PD presents private member’s bill on rights for rape victims

Partit Demokratiku yesterday presented its first private member’s bill, which aims to protect and ensure the well-being of rape victims, among other things.

Godfrey Farrugia and PD leader Marlene Farrugia explained the bill during a press conference in front of the Parliament building in Valletta. During the same press conference, the party also launched a campaign called the 2L campaign or the Love and Life campaign.

Godfrey Farrugia explained that the country is facing a time of uncertainty and where politicians are detached from the public. “This is a campaign which aims to celebrate the beauty of life. We want this bill to apply politics of consent and consultation, and this is why we are launching a consultation period before Parliament reconvenes.” The consultation period, he explained, would go on for a couple of months.

Farrugia said the bill goes beyond providing protection to rape victims. It will address gender-based violence and the safeguarding of women who fall victim to rape as well as children conceived by it. The bill proposes amendments to the Civil Code in order for it to be used to the victim’s advantage.

“We are policymakers, representing the people in parliament; we have the right and duty to create policies which protect life,” Farrugia added.

The campaign, which will also include a 2L Raped Victim campaign, is based on the three principles of: treating the woman as a person – a victim of sexual abuse; considering the protection of the child as paramount; and addressing the vacuum that exists in the law when it comes to those who commit sexual assault.

The bill proposes changes to the the Civil Code and aims to give victims of rape the right to terminate the rapist’s parental rights. Furthermore, the bill will give victims the right to maintenance by the rapist parent even without the child-father relationship.

“We need to introduce compassionate measures to support and protect human dignity and to protect the unborn child,” he added.

This is a campaign which aims to celebrate the beauty of life. We want this bill to apply politics of consent and consultation and this is why we are launching a consultation period before Parliament reconvenes