Decisions being taken by a government advisory board on children in care, in relation to contact with family members, are not always adhered to.

There were occasions when the Children and Young Persons Advisory Board recommended that a child who was living in foster care, for example, did not meet particular family members during family access time.

However, the relatives still turned up for the visit, leaving the child traumatised.

This was recounted by social worker and foster carer Daniella Zerafa during a conference entitled The Rights of the Child in Foster Care.

Ms Zerafa, who also lectures at the University of Malta, presented the case study of a fostered child, who she referred to as Katya.

The true story highlighted shortcomings in the system such as delays in deciding whether to issue a care order to remove a child from an abusive family.

Another problem highlighted was the fact that although Maltese law technically allowed the Government to strip parents of parental rights, in cases of abuse, this was not done in practice.

As a result, children were not being allowed to be adopted and live in a stable home.

During the conference Family Minister Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca said that her Government put the rights of children at the centre of its policies. She will work to ensure that children are given a stronger voice and that children in care are freed up for adoption. She said that there were about 600 children who lived in out of home care of which some 230 were being fostered.

Nationalist Party spokesman for the Family Chris Said also spoke about the need to strengthen legislation in the best interest of children.