Marriages and births
In both these areas, Malta has not been particularly avant-garde. But things and figures are changing. Until July 25, 2011, Malta was the last country in Europe not to allow divorce, a sign of the clash between civil law and the canonical law of the Catholic Church. In the end, the vote of the Members of Parliament (52 out of 69 members) changed this situation, following a popular referendum in which 53% of the population wanted divorce to be legalized. However, there was a downside: divorce proceedings were only allowed after 4 years of separation. Today, the figures reflect a change in attitudes and practices. In 2023, the number of marriages was 2,036, down 201 on the previous year. And an estimated 4,400 marriages have ended in divorce over the last thirteen years. As for births, figures published by Eurostat in 2024 show that Malta still has the lowest fertility rate in the European Union (1.13 children per woman on average in Malta, at the bottom of the list, compared with 1.84 in France, at the top). While contraception has become the norm, abortion has long remained illegal. Opponents of abortion, supported by the Catholic Church, have often expressed concern about Malta's accession to the European Union. But while Europe can put pressure on the Maltese authorities, it cannot force them to legalize abortion. In fact, during the drafting of the proposed European Constitution, Malta succeeded in having the text on the right to abortion removed from it. A "diplomatic feat" for such a small country. Maltese women wishing to have an abortion therefore had to risk doing so clandestinely on the spot, or travel abroad (Italy, France or Great Britain) for the more affluent. In October 2010, the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women expressed concern about the scale of illegal abortions in Malta. Since then, things have changed. In June 2023, for the first time, a law authorized abortion, but with very strict conditions (vital danger for the mother, non-viable foetus).
As far as women's rights are concerned, they have had the right to vote since 1945, and entry into the European Union has led the country to introduce laws offering greater protection. One of the major turning points came in 2004 with the adoption of a law on equality between men and women, aimed at ensuring equality in employment and education. Initiatives were also taken to combat domestic violence via a 2006 law reinforcing the protection of women. But in a letter to the Prime Minister in early 2018, the European Commission encouraged Malta to redouble its efforts in this area.
Adoption of Same-Sex Marriage
In this small, conservative country, it's not customary to come out. There is of course a gay population in Malta, but its presence is discreet. Local society is not renowned for being the most tolerant in the world. However, on July 22, 2004, what can be considered Malta's first gay pride parade took place (although there were a few attempts in 1996 and 2001). Every year, a few hundred people march down the capital's main street (Republic Street), whose cobblestones are usually trodden by brass band clubs, religious processions or scouts. Representatives of the two majority parties, trade unions and NGOs joined the demonstration, which did not make it a political issue. The situation of gay rights has even seen a major turning point in recent years. On April 16, 2014, a law carried by the Labor Party established civil unions for homosexuals, a law that brought them exactly the same rights as marriage, including the right to adoption by same-sex couples. Three years later, on July 12, 2017, the Maltese parliament almost unanimously voted to open marriage to same-sex couples. Malta became the fifteenth country in Europe to adopt this law.
Educational range
In Malta, school is compulsory for children aged 5 to 16. Children can start nursery school from the age of 3. Elementary school starts at age 5 and finishes at age 11. The system is a little more complex, and it's often a question of income. You then go on to junior high school, where you stay for five years and graduate with the MATSEC. Students can then enter a business school, where courses last four years. In these schools, students study to become engineers in both construction and agriculture. If they are successful, they can go on to the next level, Extended Skills Training Courses, a three-year program focusing more on in-company learning. After MATSEC, you can also choose Sixth Form Studies, which prepares you for university entrance exams, nursing school or secretarial school, among others. There are two Institutes of Technology in Malta and one in Gozo. They offer courses in architecture, mechanics and carpentry. The main aim of these institutes is to prepare students for the City and Guilds Institute of London entrance examinations. Malta also has schools teaching navigation, art and design, agriculture and electronics. The private sector also offers a wide range of courses, from dance to computer science. Cultural institutes and the Catholic Church offer courses for adults, with a religious orientation in the case of the latter. The University of Malta was founded in 1592 and was based in Valletta before being transferred to Tal-Qroqq, on the heights of Msida. Open to anyone with the required level of education, it provides its students with a monthly income and offers them work during the summer vacations. In 2022, there were over 11,800 students, including 1,460 foreigners from 123 countries. Many other foreign students take courses as part of Erasmus exchange programs. The university, which has 14 faculties, aims to be multi-disciplinary, teaching everything from linguistics to gerontology. Specialized subjects include Anglo-Italian studies and a program on the Mediterranean world.
