ACT No. XIV or 1987 A N ACT 10 m~ke pTov;.;~n fO r/he Jubslan rive Anicles of rhe £urofH~" Co",<tmion fo; W PrortcriOll of lIunuJi1 RighlJ /Uld F'I,,*d~mmM/ FrudoftlJ. le b«oJmo ,,,,d N tJ!forcel'bk IU, ""n of .he u.w of Ma/Ill.

I asKnt.

(I .. S.)

PAUL XUEIIIl B

Actina PresKknt

19th Auaust, 19t17

ACT No. XIV or 1987

A N ACT 10 m~ke pTov;.;~n fO r/he Jubslan rive Anicles of rhe £urofH~"

Co",<tmion fo; W PrortcriOll of lIunuJi1 RighlJ /Uld F'I,,*d~mmM/

FrudoftlJ. le b«oJmo ,,,,d N tJ!forcel'bk IU, ""n of .he u.w of Ma/Ill.

liE IT E NCA TE D by the President. hy and with the adviec and COnsent

of rhe House of Representatives in this present Parli ament asse mbled. and

by the a uthority of the same. as fo11ow<o_

L This Act may be ci ted as the European Conve nt ion Act, 1987.

F"dan I· Att , kemm-il darba f·rabta lal·kliem ma tefliieg.. ~or('oflra -

In this Act unless the conlut otherwise requires

"Convention" mu," the Convention for tile Protection of Hum~n

Rili!hts and Funda"",nral Freedoms si.."ed in Rome on the 4th day of

November. 1950 and the First. Second , Third and Fifth PrtMoools thereto

signed in Paris on the 20th M~rch. 19S2. and in Strasbou ra o n the 6th

May. 1963. 61h May. 1963 and 20th January. 1966 re5p«1ivcty.

"Human Rights a nd Fundam"ntal Freedoms" means th05e rights

and freedom. as set out in Anicles 2 to 18 (ind u;ive) o f the Conven tio n

and Artid", I to 3 (indusive) of the Fi rst Proiorol to the Convention.

which Anides are reproduecd in the First Schedule to this Act ;

"ordinary law" "",ans any instnunent havina the fom o f Law and

Bny unwnuen rule of law. other than the Consti tution of Malta;

pc~n.

"pcnon" includes any physical

non-JOvemm emal

organisation or Jruup of individuals;

(I) The Hum an Rights and Fundamental Frudoms shall be, and

be enfor<;<:ahle as. pan of lhe Law of Mal!a.

(2)

WMre any ordina ry law is inoonsislenl with IM Huma n Rights

xrordanre with ~c! ion 46 o f the Cumti tutio n and Ihis section may be IIlade

in (ne same applkOlion or reference.

(8) Where an appliCluion for r~rC$S or any refe re",,", to the Civil

Coo n . First Hall. malle after the 30th April . 1981 i. made ud ... i,·cly either

upder section 46 of the Constitution Or undl=. Ihi • ..,<1;00 and i. s, ill pending

before the Civil Court . First Hall . or the OmslilU1iuna! Co urt . the Court may

e~amine whel hcr 0' not the facts complained of arc in violation of the

corr~ponding Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms. in the fitst casc:.

o . o f lhoe oorrc!ipOlldi ng Fundamental Rights and FrcedonlS of 1he Individual

enforceable tinder lhe Cons, itution . in the K«>nd C~; Hnd if the Court w

finds i1 may order ac<;<lrdingly the rcd.e", it may deem appropriate u nder any

o f the aforesaid la",~.

(I) Kull persuna li lallega li xi wiehed mid -Drillijiel lal-Bniedern

u Liberl3jic! Fondamenlali jkun gie. ikun qcd jigi jcw ik.,n ~ 'a klarx ser jigi

mi ksur dwarha. jcw kull peT'Suna ohra li 1-J>rirn'Awlatal_Ootli Civil; fMalta

tisla' tahtar ad iSlan~a ta' ~i persuna li hek k lallega. liSla' bla h&ara ghal kull

azzjooni ohm dwar I-i>less haga li Ikun lisla' ssir kgalment. litlob liII-Prim'

Awla lal-Qorli Ci~ili ghal rimedju.

(2) ll-Prim'Awla tal -Qort i Civili ghandha jkollha guris<.lizzjoni

originali li tisma' u tiddeCiedi kull talba magllmula minn xi peT'Suna skon<.l

is-subarti kolu (I) ta' dan I_artikolu, u tiSla' taghmel dawk l-<lrdnijiel. lohrog

dawk l-aui u laghli dawk id·<.lircuivi li Iqi . xicrqa sabicx Iwcllaq. jew lizgura

t -twettiq tad -DrittijicI lal -B niedem u Lihertajiel Fondamentali li ghaHgawdija

taghhom Ikun intitolata dik il -persuna

Izda I-qorli lista". jekk tqis li jkun dcsiderabbli li bekk taghmcl,

tirrifj ma li te:i:ertila .-""tghal laghha skond dan is-subarti kolu f"kulI kai mCl3

tkun sodisfatta li mezzi xierqa ta' rimcdju ghall -bur all egal buma jcw kicnu

di,p,mibbli favur dik il'peT'Suna skond xi ligi ordi narj a ohra.

(3) Jckk ("xi proeeduri fxi qoni li m3 tkunx il- Prim'Awla tal·Qoni

Civili jcw il-Qorti Koslituajonali Iqum xi kwi.tjoni <.lwar il-ksur la' xi wiehcd

mid-Drillijicl lal-Bniedcm u Libertajiet Fondamentali. dik il-Qorti ghandha

libgha! il -kwis!joni quddicm il-Prim'Awla tal·Oon i Civili kemm -il darba fil -

fchma laghha Hqanqil lal-kwisljoni ma lkunx ..,mplitemcnt frivola jew

ves.alorja; u <.lik il-qorli ghan<.lha taghti d -dctizjoni taghha fuq kull kwiSljoni

rnibghuta quddicmha skon<.l <.lan is-subartikolu u_ bla hsara ghad_

dispozizzjonijiet tas-subartikolu (4) la' dan I-arlikolu, il -qoni li quddiemha

tkun qamel il-kwisljooni ghandha tiddisp<}Oi mill_kwisljoni skond dik id-

<.lccizioni.

(4) Kull parti fi proceduri migjuba quddicm iJ-Prim'Awla tal-QoTti

Civili skond dan )-anikolu jkollba dTill la' appell quddicm il-Qorli

Koo;tituzzjonali.

(5) Ma jkunx hemm appell minn xi detizjoni skond dan I-artikolu

li xi lalba j~w it-t qanqil ta' xi kwistjon i Ikun sempliecment frivola jew

,·essatorja.

(6) Ir-Rcgolamenti tal·Qoni maghmula skond is-subartikolu (7) ta'

I-artikolu 46 tal -.K ostituzzjon i kif ,minn :i.mien ghal tmicn fis-schh. gI"Iandhom

J3Pphkaw mula/<f muMl1d'$ dwar tl.pratllka u proeedura lal-qrali ghall-finijiet

la' dan I-art ikolu daqs li kicku l·procedimenti maghmulin la hl dan I-arti kolu

kicnu pro<:c<.limenti maghmulin lahl I-anikolu 46 lal-Kostituzzjo""

(7) Meta iigi allegat illi xi wjehed mid-Drillijiel lal-Bnicdem u

Libertajiet Fondamentali u xi wiehcd mid-disJ?02:izzjonijie l lal-a rli koli 33 &a

45 (magh<.ludin) lal-K05titulzjoni gic. ikun qed jigi jew x'aklan ser jig; miksur.

it -talba ghar-rimedju jew ir-ri fcrenza lill -I'rim'Awl a lal_Qoni Ch'ili . koncl 1-

artikolu 46 tal-K05tiluzzjoni u dan I-artikolu. tista' ssir n-istcss rikors jcw

rifcrcnza .

(S) Meta rikoTli glial rim{>djll jew rifercllza lill -Prim"Awl a tal-Oort;

Civil; maghmula wara (-30 ta' April. 1'J87 tkun rnaglimula bi .. jew tallt I·

artikolu 46 taJ· Kosl ituajoni jew tahl dan l-artikolu u tkun ghadha pendent;

quddiem il·Prim'Awla tal·Qorti Civil; jcw iJ-Oorti Kostituzzjonali, il·Oorti

tisla' tetamina jekk il-fatt; al1cgati jkunux jew le. jivvjolaw id-Drittijiet tal·

Bniedcm u Libertajiet Fondamentali li ji \;\; orrispondu ghalihom n·ewwcl kat,

jew id-Drinijiel u Liocn ajiel Fondamentali tal - Individwu eZcgwibbli laftl il-

Kostituzzjoni, fil-lieni kat: u jc kk il·qoni hekk issib {kun lista' taglili r-rimedju

Ii jidhrilha .ieraq skond j].ka:t talll wahda mil·li~jiet imsemmija.

S. L·~bda pc:rsuna ma ghandha tigi mfinkla /l-eurtizzju lad-d.in [}ritl,.

tagliha li tagl\mel petizzjoni lis-Segrelarju·(;enerali lal. Kunsillla' I-Ewropa P.~joni,

skond id-dispotizzjonijiet ta' I·Arti kolu 25 tal_ Konvenzjoni uta' l_A ni koli I.cb"""".h.

kollba ta' l·islcss Konvenzt<,>ni li glland llom x'jaqsmu,

No JlC'l"S<m shall be hilKkr~d in th~ c~~rcise of hi, right to ""tition

the S«r~tary·Gc""rnl of tile Council of EufOPC' ;n acrordana with the

",ovi~io ... of Anick 25 of t ~ Con~e ntion and of all the Article. of the s.aid

Convemion related thereto.

(\) Any judgemem of the European Coon of H um~n Ri,hts 10

whkh a dttlaralWn ma"" by t h~ GO\~mlTKnt of Malta in acrordance "" ilh

An icle 46 of the Conwntion appliQ. may be cnforad by the Con<;li1Utional

Court in MalTa. in Ihe same manner as judl"mems delivered by that court

and e nforceable by it. upon nn applicatioll filed in Ihe Constitutional Court

and ~ rved on the AlIorney Gene ral conlainin, a demand Ih nlt hc enforcelTKm

of such judgemenl be ordered .

(2) Befor~ adjudging upon any such demand the Connitutio n.1

Cou rt wall examine if the judgeme nt o f the Euro""an Court ol Hum.n Rights

$OUght to be e nforced, is onc to which a dcdaralion as is rderred to in

su~cl ion ( I) of Ihi, section applies.

(3) The Constitutional Coort shall order lhe e nforccm~nl of a

judgemenl referred \0 in this section if il finds Ihal such judgement is one 10

"'h kh a dei:laral;on rcf~rred to in su~clion (2) of Ihis seelion applies.

No contravention of the Human Rights and Fu:odalTKntal Fr«doms

cx>mmittcd bcfOf~ the 30Ih April. 1987. Shall gi"e rise 10 an action "mkr

SCCtIon" of this Act.

FIRST SC HEDULE

(Section 2)

,\ <liel" 210 18 u/' t'" Connnllon r ... I'" J>rolcrtion '" Iluman Rili" .!' and

r undanKnt.a1 Frftd .......

ART1CLIl 1-

( \) Everyone's righl to life Shall be protected by law. No onc shall be de-

pri"cd of his li fe int entionally $aVC in lhe utcUlion 01 a senlence 01 a 00\11'1 101·

looo.·ing his oonvict ion of a crime for which Ihis penalty is provided by law.

(2) Depriv~lio .. of life sh:,1I not be regarded as ; .. metcd in contravention

of this Article "'hen il resulls from the use of force which i~ no more Ihan absQ.

lutely necessary

(a) in defence of ~ny ""rson from unbwfu t violence

(b) in order In effect a lawful arre~1 or to prevent the escape of a per·

son lawfull y detained;

(e) in action lawfully ta ken for lhe purpose of quelling a riot or

insurrection.

ARTICLE }

No on~ shall be subjected to IOrtu re Or to inhuman or degrading tre;ument

or punishrrKnl.

ARl1C\.E 4

No onc shall be held in slavery o r servi tude.

(I)

(2)

No OIle shall be re'luired to perform forced or compulsory labour.

(J) For the P"'P"'" of this Article the tenn "forced Or comp"lsory

labour" shall ""t include,

(a) any .... ork re'luired to be done in the o rdinary cou rl><' of dct~ntion

imposed according to the provisions of Article 5 of t his Convention or dur·

ing conditioned release from such detenl;on;

(b) any service of a military charact~r or, in case of c<)nscientious

objectors jn countries .... here they arc recogni sed. se rvice exacted instead

of compulsory military service;

(c) any service exacted in case of an emergency or calamity

threatening the life or well· being of the community;

(d) an)' work or service .... hich forms part of ""rm al dvicohligations .

ARTtCLE S

(I )

Everyone has the right to liberty and securi ty of person.

No on~ shall be deprived of his liberty save in th~ follolO'i ng cases and;n il\!'

cordaOC<' .... ith a procedur~ prescribed by law

(a) the la,,1ul detention of a person after conviction hy • competent

court;

(b) the la ... 'ful arrest or detention of a person for non<Qf11p1iantt

with the lawful order of a court or in order toS<'Cure the fullilrrKm of any

obligation prescribed by law

(c) the lawful arrest or detention of 3 person effCC1ed for the pu r·

pose of bringing him before the competent legal aut horit ies o n reawnBbIe

suspicion of having oommiucd an offeOC<' or .... hen it is feasonably cons;'

dered necessary to prevent his oommiuing an offeOC<' or fleeing after hav.

ing done so

(d) the detention of a minor by lawful order lor the purpose of edu.

cational supervision Or his la ... ·lul detention for the PUrpo$oC of bringing him

before,he oompe,ent legal authori,y ;

(e) the la,.-ful detention of persons forthe prevention of thuprcad·

ing of infectious diR:3lie!I. of perwnsofunsound mind , alcoholic. or drug

addicts or " agrants

ar..,"

(t) the IBlOful

or detention of a person 10 !'feYent his effecting

an unauthorised entry into the country or of a person against whom attion

is ~ing laken with a ,"ielO' to deponation o r eX!radi,ion .

(2) Everyone who i. arrested shall be inforrrKd promptl y. in a language

.... hieh he undeTlitands. 01 the reasonS for his arre,1 and of any ~harge againM

him.

(3) Evef)"one arrested Or detained in accordante with the p.ovi§ions of

paragraph I (e)of,h ;sA ni<;le sha!! be brought promptjy~foreajudgeorothN

'0

officer authori!.ed by law exercise judicial "",,"er and shall be entitled to tri al

within a reuonable time o r to release pending lrial. Release may be oon-

diti()lled by guarantees 10 appear for trial.

(4) Everyone ,,'ho is deprived o f hiS liberty by alTW or detention sh.all be

emitled 10 ta ke proceedings by which lhe la"fulness of his delention r.hall be

decided speedily by a oourt and his te~ ordered iflhe detention is 001 law.

ful.

(S) Everyone who hu been the vktim o f ar",,1 or de le nlion in CQIllf1l_

vention of the provisions of this Anicle shall have an enforo:a ble righllo corn-

penl-3 lion.

A RTICLE 6

(I) 1 n the detennination of his civil rights and ob~gat ions or of any mm_

inal charge against him, everyone is entitled 10 a fair and public hea ring wilhin

a reasonable tim e by an independent and impanialtribunalestablished by Jaw.

Judgement shall be pro nounced publicly bot the press and public may be

ucluded from all or part of Ihe {rial ;n the inlerestsof morals . public order or

nat ional Sl:curity in a democratic sociely. where Ihe intereSlS of juveniles or the

protet\ion of the p rivate life of {he pani« so re quire. or to Ihe e~tent strictly

neCCSl-3ry in Ihe opinion of th e coun in sp"cial circumSlances where publicity

would prejudice the interests of justice.

(2) Everyone charged with a criminal offence shall be presumed inno-

« nt until proved guilty according to law.

(3) Everyone charged with a criminal offen« has the following

minimum rights

(a) 10 be informed promptly. in a language which he understand.

and in detail. of the nature and cause of the accusation against him

(b) 10 have ade<J uate time and facilities forthe preparalion of his de-

fence;

(c) todefe nd himself in person orlhrough legal a .. i.tanccofhi. own

choo$i ng or . if he has nO! sufficie nt ""'am; 10 pay for legal a .. istance. In be

given it free when the interests of juslice SO re<Juire;

(d) In e)[llmine or have e xamined wilnesses against him and 10 ob-

tain tbe aneOOdnce and exuminali()ll of wilnesses ()Il his behalf unde r the

same roOOilio"" as wilncssc-s against him;

(e) 10 have the free assistance of an inte rpreter if he cannot under-

Mand or speak the language used in court.

ARl la.E 7

No one ~a:1 be held guilty of any crimi nal offence on account of any

( I)

act or omi ... ion which did not constilute 3 criminal offence under nalional or in·

temationallaw at lbe lime when il was commiued. Nor shall a heavier p"nalty

be impmed Ihan lite onc that was applicable al Ihe lime the criminal o ffence

was com milted.

(2 ) This Anicle r.hall nO! ~judice Ihe lrial and punishment of any p"r-

501'1 for any act Or omi'lSion which. a llhe lime whe n it wascommil,ed . was mm·

inal attOrding 10 tbe general principle:,; of law rN:Ognised by civilised nalio"".

ARTIa.E 8

(I ) Everyone has the right to respecI for hi. private and family life. his

home a nd hi. correspondence.

(2) There sltall be no interference by a public autltority witlt tlte ucrcisc

of this fi&ht eroeJM sueh as is in aa:ordaoce witlt lhe law and is necaaary in

a democratic ~Iy in the inlereslS 0 1 nalional """""rity, public safely or IIIe

«Of'IOfTti, _U-be:ing of the oounlIy, lor the prevention of diiorder or mlM ,

for the prOlection of health or morals, or for the protection of the righlS and

freedoms of othen.

ARTICLE'

(1) Everyone IIas the right to In:;.eoom of thought , conscience and reli-

gion; tltis right ioclude' lreedom 10 , hange his religion or helief and freedom ,

eilhcr alone or in oommllnity witll othen lllld in public or privale, to manifell

his religion Or helief,in wo .. hip. teaching, practice and observance.

(2) Freedom 10 manifest one'l religion or be:lids .IIaU be: subject only

to S\lCh ~m.itatioll5 as I Te prescribed by law I!KI are n«:CSSaf)' in I democralic

sociely in Ihe intereslI of public safety, for tile protection of public order.

IIeslth or moral., Or for tile prolection of Ihe rigllts and freedoms of otlleR.

A R11CLE LO

(1) Everyone h.as the right 10 Irecdo:>m of e~pression . This righl shall

include fr«dam to hold opinions and 10 rccciv.: and impan inlOrmllion and

ideas witllout in terference by public allthority and regardl~ of frontiers . This

Article lhsll not prevent States from requiring the Ikensing of broadcaSting,

television o r cinema enterprises.

(2) The e~ercisc of lhese freedom" lince it carries with it dlllies and

responsibilities, may be: $ubied 10 such lannalilies , conditions, restrictions o r

penalti"" as a re prescrihed by Ilw and Ire lICttS'ary in I demottatic society,

in the interests of national security. territorial int(lVily or public safely, for

the prevention of disorder or crime , for the protection of IIe8lt h or morals,

for llIe protection of the reputation or rights of otheR. for preventing the

disclosure of inlonn.lion ","ivetl in wnfidence. or for maintaining tile author-

ity and impaniality 01 Ihe judiciary.

ARTICLE 11

(1) Everyone has the right 10 freedom of peaceful usemble and to

fr«dom o f associalion with otheR. including the right 10 form and to join

trade unions ror tile prolection of Itis intUeSb.

(2) No restrictions lhaU be plac:cd on tile cxerc:isc of these. righu OIlier

than soch as are prell<;ribe:d by law and .re nece!oSllry in a democratic iOciety

in the interests of national SC<:\lrity or public li<\fely, ror Ihe prevention of

disorder o r crime , for Lhe protection of healtlt o r moral. o r for the prOlection

of tile ri&h1S and Ir«dolJl$ 01 otbef1,. This Ankle shall not prevent the impos'

ition of lawful restrio:tion$ cm the cxcrc:isc o f these righu by membef1, of the

;mned forces, of the polioc or of the adminis.ra.tion of the Slate.

AR11C1.£ 12

Men and women of marriageable .ge Itave tile right to marry and to

found • family. aa:ording 10 the n"ion.1 JaWl governing the enrci:!e o f this

right .

ARTICLE 11

Everyone whole rightS and freedoms as set fortll in Ihis Con""nlion are

violated shall have an effective remedy be:fore a national authorily not-

willwandin, thal the> violation h,.. b«n committed by penom actin, in an

official capacity.

AJtTJa..E \ 0

"(be enjoyment of the rianlS a nd frttdoms K t forth in Ihis Convention

' colour.

'all

be ICCUred wilhout ditcrimination OD any &fOUnd wdI '" KlI, ra<:e ,

lan~ , tdipon , poIitial Of ocheropinion. IUliooa! Of tOcial on,;n ,

aS6OCiation wilh a national minority. property . birth Of mhe>r $la hI5.

AIIT1CU! I~

( 1) In time o f W~ t or othe r publi<: erner,ency threatenin, the life o f the

nalion . ny HiAb Contractin, Pariy may I.ke measures dcroptina from its

obligations under lhil Convention to the exlenl 51rictly required by the exi,en·

cid o f the 5ituation. provided that such measures are not inron,;S\enl with

iu oxbc:. obligations undocr intcrRalional law.

(2) No dcroplion from Ankle 2, eIOcpt in respect of dc. tltl resu1tina

from lawful acts of Wat . Of from Articles 3. 4 (paragraph 1) a nd 1 shan be

made under this provision .

rc_

(3) Any Hi,h Contnnin, Pa rty availin, itKlf of thit ri&hl afderogation

shall keep the Scotl'"etary-GcneraJ of the Council of Europe fully informed o f

therefor. h ""all also inform

the measures which it has laken and the

the Sccrelary-Gcnclll' o f the Council of Europe when such measurei h.ve

~ased to operate and the provisions of the Convention are again bein, fully

cx«uled .

AIIT1CU! 16

Nmhin, in Article$ 10 . 11 and 14 dlall be rc ... Wed as preventina the

High Conn"Ktin, Panics from irnpolill, restrictions on the political activity

ofaIK ....

AIITIC1.E 17

Nothing in ttn Convention may be interpreted as implyi n, for any St.te.

IfOUP Or person . ny righl 10 en ... ~ in any activity or perform . ny act limed

" lhe destruction ..A any of the riabts and frttdoms let fonh herein or It

their limitation 10' greater extent thin;' provided for in the Convention.

AJl.T1CU! 18

ll!e restriction. perm itted under this Convention to the Aid rights a nd

frWoms shall not be applied for I ny purpose other than thole for wh ich

they IuIve been prescribed .

"rtlcks I InJ or _he tlrac Protocol to tM C.>u tion for the Prot«tlon or

lI umaJI Hlghtu nd hnda mtllla l t"1'ftdonu.

AIIllCl£ 1

E><,ry natural o r legal pcI$On is entitled 10 the peace ful enioyment of his

~. No one ~I be dcpri'lfll of his pDMe' • :IOIS euq>! in the public

intern! Ind sutJ;eo;i to the conditions provided for by la .... and by the ~ncral

principles of int<,rnationallaw.

"IlIc pr«edin, prowilioll5 "'all Il0l . ho" .. evcr. in any wly impair the righl

of a Stile 10 e nforce ,uch Ilws I. il d«ms necesJary tQ control the use o f

prOfll'ny in accordance ... illllhe: general imerest or to secure lhe payment o f

t""cs or other cont ribulions or penalties.

ARna..E2

No person sllall be denkd tile ri&ln to ed"" .. ion . In lhe uerci5c of any

functions .... hich il assu""", in rdalion 10 educalion Ind to teaching . tile Stale

shall rnp«! lhe rigllt of pare nu to ensure sucll education and Icaclling in

conformity witll tOOr own religious and phHosopllical conviclion,.

ARTICLE]

n.c High Conlracting Panics urKknake to hold free eleaions at reason-

able intervals by secret !>allot. under COnditions which ";U ensure the free

cspres5ion of lhe opinion of the people in the choice of tile legislature.

SECOND SCH ED ULE

(Section 3)

OECLARATI01'ol AND RESER VATIO:-':S

MADE BYTHE GQVERNMEl'I.'TOFMALTA WHES

SIG NING T H E COi'lVEl'I.'TION AND PROTOCOL

(1 2 DECEMBER 1\1(6)

Dcclarotion ofimerprdation

l.

The GO"emment o[ Malta declares that it interprets p;>ragraph 2o[

Article 6 o[ the Con "enlion in the 5C:nse that ;1 does not preclude any p;lrticuiar

la .. ' from iOlposing upon any person charg<:d under such law th<: burden of

pro";ng p.lrt1cular facls.

2. The Government of Mu!! a. having rcgard 10 Article 64 of lhe

Convcnlion. an d desiring to a.-oid Un)' uncertaint)" .. regards the appliaolion of

Anick 10 of lhe: Convcntion declares that the ConSl;tution of Mal ta allolO's

sueh rcstonions 10 be imposed upon poblkoffoe<: ... in regard to their freedom

of expression as arC reasonably justifiable in ademocratic society. The rode of

conduct of pu blic offICers in "'blta precludes them froOl taking an 8c1i"e pan in

political di~ ussions or other ]lOlitkal activity during working hou rs or on

official premi>cS.

3. The GO"~rnment of Malt~. ha"ing regard to Anide 6-1 of the Con·

"cntioo dttlare5 that tile principle of la,,·fuI deft"" admitted under suI).

paragraph (a) o f p~ragraph (2) of Anicle ~ of the Con,·~ntion shall appl)' in

Maim also 10 the defence of prOJI(:rty to the extent r~quired by the pro~i s;on' of

paragraphs (a) and (b) of ",ctiOIl 238 of the Criminal Code of Malt a. the text

"hereof. along " 'i th Ih" texl of Ihe p.eced ing ",ction 237. is as followS

"231. No offence is rommiued " 'hen a homicKleora bod,ly harm is

ordered o r penniucd by law or by a la,,'(ul authority. o r is imposed 1»'

actual nc:cc:ssity cilher in la"'ful ... I(-defence Of in the 13"'(ul defence of

anOther pcnnn.

"238.

Ca"" of actual ncce .. ily of la"'ful defence shall include the

following

(a) " 'here the homicide o r bodily harm iscommined in the act

o( repelling. during the night-time the ..,aling Of breaking of

enclosures, walls, or the entrance doors of any hous<: Of inhabited

apartment. or of the appanenance thereof having a direct or an

indirect communication with such house or apartment;

(b) where the homicide or bodily harm is committed in the act

of defence against any person committing theft or plunder. with

violence. or attempting to commit such theft or plunder;

(c) where the homicide or bodily harm is imposed by the

actual necessity of the defence 01 one's own cha'tity or ofthe chastity

of another person, " ,

4. The Government of Malta, having regard to Article 64 of the

Convention. declares that the principle affirmed in the ",cond sentence of

Anicle 2 of the Protocol is accepted by Malta only in so far as it is compatible

with the pro>-ision of efficient instuction and training, and the avoidan~ o f

unre asonable public expenditure . having regard to the fact that the JKlpulation

of Malta is overwhelmingly Roman Catholic.

Passed by the House of Representatives al Sitting No , 21 01 the 12th August , 1987 ,

JIMM Y FAKK UGtA

Speaker

p , M USC"-T T ERKtlllLE

A cting Clerk 10 the t/ouu ojRtpri SmtoliviS.

ippubbhb' mi4-Diparmlonl la' l_Infonnazzjoni Ka.11IJ' E'lJbbrM<l by Ill. DepGr1m<nt of InfOf7flaJicn K1lr~ljd

Mithlgh fl-lstaIql<nJl t1!.(1""", - Pnntod at 11v Gowm_1 PnntDIg ~

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