Maximum penalty for femicide if someone is found guilty of crime, says Minister

Feb 3 2022

Source: Ġustizzja (FB)

In a press conference addressed by Justice Minister Edward Zammit Lewis and Reforms Minister Owen Bonnici, a number of legal amendments on the introduction of femicide into the Maltese criminal code were discussed.

Minister Zammit Lewis stated that through this legal draft, the government plans to move away from a Maltese society which is patriarchal and built on gender stereotypes. The legal amendments propose that the court gives maximum penalties in cases of femicide if the circumstances are satisfied. The minister went on to state that such amendments will not exclude gender as the circumstances are not exclusive to women.

The bill also aims to remove the defence of crimes of passion in cases of femicide due to the killing of a woman being ‘unacceptable’, said Zammit Lewis. Crimes of passion are often used as a defence with aims of getting a lighter sentence; if the femicidal circumstances being proposed are approved, this defence will no longer be accepted.

Source: Ġustizzja (FB)

In a recent Facebook post, the Minister stated that the government is humbled and united in its communication with the people and takes decisions without any delays. He went on to thank Prime Minister Robert Abela for his direction and political push as well as fellow minister Owen Bonnici for his work and collaboration.

Dr. Lara Dimitrijevic, Women’s Rights Foundation leader, state that such a draft is a historic step in political commitment by which the legal draft shines a light on the reality of femicide and sends a strong message that violence is not accepted in our society.

The legislative process of this bill within Parliament will start with immediate effect.

What do you make of this bill?

#MaltaDaily

Mater Dei patient visits in 2020 hit lowest numbers in 10 years

Feb 3 2022

Figures tabled in parliament have revealed that 587,101 patients visited Mater Dei Hospital in 2020, marking the lowest figures since 2011 at the very least.

These figures have reportedly confirmed what health professionals feared back in 2020, which was patients cancelling their hospital commitments to avoid potential contact with COVID-19. The figures for 2020 included emergency room visits, day cases, in-patient visits, outpatients visits, ward attenders and dialysis patients within the Renal Units.

Many reportedly expressed fears of going to Mater Dei and cancelling appointments due to potential exposure with COVID-19. The emergency area was reportedly empty at a point; a negative sign since people requiring treatment would eventually visit hospital at a worse state, thus requiring more resources.

2013 saw the highest number of visits, with 847,579 total visits by the end of the year.

#MaltaDaily

Will Malta need a mandatory fourth vaccine dose? Chris Fearne clarifies

Feb 3 2022

As Malta continues to traverse through the COVID-19 pandemic, with Robert Abela recently revealing that more COVID-19 restrictions will be lifted on Monday, Deputy Prime Minister and Health Minister Chris Fearne has clarified if a mandatory fourth vaccine dose will be administered.

Addressing the question on TV show ‘Topik’, Fearne stated that the Health Authorities do not see the need for a fourth vaccine at this stage, “certainly until next autumn.” The Minister highlighted that there seems to be a general consensus on the lack of need for a fourth jab, going on to highlight that the global situation with regards to COVID-19 could become similar to what occurs for influenza, with an annual vaccine offer.

If that were the case, Fearne highlighted that Malta has enough doses to give out vaccines to whoever would like to receive it… “but for the rest of this winter, [they] aren’t considering giving out a fourth dose.”

Would you take the fourth dose if it was offered?

#MaltaDaily

Photo Source: Topik / RF Studio

More COVID-19 restrictions to be lifted on Monday, says PM

Feb 3 2022

The government will lift more COVID-19 restrictions on Monday, PM Robert Abela has revealed.

The Prime Minister stated this during a conference with Finance Minister Clyde Caruana, where he also revealed that students and workers will receive €100 cheques and pensioners and those on social benefits will receive €200.

As of January 17, people not vaccinated with a booster were not allowed to enter a number of local establishments anymore. It was then announced that as of February 7th, restaurants, snack bars and band clubs would no longer require the presentation of a vaccine certificate.

What measures do you think should be lifted?

#MaltaDaily