Rapists should have to pay child maintenance fees but be stripped of rights to see the child, the Democratic Party is suggesting.

Addressing a press conference earlier today, PD MP Godfrey Farrugia launched a public consultation on the party’s first Private Members Bill, which will focus on victims of rape and improving their quality of life.

The party is proposing an overhaul of the civil penalties facing rapists in what it feels is a “forgotten area”.

Dr Farrugia said rapists faced criminal repercussions for their actions, but there was a vacuum in the Civil Code that needed to be addressed.

Children, born of a rape incident, should be recognised as legitimate heirs of the rapist and be entitled to a fair inheritance

The party believes children born of a rape incident, should be recognised as legitimate heirs of the rapist and be entitled to a fair inheritance. However, they should not be subject to visits by the parent who would have committed the rape.

The victim of the rape should also be entitled to child maintenance from the perpetrator as would be the case in a separation or divorce.

Dr Farrugia said the party was aware that this was a sensitive subject and wanted to hold a consultation with different entities to come out with a White Paper, a preliminary draft of the Bill, before taking the motion to Parliament in October.

The Bill is the first in a series of initiatives the party expects to carry out as part of its Live and Love Campaign, which will focus on using its seat in the House to push for reforms that improve people’s quality of life.

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