Family congress promises equal rights for gay couples

Speaking at the opening, Balearic leader Jaume Matas said that there had been changes in the traditional family structure over the past few years, with a growth in single-parent and same sex families and these will also be discussed during the congress which continues today and tomorrow.

Matas spoke of the importance of finding ways to balance family life with the workplace and pointed out that the Balearics has such a plan with flexible working hours for civil servants.

Minister Rosa Puig also stressed the need of helping families take care of dependants, and said that 1'500 new places for the elderly and sufferers of Parkinson's and Alzheimer's would be provided thanks to the construction of new homes. She also said that the government will provide six million euros for the construction of day centres throughout the Balearics.

Amparo Valcarcel, the secretary of state for social services said that protection of the family was a “matter of general interest” and as such the central government is preparing a new plan which will strike a balance between family life and the workplace.

Valcarcel also spoke of greater aid for large families including home helps and nursery care.
She added that the government plans will take into account “the diversity which characterises families today”, with more single parent families, same sex couples and with both partners holding jobs.

Matas said that all these changes should be dealt with realistically.
Both he and Valcarcel stressed the need of facing these new challenges with the collaboration of various ministries, and the involvement of society as a whole.

Also present at the opening were Mayor of Palma Catalina Cirer and government representative Ramon Socias.
Earlier in the day, Valcarcel said that the changes to the civil code which the central government has prepared will allow homosexual marriages, and the partners will have the same rights and duties as heterosexual couples in matters such as adoption and inheritance.

She also said that the plan for supporting families will cover education, health, housing and taxes and will be presented following consultations with regional governments, specialised associations and the social services.

There will be a specific law to protect large families, greater nursery facilities for the under threes and a law on equality. “The reality of family life is very complex, and we must find a response to the needs of all types of family,” Valcarcel said. It is something which affects everybody and so everybody must be involved, she added.

Matas expressed his support of the government plans, saying that they were similar to ones introduced by the local government last week.
He said that “the family is fundamental for learning how to be a citizen.” Speakers at the congress include Marina Robben, secretary general of the International Federation for Family Development.