ECRI Report, 2013
Country
Malta
Year
Type of publication
Geographical coverage
National
Area/location of interest
Type of Institution
Council of Europe body
Institution
Main Thematic Focus
Racism & xenophobia Discrimination Ethnic profiling
Target Population
Muslims Migrants Ethnic minorities People with migrant background Refugees & asylum seekers
Key findings
There have been very few investigations opened for breach of the criminal law provisions in force against racism.
As concerns training of those involved in the criminal justice system, ECRI has been informed by legal practitioners that neither lawyers nor judges are provided with specific training on criminal law provisions in force against racism. The authorities have stated that police officers follow training on various subjects, including racist crime (see the section on conduct of law enforcement officials). However, ECRI was informed by representatives of vulnerable groupsand NGOs that police frequently do not follow up on complaints lodged by migrants on grounds of racism or racial discrimination (see the subsection of this report on access to public places and services) and that, for this reason, few report them.
ECRI recommends that the authorities ensure that effective, proportionate and dissuasive sanctions are imposed in disciplinary cases involving proved racist conduct of law enforcement officials.
Methodology (Qualitative/Quantitative and exact type used, questionnaires etc)
The working methods for the preparation of the reports involve documentary analyses, a visit to the country concerned, and then a confidential dialogue with the national authorities.
Sample details and representativeness
ECRI’s reports are analyses based on a great deal of information gathered from a wide variety of sources.