Launching the Association

Launch:

Date: Friday 12th December 2008
Time: 18:30 - 20:00
Venue: University of Malta
Gateway Building - Hall E

 

The Malta Criminology Association (MACA) was launched on the 12th December 2008 bringing to fruition a number of year’s work aimed at creating a forum where the criminology disciplines can exchange and disseminate information, raise awareness of the value of criminology and promote professionalism in the discipline

The launch was aimed at all criminology and related-professionals, interested parties, agencies that are effected by crime and that are crucial to the study of, policy-making, decision-making, operation in and implementation of security-related activities.
 
In a packed session composed of professionals in the crime-related fields, amongst them distinguished guests as are Judges, Magistrates, lawyers, probation officers, criminologists, security agencies’ representatives, support agencies, police officers, academics and students, the launch focused on introducing the association, the process involved as well as reviewing the long-term aims for criminology in Malta.

The speakers included Dr. Sandra Scicluna, Mr. Ray Zammit, Dr. Saviour Formosa, Mr. Trevor Calafato and two guests: Dr. Michael Falzon Shadow Minister for Justice and Home Affairs PL and Mr. Mario Caruana Director General who was representing the Minister for Justice and Home Affairs.

The speakers presented an overview of the processes that the association will work on: mainly to promote realistic perceptions of crime in Malta, act as a catalyst and focal point for debate and research, represent the varied interests of the wider Criminology community, create a network covering the public and private sectors, be proactive on national strategy and policies, expose Maltese criminologists to European and international initiatives and most importantly to promote a professional warranting system for criminologists.
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Dr. Scicluna and Mr. Zammit gave an overview of the past and present issues in crime and its reduction, highlighting a note on the first Maltese criminologist; Joseph Semini.

Dr. Formosa gave an overview of crime in the Maltese Islands as well as the why and how of a creating a Criminology Association in Malta.

Mr. Trevor Calafato gave an overview of the statute drafted for the Association.

Mr. Caruana commended the initiative to bring together all professionals in a holistic manner that helps create a forum to promote the criminology profession and widen linkages with the tightly-fit professions in the diverse fields impacting on or of crime. He also praised the initiative for MACA to serve as an active pool for feedback on policy and also to proactively promote policy change and serve as a knowledge-pool to the drafting of white papers and legislation at local, national and international levels. This will serve as a basis for the creating synergy with all agencies in providing strategies to the spreading of security for the citizens as well as serving as a base for the synergy between policy makers and decision makers.

Dr. Falzon commended the initiative to bring together all professionals facing the ever changing aspects of crime, particularly in striving to engage and inform the professionals, decision-makers and public on the different modes that crime effects social capital and social cohesion. He stressed the fact that MACA will enable the spread of knowledge and remove the perceived and real distance between the forces and the specialists in their fields through the use of high-end systems and on-the ground experts as well as persons at administrative levels from Local Councils to National Government. Most importantly Dr. Falzon encouraged all stakeholders to enable a real debate on what constitutes crime and also to serve as an active pool for feedback on policy and also to proactively promote policy change.
 

All professionals and crime-reduction related individuals are urged to contact MACA on info@macamalta.org or to visit the site www.macamalta.org

 

Launching Posters

 

 

 

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Launching Presentation

 

 

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Photos

Dr. Scicluna	Audience	Mr. Zammit
Dr. Formosa	Mr. Calafato	Audience
Panel	Dr. Falzon	Mr. Caruana
Panel	Panel	Audience

 

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Speeches

Introductory & Closing Speeches:
Dr. Jacqueline Azzopardi

INTRODUZZJONI

Nibda billi nirringrazzjakom ‘ilkoll: Lill-Onor. Michael Falzon, lis-Sur Mario Caruana (Director General tal-Ministeru tal-Intern u tal-Ġustizzja) li qed jirrapresenta lil Ministru Carmelo Mifsud Bonnici (li xtaq jattendi iżda li inqabad fuq xogħol barra minn Malta), lill-kollegi u l-ħbieb tagħna (gradwati fil-Kriminoloġija u/jew esperti fil-qasam tal-Ġustizzja Kriminali), studenti tal-Kriminoloġija … kollha kemm intom … talli ġejtu illum …talli sfidajtu l-maltemp!

Fl-aħħar tat-80ijiet, l-ewwel Direttur tal-Istitut tal-Istudji Forensiċi, il-mibki Dott. Joseph Louis Grech, saħaq fuq il-bżonn li f’Malta ikun hemm forum, ta’ esperti (BIS-SERJETA’) fil-kamp tal-Ġustizzja Kriminali, li fuq il-pariri tagħhom, ikunu jistgħu joqgħodu b’moħħhom mistrieħ, il-Qrati, il-Pulizija u l-awtoritajiet tas-Servizzi Korrettivi. 

It-triq kienet twila … u l-maltemp kostanti … iżda bl-għajnuna ta’ Alla u ta’ nies ġenwini bħal Dott. Saviour Formosa, is-Sinjura Janice Formosa Pace, is-Supretendent Ray Zammit, l-ispettur Paul Caruana, is-Sur Gordon Schembri, is-Sur Trevor Calafato, is-Sur Richard Bradshaw u d-Dottoressa Sandra Scicluna (li bħali huma membri tal-kumitat fondatur/amministrattiv tal-MACA) irnexxilna noħolqu l-ewwel qafas fuq xiex naħdmu biex fl-aħħar, il-ħolma ta’ Dott. Grech issir realta’.  Dan il-qafas huwa il-MACA (Malta Criminology Association).  Mhuwiex l-għan tagħna illum li inħeġġukom issiru membri …iżda hija ċara li tridu tkunu intom li tatu l-ħajja lil din l-assoċċjazzjoni.

Il-kumitat amministrattiv tal-MACA ser jaħdem fuq diversi binarji li ser jiffurmaw il-proċess li ser jinbena fuq is-sena li ġejja, fosthom:

1. Theme sub-topics
2. Membership structures
3. Fees

Matul is-sena d-dieħla, il-MACA ukoll sejra tkun qed tikkollabora mal-Istitut tal-Istudji Forensiċi, biex flimkien  norganizzaw konferenza internazzjonali tal-Kriminoloġija għal Ottubru li ġej.  Din l-okkazzjoni sejra isservi biex tiġi introdotta il-Masters il-ġdida fil-Kriminoloġija u l-Ġustizzja Kriminali li se tkun offruta mill- Istitut tal-Istudji Forensiċi u minn Western Michigan University (USA).

Jien nieqaf hawn ħalli issa nintroduċi (fil-qosor ħafna) il-kelliema tagħna …li ilkoll sejrin jagħtu taħdita QASIRA!  Dawn huma:

1. Id-Dottoressa Sandra Scicluna … esperta fil-qasam tas-Servizzi Korrettivi
2. Is-Supretendent Raymond Zammit ……espert fil-qasam tal-Pulizija
3. Id-Dottor Saviour Formosa …espert fil-geografija tal-kriminalita’ u tar-riċerka kriminoloġika
4. Is-Sur Trevor Calafato …Probation Officer li qed jispexjalizza fl-issue tat-terroriżmu
5. L-Onor. id-Dottor Michael Falzon …li m’għandu bżonn l-ebda introduzzjoni ….huwa x-Shadow Minister tal-Intern u tal-Ġustizzja …
6. U l-istess jgħodd għas-Sur Mario Caruana li  uwa id-Direttur Ġenerali fi ħdan il-Ministeru tal-Intern u tal-Ġustizzja

 

GĦELUQ

Ngħalaq din l-okkażżjoni billi inħeġġiġkom tatu sehemkom fi ħdan il-MACA.  Il-MACA mhix qedha għal nies li jixtiequ biss jidhru jew għar …joħolqu kontroversji u inkwiet.  Bil-kuntrarju, il-MACA sejra tkun familja ta’ esperti SERJI fil-kamp tal-Ġustizzja Kriminali…biex tati palata lill-Qrati, lill-Pulizija u lill-awtoritajiet tas-Servizzi Korrettivi …kif ukoll lil dawk l-aġenziji kollha li jħabtu wiċċhom ma’ nies li, b’xi mod jew ieħor, kellhom/ikollom l-inkwiet mal-Ġustizzja.   Bħal f’kull familja, il-membri ser ikollhom rwoli differenti …skond il-livell li laħqu. Wkoll, bħal f’kull familja tajba, fil-MACA, il-membri sejrin iħossuhom komdi, protetti, apprezzati u rispettati.

Illum iltqajna biex natwaw l-ewwel parti minn proċess li għandu jwassal għal ħafna progress fil-kamp tal-Kriminoloġija f’Malta, fosthom li ngħaqdu lil kull min hu interessat billi noħolqu fora fejn is-suġġetti relatati jiġu diskussi bis-serjeta’ u bil-professjonaliżmu xieraq … u mhux superfiċjalment fil-media. Biex nisraq ftit kliem mill-Bibbja, veru li x-xogħol huwa kbir…. iżda veru wkoll li ħaddiema ….nies kwalifikati … għandna, u n-numru tagħhom sejjer jibqa’ jiżdied kull sena għax il-Kriminoloġija f’Malta fl-aħħar qed tiġi apprezzata bħala għodda siewja meta niġu biex:

1. Nipprevenu l-kriminalita’
2. Naqbdu dawk li jiksru l-liġi
3. Nittrattaw il-kriminali bl-aktar mod effettiv bla ma niksru d-drittijiet umani
4. Inħarsu l-pubbliku mill-kriminalita’
5. Nirrispondu għall-bżonnijiet tal-vittmi

Naħseb l-awtoritajiet jaqblu magħna li hija verament ħasra li dawn l-esperti u l-gradwati fil-Kriminoloġija ma jintużawx hawn Malta …u li l-għerf u/jew l-esperjenza tagħom, jew tintilef jew jintuża mill-barranin ….’il bogħod minn xtutna!

GRAZZI!    

 

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Speech
Dr. Michael Falzon MP

Nixtieq nibda l-ewwel nett billi nirringrazzja lill-Fundaturi tal-“Malta Criminology Association” u lill-organizzaturi ta’ l-okkażjoni tal-lum, ta’ l-istedina tagħhom sabiex inkun wieħed mill-kelliema tal-lejla.

Ma nistax ma nibdiex, billi qabel xejn, inwassal l-awguri u kif ukoll ir-ringrazzjamenti tiegħi, lil dawk kollha wara din l-inizjattiva. Inizjattiva li għandha twassal sabiex tiġbor fi ħdan din l-Assoċjazzjoni , lil dawk kollha illi jridu jħabbtu wiċċhom ma’ l-aspetti diversi u li qed dejjem jinbidlu, u fuq kollox isiru dejjem aktar kumplessi, fejn tidħol il-kriminalità ta’ madwarna.

Assoċjazzjoni bħal din, għandu jkollha diversi għanijiet quddiemha, għanijiet komuni li kollettivament żgur illi jistgħu jintlaħqu aħjar, milli kieku nibqgħu sparpaljati.

Hemm l-aspett li Assoċjazzjoni  bħal din tiġbor fiha u tinforma lil dawk kollha nvoluti fil-ġlieda kontra l-kriminalità bl-iżviluppi li jkun għaddejjin. Kif ukoll lil dawk li jieħdu d-deċiżjonijiet u lill-pubbliku in ġenerali; dwar id-diversi aspetti ta’ kif il-kriminalità taffettwa l-ħajja u l-koeżjoni soċjali; anke fil-ħajja tagħna ta’ kuljum.

Hemm l-aspett ta’ kif irridu nsiru dejjem aktar konxji ta’ kif il-kriminalità qed issir dejjem aktar, forsi intanġibbli u astratta, f’diversi forom ġodda, bħal ngħidu aħna s-“cybercrime”, il-pornografija elettronika, (partikolarment fejn tinvolvi minorenni), t-terroriżmu u f’oqsma oħrajn.

Din l-Assoċjazzjoni per eżempju, żgur li għandha twassal għat-tqassim aħjar ta’ l-informazzjoni, kif ukoll sabiex jitneħħew il-barrieri; reali jew perċeputi;  jeżistu jew ma jeżistux; li jista’ jkun hemm, bejn dawk kollha nvoluti fid-diversi oqsma li jmissu l-kriminoloġija. Dan għandu jsir fuq id-diversi livelli nvoluti, sew dawk amministrattivi, kif ukoll fuq bażi lokali u nazzjonali.

Għandna naslu wkoll, permess ta’ Assoċjazzjoni  bħal din, sabiex nifhmu ferm aħjar xi tfisser illum it-terminu “kriminalità”, u b’hekk is-soċjetà in ġenerali tkun tista’ tiġġielidha aħjar.

Fuq bażi pro-attiva għandu jkun hemm “feed-back” kontinwu fuq ir-realitajiet ġodda, fejn għandu wkoll ikun hemm l-inizjattiva pro-attiva, sabiex isir it-tibdil meħtieġ anke fejn tidħol “policy”. Ma għandniex inkunu biss reazzjonarji iżda pro-attivi.

Dawk minna li huma nvoluti fit-tfassal tal-policies u dawk li jieħdu ċertu deċiżjonijiet, jistennew minn Assoċjazzjoni  bħal din, informazzjoni esperta f’dan il-qasam, anke fejn jidħol it-tfassil tal-liġijiet ġodda; kif ukoll, u għaliex le, fejn jidher li hemm bżonn tibdil f’liġijiet eżistenti. Xejn ma hu perfett.

Id-dinja madwarna qed dejjem tinbidel u xejn ma hu se jżommha. Hu essenzjali għalina, bħala soċjetà illi mhux biss inlaħħqu mat-tibdil li jsir; anke f’xi ħaġa negattiva, bħal ma hi l-kriminalità; iżda forsi aktar importanti minn hekk, irid jirnexxielna illi nantiċipaw anke dak li hu ħażin. Hawn ukoll, il-prevenzjoni hi ferm u ferm aħjar mill-kura!!

Finalment u nerġa’ nisħaq fuqha, Assoċċjazzjoni bħal dn għandha tkun dejjem waħda pro-attiva, fejn tkun hi stess li ttella’ fuq l-aġenda nazzjonali temi diversi dwar dawk l-aspetti kollha tal-kriminalità moderna tal-lum; u l-effetti li din qed tħalli fuq is-soċjetà tagħna. Dan għandu jsir mhux biss permezz ta’ fora u diskussjoni akkademika, iżda anke fattwalment,` fejn jidħol tfassil ta’ policies u liġijiet.

Nagħlaq billi mill-ġdid nirringrazzjakom ta’ l-istedina tagħkom, filwaqt li nawgura l-akbar suċċess possibbli lil dawk kollha nvoluti f’din l-inizjattiva.

 

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This initiative resulted in a series of meetings and workgroups that eventually prepared the way forward for the launching of the MACA. Presentations of the setting up can be viewed in the Presentations page, whilst documentation reviewed in the Members Area section.

For a full document archive kindly click on the Members Button. The archive contains full newsletters, presentation, industry news as well as MAGI interest groups information and activities.