Friday, 29 June 2012

Pink News: Malta: Gender identity and sexual orientation included in hate crime laws

http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2012/06/21/malta-gender-identity-and-sexual-orientation-included-in-hate-crime-laws/
21.6.2012 by Stephen Gray


Two attacks against lesbians took place on the archipelago this year

The Maltese parliament has extended its hate crime laws for the first time to protect citizens on the grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity.

The amendment to the hate crime laws, which until now made motives based only on religion, race and disability an aggravating factor in a criminal incident, came after a pair of attacks on lesbian women.

In January, a 16-year-old lesbian and her girlfriend were assaulted in a public square. The following month, another lesbian couple were physically attacked on a bus.

Aditus: Protecting the Rights of the Minority Groups is a Human Rights Success for Everyone

Press Release: Date: 21st June, 2012

aditus foundation is extremely happy to welcome the recent amendments brought about to Maltese law in terms of offering better protection to lesbians, gays, and transgender persons living in Malta. The amendments add sexual orientation and gender identity to the list of circumstances aggravating certain types of crimes, and also to the legal mandate of Malta's national equality body, the Nation Council for the Promotion fo Equality (NCPE).

Parliament: Bill 107/2012 - Att li jemenda l-Att dwar l-Ugwaljanza għall-Irġiel u n-Nisa - An Act to amend the Equality for Men and Women Act

11th Legislature, Parliamentary Session no. 493, 25.6.2012

Excerpt from the Parliamentary Minutes


1. ABBOZZ TA’ LIĠI LI JEMENDA L-ATT DWAR L-UGWALJANZA GĦALL-IRĠIEL U N-NISA - ABBOZZ NRU 107

Il-Ministru tal-Ġustizzja, Konsultazzjoni Pubblika u l-Familja ppropona t-Tielet Qari ta' l-Abbozz ta' Liġi msejjaħ "Att li jemenda l-Att dwar l-Ugwaljanza għall-Irġiel u n-Nisa, Kap. 456”.

Il-Ministru tal-Edukazzjoni u x-Xogħol issekondat.

Il-mozzjoni għaddiet nem.con. u l-Abbozz ta’ Liġi nqara t-Tielet Darba u għadda.

[Nota: Nem.con. tfisser unanimament.]

Abbozz / Bill 

[View Pdf version here.]

ABBOZZ TA’ LIĠI msejjaħ

Att li jemenda l-Att dwar l-Ugwaljanza għall-Irġiel u n-Nisa, Kap. 456. 


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

Di-ve: Gay rights movement welcomes Hate Crime law

http://www.di-ve.com/Default.aspx?ID=72&Action=1&NewsId=93306
by di-ve.com - editorial@di-ve.com
20 June 2012 - 08:25CEST

The Malta Gay Rights Movement (MGRM) welcomed the passing of Hate Crime Legislation approved by Parliament last night and said that the act extends the scope of the law from race and creed to also include sexual orientation and gender identity.

In a statement MGRM thanked both sides of the House for supporting the bill and sending a strong message to society that targeting someone because of their sexual orientation or gender identity is unacceptable and will incur tougher penalties.

Malta Today: Gay rights movement welcomes passing of hate crimes amendments

‘Next step is ensuring police adequately trained in dealing with such crimes and reaching out to LGBT community’ – MGRM 
http://www.maltatoday.com.mt/en/newsdetails/news/national/Gay-rights-movement-welcomes-passing-of-hate-crimes-amendments-20120620
Wednesday 20 June 2012 - 09:02


The Bill was proposed during a protest following the incident against two young lesbians in Hamrun earlier this year.

The Malta Gay Rights Movement has welcomed the passing of hate crime amendments to the Criminal Code which extend the scope of the law from race and creed to include sexual orientation and gender identity.

The bill was approved by parliament last night.

Wednesday, 27 June 2012

Malta Right Now: Preżentat l-ewwel qari tal-abbozz ta' liġi dwar il-Koabitazzjoni

http://www.maltarightnow.com/?module=news&t=a&aid=99838405&cid=58
27 ta' Ġunju, 2012 12:43 CET

Il-Ministru tal-Ġustizzja, il-Konsultazzjoni Pubblika u l-Familja Chris Said ressaq quddiem il-Parlament mozzjoni dwar il-koabitazzjoni.

Il-mozzjoni, li ppreżenta l-Ministru responsabbli mill-familja, tipproponi l-ewwel qari tal-abbozz ta' liġi imsejjaħ Att li jipprovdi għar-regolamentazzjoni tal-Koabitazzjoni. Din il-mozzjoni ġiet ippreżentata lill-iskrivan tal-Kamra t-Tlieta filgħaxija.

Fost affarijiet oħrajn, din il-liġi mistennija jkollha provvedimenti biex koppji mhux miżżewġin, li jgħixu flimkien, jingħataw l-istess drittijiet ċivili li jkollhom il-miżżewġin.

Barra minn hekk, bir-reġistrazzjoni ta’ civil partnership, ikunu magħrufa dawk il-persuni li quddiem l-Istat jidhru li qegħdin f’koabitazzjoni

Kien fl-1998 li l-Partit Nazzjonalista wiegħed fil-Programm Elettorali tiegħu li jdaħħal liġi dwar il-koabitazzjoni. Imbagħad f’Marzu ta’ sentejn ilu, il-Kumitat Parlamentari għall-Affarijiet Soċjali tal-Kamra tar-Rappreżentanti għamel pubbliku għadd ta’ proposti li kien irċieva mingħand in-nies dwar liġi fuq il-koabitazzjoni, wara li kien nieda konsultazzjoni pubblika.

Times: MGRM welcomes approval of hate crime law

http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20120620/local/mgrm-welcomes-approval-of-hate-crime-law.425092
Wednesday, June 20, 2012, 08:34


The Malta Gay Rights Movement has welcomed the passing of Hate Crime legislation in Parliament that extends the scope of this law from race and creed to also include sexual orientation and gender identity. The Bill was approved by parliament last night.

"We thank both sides of the House for supporting this bill and sending a strong message to society that targeting someone because of their sexual orientation or gender identity is unacceptable and will incur tougher penalties."

MGRM: Hate Crime Legislation approved by Parliament

PRESS STATEMENT MGRM. Gabi Calleja; Coordinator; MGRM; MOB 9925 5559

The Malta Gay Rights Movement welcomes the passing of Hate Crime Legislation that extends the scope of this law from race and creed to also include sexual orientation and gender identity. The bill was approved by parliament last night.

We thank both sides of the House for supporting this bill and sending a strong message to society that targeting someone because of their sexual orientation or gender identity is unacceptable and will incur tougher penalties. This Bill was proposed during a protest following the incident against two young lesbians in Hamrun earlier this year and was supported by aditus, We Are, LGBT Labour, Drachma and Drachma Parents, Graffitti, ADZ and Integra Foundation. The courage of these young people to report the crime played an important role in providing the required impetus to move forward with this legislative proposal which had been on MGRM's agenda for a number of years.

The next step is ensuring that police are adequately trained in dealing with such crimes and in actively reaching out to the LGBT community to ensure that victims feel safe to come forward and report such incidents. Adequate data collection is also essential.

We also look forward to the passing of a second bill which will extend the remit of the National Commission for the Promotion of Equality to also cover sexual orientation and gender identity. This is expected to take place this week. It will allow the Commission to act as mediator and to investigate allegations of discrimination in employment on the grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity.

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:

Tuesday, 26 June 2012

MGRM: Pride Week Film Fest & Schedule

18.6.2012, Gabi Calleja, MGRM Co-ordinator

The Malta Gay Rights Movement (MGRM) would like to invite you/your organisation to this year’s Pride March. This year’s event is planned to take place on Saturday 30th June 2012, gathering at 10:30 in front of Surfside in Sliema.

Pride is a symbolic manifestation which is held in many different cities around the world. It aims to increase the visibility of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons and their integral role in the societies where they live.

This year’s theme is I am. It is meant to remind everyone that LGBT individuals are part of society as much as everyone else is. Being an integral part of society, MGRM believes LGBT people should have access to rights that other people take for granted – but that all too often sexual minorities still need to struggle for.

This is the ninth consecutive year that this event is being organised and your participation is a clear sign of your commitment to respect for diversity and equality in Maltese society and around the world.

For further information please contact MGRM on 9925 5559 or visit our website at: www.maltagayrights.org. You can also follow us on Twitter: @MGRM_Malta. 


[Click on the images to enlarge.]