Private and family life

Following amendments to the Embryo Protection Act, a protocol has been designed to give equal access to all individuals, regardless of that individual’s sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression or sex characteristics. Licencing of clinics to offer services of gamete donations has now been finalised and services can be accessed through a referral by a GP to Mater Dei’s ART Clinic. 

The Social Care Standards Authority, amended a number of forms to use more inclusive terms when relating to prospective adoptive parents. The same authority has finalised its cooperation for inter-country adoption with Columbia, which also allows adoptions from same-sex couples and single persons. Columbia became the second country after Portugal to allow Maltese same-sex couples to apply for adoption.