HEADLINES

Slovenia and Norway top the list of 172 countries and are followed by Finland, the Netherlands and Sweden in the End of Childhood index, which takes into account children's diet, access to education, child mortality, child weddings, child labour, adolescent pregnancy and regional conflicts. The top ten countries in the report are all from Europe, save South Korea, which is ranked 10th together with Germany, Belgium and Cyprus. At the bottom of the list... More

The coalition majority has passed with a 54-25 majority in the National Assembly a new family law. Replacing a piece of legislation that was originally passed in 1976 and defined the family as a community of children and parents, the new law centres the definition of family around the child. It defines the family as a community of a child, regardless of their age, with one or both parents or another adult person if that person cares for the child and... More

The same-sex partnership act extends the legal consequences stemming from marriage to gay couples except for adoptions and IVF. So far, partners in a non-registered relationship were not characterised as close family members and were therefore not eligible for benefits such as survivor pensions and unemployment insurance through their partners, and the right to paid leave in the event of the partner's death. Same-sex couples will also be able to... More