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Description
The overall objective of the project is to strengthen democracy and the rule of law in Malta by setting precedents, changing systems and changing culture and, as a consequence, increasing citizenship participation in the judicial, legislative and administrative mechanisms that exist in Malta.
With the support of the first call issued under the ACF Malta Programme, the Foundation was able to set up a network of Malta-based lawyers (PILN) to defend victims of human rights violation. Currently in its first year of implementation, the PILN is working on public interest cases involving right to life, data protection and freedom of information. These cases set a precedent that influences national laws and policies and educates the public on a system based on rule of law and human rights versus one of patronage, clientelism and abuse of public office.
Cases that the PILN wishes to prioritise in 2022 include: access to light (or lack of) in environmental and planning violations; access to information and raising awareness around the importance of filing FOI requests; and right to life.
Summary of project results
In the second year of this project, the network of public interest lawyers continued to follow the cases opened in the first year and opened new ones, among them two cases related to construction work victims, one of which resulted in a building collapse death. Both cases contributed to the construction debate in Malta and led to street protests and the second ever public inquiry in Malta. As part of the network’s advocacy efforts, the network also published research on victims of the construction industry in Malta titled Victims of Malta’s Construction Boom, A fatal wait for accountability. The team also contributed to the EC’s Rule of Law Report submitted in January 2023.
In the second year of this project, the network of public interest lawyers continued to follow the cases opened in the first year and opened new ones, among them two cases related to construction work victims, one of which resulted in a building collapse death. Both cases contributed to the construction debate in Malta and led to street protests and the second ever public inquiry in Malta. As part of the network’s advocacy efforts, the network also published research on victims of the construction industry in Malta titled Victims of Malta’s Construction Boom, A fatal wait for accountability. The team also contributed to the EC’s Rule of Law Report submitted in January 2023.
Through the network set up by this project, victims of discrimination, human rights violations, abuse of power, and state collusion in criminal activity are being provided with access to justice.