Parliament: Homophobia and Transphobia included in the Criminal Code [Bill 105/2012]

Bill 105, Sitting 491, 11th Legislature, 19th June 2012

Audio Recording

Audio Clip of Dr Chris Said presenting the third reading of the Bill.
Complete Recording of the whole session [Go to: 1:55:24]

Excerpt of the Parliamentary Minutes

[Source: http://www.parlament.mt/file.aspx?f=21208]
[Nota minn P. Attard: nem. con. tfisser unanimament]

MINUTI; KAMRA TAD-DEPUTATI; IL-ĦDAX-IL PARLAMENT; SEDUTA NRU 491

It-Tlieta, 19 ta’ Ġunju 2012

Il-Kamra tad-Deputati ltaqgħet fis-Sala tal-Parlament, il-Palazz, il-Belt Valletta, fis-6.04 pm.  

L-iSpeaker, l-Onor Michael Frendo, ippreseda.

PREŻENTI: Il-Ministri u l-Membri kollha kienu preżenti minbarra l-Ministru għal Għawdex, il-Ministru għat-Turiżmu, l-Ambjent u l-Kultura, is-Segretarju Parlamentari l-Onor Mario Galea, l-Onor Anthony Agius Decelis, l-Onor Robert Arrigo, l-Onor Charlò Bonnici, l-Onor Owen Bonnici, l-Onor Leo Brincat, l-Onor Charles Buhagiar, l-Onor Stefan Buontempo, l-Onor Luciano Busuttil, l-Onor Chris Cardona, l-Onor Justyne Caruana, l-Onor Gino Cauchi, l-Onor Marie Louise Coleiro Preca, l-Onor Louis Deguara, l-Onor Anglu Farrugia, l-Onor Marlene Farrugia, l-Onor Michael Farrugia, l-Onor Beppe Fenech Adami, l-Onor Michael Gonzi, l-Onor Gavin Gulia, l-Onor Charles Mangion, l-Onor Peter Micallef, l-Onor Philip Mifsud, l-Onor Carmelo Mifsud Bonnici, l-Onor Jesmond Mugliett, l-Onor Silvio Parnis, l-Onor Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando, l-Onor Anton Refalo, l-Onor Joseph Sammut, l-Onor Stephen Spiteri, l-Onor Adrian Vassallo, l-Onor George Vella, l-Onor Anthony Zammit, l-Onor Ninu Zammit u l-Onor Francis Zammit Dimech..

...

ORDNIJIET TAL-ĠURNATA

1. ABBOZZ TA’ LIĠI LI JEMENDA L-KODIĊI KRIMINALI – ABBOZZ NRU 105

Il-Ministru tal-Ġustizzja, Konsultazzjoni Pubblika u l-Familja ppropona t-Tielet Qari ta’ dan l-Abbozz ta’ Liġi.

L-Onor Franco Debono ssekonda.

Il-mozzjoni għaddiet nem. con. u l-Abbozz ta’ Liġi msejjaħ “Att biex jemenda l-Kodiċi Kriminali” inqara t-Tielet Darba u għadda.

...

RAYMOND SCICLUNA, SKRIVAN TAL-KAMRA

KONFERMATI: ONOR MICHAEL FRENDO, SPEAKER

Text of the Bill [Malti / English]

Bill No. 105 - Criminal Code (Amendment) Bill [pdf]
[Source: http://www.parlament.mt/file.aspx?f=19839]

ABBOZZ TA’ LIĠI msejjaħ ATT biex jemenda l-Kodiċi Kriminali.

IL-PRESIDENT bil-parir u l-kunsens tal-Kamra tad-Deputati, imlaqqgħa f’dan il-Parlament, u bl-awtorità tal-istess, ħareġ b’liġi dan li ġej:-

1. (1) It-titolu fil-qosor ta’ dan l-Att huwa l-Att tal-2012 li jemenda l-Kodiċi Kriminali, u dan l-Att għandu jinqara u jinftiehem ħaġa waħda mal-Kodiċi Kriminali, hawnhekk iżjed ’il quddiem imsejjaħ "il-Kodiċi". [Kap. 9.]

2. L-artikolu 82A tal-Kodiċi għandu jiġi emendat kif ġej:


(a) fis-subartikolu (1) tiegħu minflok il-kliem "jew mibegħda razzjali jew" għandhom jidħlu l-kliem "jew mibegħda kontra xi persuna oħra jew grupp ta’ persuni fuq bażi ta’ ġeneru, identità tal- ġeneru, orjentazzjoni sesswali, razza, kulur, lingwa, oriġini etnika, reliġjon jew twemmin jew opinjoni politika jew opinjoni oħra jew”;

(b) is-subartikolu (2) tiegħu għandu jiġi sostitwit b’li ġej:

"(2) Għall-finijiet tas-subartikolu qabel dan "vjolenza jew mibegħda" tfisser vjolenza jew mibegħda kontra persuna jew grupp ta’ persuni f ’Malta definiti b’referenza għall-ġeneru, identità tal-ġeneru, orjentazzjoni sesswali, razza, kulur, lingwa, oriġini etnika, reliġjon jew twemmin jew opinjoni politika jew opinjoni oħra.".

3. L-artikolu 82ċ tal-Kodiċi għandu jiġi emendat kif ġej:

(a) fis-subartikolu (1) tiegħu minnufih wara l-kliem "l-paċi diretti kontra” għandhom jidħlu l-kliem "persuna jew" u l-kliem

"għar-razza, kulur, reliġjon, dixxendenza jew oriġni nazzjonali jew etnika jew kontra xi membru ta’ dak il-grupp" għandhom jiġu sostitwiti bil-kliem "għal ġeneru, identità tal-ġeneru, orjentazzjoni sesswali, razza, kulur, lingwa, oriġini etnika, reliġjon jew twemmin jew opinjoni politika jew opinjoni oħra";

(b) fil-paragrafu (a) tas-subartikolu (1) tiegħu minflok il-kliem "dak il-grupp jew membru ta’" għandhom jidħlu l-kliem "dik il- persuna jew";

(ċ) fil-verżjoni Ingliża tas-subartikolu (2) tiegħu minflok il- kliem "conduct consisting in" għandhom jidħlu l-kliem "conduct consisting of".

4. Fl-artikolu 83B tal-Kodiċi minflok il-kliem "ikun aggravat għal raġunijiet li għandhom x’jaqsmu ma’ razza jew reliġjon fi ħdan it-tifsira mogħtija fis-subartikoli (3) sa (6), it-tnejn inklużi, tal-artikolu 222A jew ikun motivat, għal kollox jew b’mod parzjali, bil-ksenofobija" għandhom jidħlu l-kliem "ikun aggravat jew motivat, għal kollox jew b’mod parzjali b’mibegħda kontra persuna jew grupp ta’ persuni, fuq bażi ta’ ġeneru, identità tal-ġeneru, orjentazzjoni sesswali, razza, kulur, lingwa, oriġini etnika, reliġjon jew twemmin jew opinjoni politika jew opinjoni oħra fi ħdan it- tifsira mogħtija fis-subartikoli (3) sa (6), it-tnejn inklużi, tal- artikolu 222A.".

5. L-artikolu 222A tal-Kodiċi għandu jiġi emendat kif ġej:

(a) fis-subartikolu (2) tiegħu minflok il-kliem "għal raġunijiet li għandhom x’jaqsmu ma’ razza jew reliġjon jew ikun motivat, għal kollox jew b’mod parzjali, bil-ksenofobija" għandhom jidħlu l-kliem "jew motivat fuq bażi ta’ ġeneru, identità tal-ġeneru, orjentazzjoni sesswali, razza, kulur, lingwa, oriġini etnika, reliġjon jew twemmin jew opinjoni politika jew opinjoni oħra";

(b) fis-subartikolu (3) tiegħu minflok il-kliem "għal raġunijiet li għandhom x’jaqsmu ma’ razza jew reliġjon jew ikun motivat, bil-ksenofobija meta:" għandhom jidħlu l-kliem "jew motivat fuq bażi ta’ ġeneru, identità tal-ġeneru, orjentazzjoni sesswali, razza, kulur, lingwa, oriġini etnika, reliġjon jew twemmin jew opinjoni politika jew opinjoni oħra jekk:";

(ċ) fil-paragrafu (a) tas-subartikolu (3) tiegħu minflok il-kliem "għal grupp razzjali jew reliġjuż; jew" għandhom jidħlu l-kliem "għal grupp ta’ persuni, li juru l-ġeneru, identità tal-ġeneru, orjentazzjoni sesswali, razza, kulur, lingwa, oriġini etnika, reliġjon jew twemmin jew opinjoni politika jew opinjoni oħra; jew";

(d) fil-paragrafu (b) tas-subartikolu (3) tiegħu minflok il-kliem "membri ta’ grupp razzjali bbażata fuq il-fatt li dawn ikunu jappartjenu għal dak il-grupp." għandhom jidħlu l-kliem "grupp ta’ persuni kif imsemmi fil-paragrafu (a).";

(e) fis-subartikolu (4) tiegħu l-kliem "razzjali jew reliġjuż" għandhom jiġu mħassra;

6. Fl-artikolu 251D tal-Kodiċi minflok il-kliem "għal raġunijiet li għandhom x’jaqsmu ma’ razza jew reliġjon" għandhom jidħlu l-kliem "jew motivat fuq bażi ta’ ġeneru, identità tal-ġeneru, orjentazzjoni sesswali, razza, kulur, lingwa, oriġini etnika, reliġjon jew twemmin jew opinjoni politika jew opinjoni oħra".

7. Fl-artikolu 325A tal-Kodiċi il-kliem "għar-rigward ta’ reat rilevanti" għandhom jiġu mħassra u minflok il-kliem "għal raġunijiet li għandhom x’jaqsmu ma’ razza jew reliġjon" għandhom jidħlu l-kliem "jew motivat fuq bażi ta’ ġeneru, identità tal-ġeneru, orjentazzjoni sesswali, razza, kulur, lingwa, oriġini etnika, reliġjon jew twemmin jew opinjoni politika jew opinjoni oħra".

8. Fl-artikolu 6 tal-Att dwar l-Istampa minflok il-kliem "fir- razza, twemmin, kulur, nazzjonalità, sess" għandhom jidħlu l-kliem "l-ġeneru, l-identità tal-ġeneru, l-orjentazzjoni sesswali, ir-razza, il- kulur, il-lingwa, l-oriġini etnika, reliġjon jew twemmin jew opinjoni politika jew opinjoni oħra" u l-kliem "jew oriġini nazzjonali jew etnika" għandhom jiġu mħassra.

Għanijiet u Raġunijiet

L-għanijiet ta’ dan l-Abbozz huma sabiex jemendaw il-Kodiċi Kriminali sabiex jiġu introdotti reati fir-rigward ta’ ġeneru, identità tal-ġeneru, orjentazzjoni sesswali, razza eċċ, u sabiex jiżdiedu l-pieni fir-rigward tagħhom, u sabiex jemenda l-Att dwar l-Istampa ukoll.

A BILL entitled AN ACT to amend the Criminal Code.

BE IT ENACTED by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the House of Representatives, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:-

1. The short title of this Act is the Criminal Code (Amendment) Act, 2012, and this Act shall be read and construed as one with the Criminal Code, hereinafter referred to as "the Code".

2. Article 82A of the Code shall be amended as follows:

(a) in subarticle (1) thereof for the words "or racial hatred or whereby" there shall be substituted the words "or hatred against another person or group on the grounds of gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, colour, language, ethnic origin, religion or belief or political or other opinion or whereby such";

(b) subarticle (2) thereof shall be substituted by the following: "(2) For the purposes of the foregoing subarticle "violence

or hatred" means violence or hatred against a person or against a

group of persons in Malta defined by reference to gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, colour, language, ethnic origin, religion or belief or political or other opinion.".

3. Article 82C of the Code shall be amended as follows:

(a) in subarticle (1) thereof immediately after the words "peace directed against" there shall be inserted the words "a person or" and the words "race, colour, religion, descent or national or ethnic origin or against a member of such a group" shall be substituted by the words "gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, colour, language, ethnic origin, religion or belief or political or other opinion";

(b) in paragraph (a) of subarticle (1) thereof for the words "group or a member of such a" there shall be substituted by the words "person or";

(c) in subarticle (2) thereof for the words "conduct consisting in" there shall be substituted by the words "conduct consisting of".

4. In article 83B of the Code for the words "is racially or religiously aggravated within the meaning of sub-articles (3) to (6), both inclusive, of article 222A or is motivated, wholly or partly, by xenophobia" there shall be substituted the words "aggravated or motivated, wholly or in part by hatred against a person or a group, on the grounds of gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, colour, language, ethnic origin, religion or belief or political or other opinion within the meaning of sub-articles (3) to (6), both inclusive, of article 222A.".

5. Article 222A of the Code shall be amended as follows:

(a) in subarticle (2) thereof for the words "racially or religiously aggravated or motivated, wholly or partly, by xenophobia within the meaning of the following subarticles" there shall be substituted the words "aggravated or motivated on the grounds of gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, colour, language, ethnic origin, religion or belief or political or other opinion";

(b) in subarticle (3) thereof for the words "racially or religiously aggravated or motivated by xenophobia if:" there shall be substituted the words "aggravated or motivated on grounds of gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, colour, language, ethnic origin, religion or belief or political or other opinion if:";

(c) in paragraph (a) of subarticle (3) thereof for the words "of a racial or religious group; or" there shall be substituted the words "of a group, denoting a particular gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, colour, language, ethnic origin, religion or belief or political or other opinion; or";

(d) in paragraph (b) of subarticle (3) thereof for the words "racial group based on their membership of that group" there shall be substituted the words "group as referred to in paragraph (a).";

(e) in subarticle (4) thereof the words "racial or religious" shall be deleted;

6. In article 251D of the Code for the words "racially or religiously aggravated" there shall be substituted the words "aggravated or motivated on the grounds of gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, colour, language, ethnic origin, religion or belief or political or other opinion".

7. In article 325A of the Code the words "in respect of a relevant offence" shall be deleted and for the words "racially or religiously aggravated" there shall be substituted the words "aggravated or motivated on the grounds of gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, colour, language, ethnic origin, religion or belief or political or other opinion".

8. In article 6 of the Press Act for the words "race, creed, colour, nationality, sex" there shall be substituted the words "gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, colour, language, ethnic origin, religion or belief or political or other opinion," and the words "or national or ethnic origin" shall be deleted.

Objects and Reasons

The objects of this Bill are to amend the Criminal Code to introduce offences in relation to gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, race etc., and to increase punishments therefor, and to also amend the Press Act.