Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/712794
7 maltatoday, SUNDAY, 17 JULY 2016 News One-tenth of babies born to Maltese and foreign parents JAMES DEBONO MALTA'S latest demographic re- view reveals that in 2014, 431 chil- dren were born to couples made up of a Maltese-born parent and the other parent born in another country. 80 babies were born to families in which either the mother or the father was African. The number of babies born to such "mixed" couples amount to 10% of the total number of children born in 2014. The latest demographic review published by the National Statis- tics Office shows that 15% of all new-borns in 2014 had a parent born in another country. Of these 6% had a parent born in another EU country while 5% had a parent born in an African country. A total of 627 babies had a for- eign mother while 608 had a for- eign father. A total of 151 babies were born to families in which both parents hailed from an African country, 61 had an African father and a Maltese mother and 19 had an African mother and a Maltese father. This gender imbalance re- flects the fact that most migrants from Africa arriving in Malta over the past years were males. In contrast, while 46 babies were born to couples consisting of mothers from non-EU European countries and Maltese fathers, only 16 were born to non-EU fa- thers and Maltese mothers. This suggests that Maltese men are likelier to have children with women from the Balkans and Eastern Europe than Maltese women are to have children with men from the same regions. 122 babies were born to parents both of whom hailed from other EU countries while 116 had a Maltese father and a mother from another EU member state. 110 had a Maltese mother and a father from another EU member state. Interestingly, the number of babies born to couples where both partners were born in an EU country (122) is lower than the number of babies born to couples where both parents were born in an African country (151). The British and the Italians were the most likely Europe- ans to have children in Malta in 2014. The statistics show that 177 children (4.2% of all births) were born to "unknown fathers". Of these 155 had Maltese mothers, 12 had African mothers and eight had parents from other European countries. This represents a sharp decrease from the 352 babies born to unknown fathers in 2008. Election babies? In 2014 the lowest number of babies were born in January. The number of babies born in January 2014 (321) was the second lowest since 2006. This suggests a dip in conceptions in April 2013 – a month after national elections. In previous years the lowest number of babies were born in April and May, which suggests a dip in con- ceptions in the summer months. On the other hand December 2013 saw the birth of 371 babies, the highest number born in this month since 2006. This suggests a spike in conceptions during elec- tion month (March 2013). The largest number of babies (387) were born in September, which suggests that most concep- tions occurred in December 2013. The second largest number of ba- bies were born in March (385) fol- lowed by October (379). NSO statistics show that No- vember had the most births in 2007, 2009 and 2010 while Octo- ber had most births in 2006, 2012 and 2013. September also had the most births in 2011. This sug- gests that conception in Malta is most likely to occur in the winter months between December and February But the number of babies born in March was the highest since 2008 and the second highest in the past decade. This suggests a spike in conceptions in June 2013. Villages in decline A number of Maltese locations are losing more people through death than gaining through birth. These include the capital city Valletta, which lost 83 of its in- habitants in 2014, with just 45 new births to make up only partially for that loss, and Flori- ana which saw 18 births and 33 deaths. Other towns in decline include Cottonera localities like Birgu and Isla where only 16 were born to make up for the 31 who died. Santa Lucija, Malta's clos- est equivalent to British post war council housing, is also in decline, losing 28 of its residents and gaining only 19. Marsa, Bormla and Sliema also saw more deaths than births. But while new entrants are compen- sating for the population decline in Sliema, the Cottonera towns are in decline. Mdina was the only Maltese locality not to register one single birth in 2014. On the other hand the old capi- tal lost three of its minuscule pop- ulation. San Lawrenz in Gozo reg- istered the second lowest number of births (three) while losing six of its residents. jdebono@mediatoday.com.mt Mixed Maltese Babies born in 2014 to couples, who were a Maltese and a foreign spouse Place of origin of non-Maltese spouse Number of babies born EU 226 Africa 80 Other European 62 Asia 46 America 11 Oceania 6 Total 431 spouses or partners whether or not the perpetrator shares or has shared the same residence with the victim. Domestic violence shall include children witness- ing violence within the family or domestic unit. Recognising that domestic violence affects women disproportionately and that men may also be victims of domestic violence". The amendments will acknowl- edge that the current penalties are not harsh enough, leaving much to be desired. The changes aim at sending the message that society abhors violence and no form of it will be tolerated. It is expected that jail term may dou- ble. The amendments will also strengthen the definition of rape, ensuring that it is recognised as a criminal act against the sexual integrity of persons. Rape will have two definitions: "who so ever shall engage in a non-con- sensual carnal connection, that is to say vaginal or oral penetra- tion of a sexual nature of the body of another person with any body part, shall on conviction be li- able to imprisonment from six to 25 years with or without solitary confinement". It will also state that: "who so ever shall engage in a non- consensual carnal connection, that is to say vaginal or oral pen- etration of a sexual nature of the body of another person with any object, shall on conviction be li- able to imprisonment from six to 25 years with or without solitary confinement". During the Valletta protest, human rights lawyer Lara Dimi- trijevic made a heartfelt appeal calling for an end to domestic violence. The protestors carried placards reading 'Implement Is- tanbul Convention Now'. "People in the 21st century are still in denial that victims of do- mestic violence exist," Dimitrije- vic said. "One in four women suffer physical abuse in their lifetime, one in three women suffer psy- chological violence, and one in two are victims of sexual harass- ment. One quarter of homicides in Malta are of women at the hands of their partner and ex partner, but their deaths will not be forgotten." definition of rape as crime sexual integrity