Aung San Suu Kyi in talks with new Burma government Vast increase in Asian mail order bride ‘industry’
Malta finally gets divorce law
Summary of story from BBC, July 25, 2011
Members of parliament in mainly Roman Catholic Malta have passed an historic law legalising divorce (see WVoN story).
The law is due to take effect in October if, as expected, it is approved by President George Abela. The prime minister voted against it.
Currently, Maltese people have to travel abroad to obtain divorces.
MPs passed the law by 52 votes to 11 with five abstentions and one absence, months after 53% of voters backed the reform in a referendum.
An Associated Press correspondent reports that the outcome in parliament is a crushing victory considering that most laws in Malta are passed by just one vote.
I can never understand the rationale for making it difficult for couples to divorce, let alone illegal! Surely pressure to stay in an unhappy relationship is bad for all, particularly children if they’re involved. In the UK 1 in 4 women experience domestic violence and many children witness it – there are also likely to be high rates of violence against women in Malta so surely an abuse to not allow divorce in these situations (haven’t looked in detail so don’t know if that’s the case). Forced marriage by any other name? Good news then that progress is being made on this, astonishing that it’s come so late.