Only a few days ago, Justice Minister Austin Gatt launched a White Paper on the family court, which will provide for settlement of family friction or feuding away from the hustle and bustle of the law courts. This will make better provision for privacy and the protection of children in separation cases. Another thing to be addressed is the present dearth of social worker assistance to married couples at a time when they need help most on account of the registered failure of their marriage. Not only has experience shown that rash decisions can easily be retracted and marital walls mended, but it is also well known that marital breakdown and legal proceedings place intense pressure on the whole family including, but not only, the children. The abuse of children by various means, and by no means only sexual, will also require the services of professionals to assist in mediation and reconciliation.
Cases can be very complicated and involved, with no easy solutions.
The law will also deal with the issue of care orders for children who have been abused. The commission members are appointed for one year on a renewable tenure. The members represent a wide spectrum of specialisation, including law, social welfare, scientific research, education, medicine, the human sciences and family matters. The work of the commission will focus not only on families in crisis but also on those ordinary ones which may require positive and affirmative action to cope with present day challenges and realities. The commission will study the impact of legislation on the family and the effects of measures taken by the government in taxation, social services and other matters.