“Children should be able to make the most of their childhood and should have a right to be heard,” she said

Commissioner for Children, Pauline Miceli

The policy will focus on four general areas of a child's life namely Health and Environment, Family and Relationships, Educations and Development and Community and the State.

In the Health and Environment area, a number of proposals have been put forward including the promotion of benefits of breastfeeding, the promotion of healthy eating habits and regular exercise and an update of age appropriate sexual health education.

Among the policy actions recommended for Family and Relationships are the reintegration of homeless families and individuals through a number of programmes, the revision of present legislation to act as a more effective deterrent to cases of child abuse, and to provide best practices to children and parents regarding the use of privacy controls and mechanisms for reporting abuse online.

The Education and Development set of proposals includes efforts to further reduce absenteeism from schools, efforts to reduce gender stereotyping in subject choices and the promotion of an increased uptake of Science and Technology, Engineering and Mathematics by young girls. 

One recommendation under the Community and State area includes the recognition of children as active citizens by permanently extending full voting rights to young people aged 16 and over. The policy will also include measures for combating all forms of discrimination and intolerance among children. It will will also seek to strengthen social outreach and community based initiatives for vulnerable families and will include measures intended to tackle juvenile crime and delinquency. 

Farrugia stressed the importance of viewing today’s children as tomorrow’s adults and ultimately as the future of the country.

“Only in this way can we ensure that we have stronger children and therefore a stronger upcoming generation.”