
Parliamentary Secretary for Equality and Reforms, Rebecca Buttigieg, has condemned recent threats and disrespectful behaviour during public consultations on Assisted Voluntary Euthanasia (AVE).
Following an incident at a community consultation session, Ms Buttigieg expressed deep disappointment over a person who threatened both herself and members of the technical committee. She warned that such conduct could lead to criminal action. The individual also directed insults towards those sharing deeply personal and distressing experiences related to the suffering of relatives at the end of their lives.
Ms Buttigieg stressed that such behaviour is entirely unacceptable, particularly as there is no legal basis for the threats made.
The incident occurred during the third community consultation on voluntary assisted euthanasia, which saw emotional accounts dominate the proceedings. Held in the community hall in Mosta, the event attracted a large audience and featured 22 interventions from the public. Many participants shared stories of their relatives’ suffering, as well as their own fears of facing similar ordeals due to serious hereditary conditions.
Ms Buttigieg expressed her gratitude to those members of the public who, despite great personal sacrifice, openly shared their suffering and experiences during the consultation, including some who described years of hardship caused by terminal illnesses.
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