Updated | Bill to remove criminal libel to be tabled in parliament

A Bill to remove criminal libel from Malta’s law books will be tabled in parliament for its first reading on Monday October 10, when parliament reconvenes from the summer recess.

The move was confirmed by Justice Minister Owen Bonnici who said that the government would continue “to modernise the laws” following the recent changes to the censorship and freedom of expression law.

“The first reading of the draft Bill approved by the Cabinet has been scheduled for October 10,” Bonnici said in a statement.

The minister said one of the main aims of the bill was to remove criminal libel whilst introducing alternative dispute resolutions in civil libel cases.

Earlier today, the Institute for Journalists (IGM) urged legislators to introduce mediation and speed up the decriminalisation of libel.
The organisation said it had participated in the consultation process for the White Paper to improve mediation proceedings, publishing a position paper on September 26.

“Whilst mediation was to be introduced as a measure for resolving lease disputes, it felt that it should also be introduced in libel cases,” the IGM said.
The institute said that, in a considerable number of libel cases, the defendant makes a declaration that mitigates the offence complained of and brings court proceedings to an end.

“But in the meantime, there would have incurred pointless expense and a waste of the court's time,” IGM said.
IGM said it was convinced that if mediation were to be introduced at the complaint stage, a settlement could be reached between the parties much earlier. It strongly encouraged the government to consider this proposal whilst insisting that Parliament must legislate to decriminalise libel.