POLITICIANS spent a large part of yesterday’s States sitting voting through significant changes to the Children and Civil Status (Amendments) (Jersey) Law.
Some of the changes, all of which were unanimously accepted, now allow same-sex couples, mixed-sex couples who conceive using a donor sperm, and parents of children born as a result of surrogacy, to gain parental status, rights and responsibilities.
It also means that couples in civil partnerships will be treated equally compared to married couples regarding legal parent status and parental responsibility.
The changes, which have been in development since April 2021, make Jersey the first of the Channel Islands to enshrine the rights of same-sex parents in law.
Members also unanimously approved the Draft Children and Young People (Jersey) Commencement Act to bring the Children and Young People (Jersey) Law 2022 into force.
This new law enhances child safeguarding arrangements, promotes the wellbeing of children and young people, and supports looked-after children and care leavers.
