These are interesting times in which we are living here in Malta. In terms of civil rights, the country is being propelled into the 21st century and it is quickly making up for lost time. And just last Monday the country continued to make ground and became the first European country to outlaw the highly controversial practice of gay conversion therapy. The European news feeds have been alight this week with the news that Malta has criminalised gay conversion therapy, after Parliament on Monday voted to criminalise any practice that seeks to change or repress a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity.
Malta is the first European country to have outlawed conversion therapy which, as defined by the government’s policy document on the topic, refers to “treatment that aims to change, repress and/or eliminate a person’s sexual orientation, gender identity and/or gender expression.”
From the introduction of divorce to a revision of the Church-State concordat on marriage annulments, and from the legislation of transgender rights to the advent of civil unions to the decriminalisation of simple drug possession, the country and the government of the day is in many respects living up to its ‘progressive label’ in an outstanding fashion.
Each of these were all once unthinkable propositions, and now they are realities.
This government, despite the veritable swarm of flies in the ointment when it comes to its questionable ministers, Panamagate, dubious public appointments and a plethora of other outstanding governance matters, is at least performing admirably in the area of civil rights and in so doing it is leading by example. These developments have all been huge strides in the right direction – in the direction of the full accordance of civil liberties that Joseph Muscat had promised to implement if and when in power.
And now that he is Prime Minister, he is living up to his word. He had promised that under his stewardship of the country, civil liberties will be viewed as fundamental rights rather than as mere concessions, and he is keeping his word.
Then again, the same Prime Minister had also promised government transparency and accountability – and has failed miserably on these fronts. And although one cannot agree with each and every policy of this government, in the area of civil rights, it is heartening to see that this government is living up to its electoral pledges. As matters stand, one can also be proud to live in these times and to participate in and witness the modernisation of the country’s civil rights.
It seems that Maltese society has matured by leaps and bounds since the great divorce debate, a watershed moment, and perhaps Maltese society has by and large become more accepting of civil liberties issues than it once was.
The thing is that such societal changes usually take a long time to take root, but they have found fertile soil over the last few years.
The government so far is doing just what it has promised along these lines and it is doing so quickly, and the people, for the most part, appear to have been ready and waiting for these changes to be brought about.