WORK to improve the parental rights of same-sex couples, civil partners and step-parents is progressing ‘as quickly as possible’, according to the Assistant Children’s Minister.
Deputy Louise Doublet has confirmed that a draft law, which has been subject to consultation, will be lodged before the end of the year.
If approved by the States, the new legislation will:
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Allow both same-sex parents to be named on a Jersey birth certificate.
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Automatically provide parental responsibility to both same-sex parents.
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Provide opposite-sex civil partners with legal-parent status and parental responsibility in the same way as a married couple.
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Afford legal-parent status and parental responsibility to parents whose child is born to a surrogate mother.
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Allow for parental responsibility to be passed to a step-parent.
In a statement, Deputy Doublet said: ‘I continue to work closely with policy officers, and with the law-drafting staff to ensure that we lodge this legislation as soon as we can. Both before and after taking office, enshrining the rights of same-sex parents in law has been one of my highest priorities.’
She added: ‘Having this legislation in place will make Jersey the first of the Channel Islands to legally protect the rights of same-sex parents in law. This law also goes further than the counterpart UK law because it will retrospectively grant these rights to the majority of same-sex parents in the Island. All families in Jersey should absolutely expect to have equal legal recognition and protection. This law – if approved – will make this a reality.’
Deputy Doublet brought forward a proposition to prioritise ending discrimination against same-sex couples last year, saying that many had racked up thousands of pounds in legal bills to secure full rights, as same-sex parents were not automatically given legal-parent status.
Under Jersey law, only one female mother and one male father can be registered as a child’s parents, and the person who gives birth to the child is automatically named as a parent on the birth certificate regardless of how the child was conceived.
