Statute of limitations in sexual offence cases against minors to be extended

Legal reforms to the laws on sexual offences will come into force in the coming weeks, the government said in a statement.

Minister for Social Justice, Solidarity, Family and Children’s rights, Michael Falzon, along with Minister for Justice, Edward Zammit Lewis addressed a press conference. The changes will include a number of amendments including to the prescription period on sexual offences committed against minors. This means that when a person becomes a victim of abuse and is still underage, he or she will now be able to report that crime up to twenty years after the crime was committed. The limitation period begins from the moment the victim turns twenty-three years of age.

Secondly, a number of clarifications in the Criminal Code regarding sexual offenses will be introduced, and procedural amendments in the Juvenile Court will be made.

Changes will also be made in cases of abduction or coercion of minors, including for situations where a parent or other person takes the child abroad, without the consent of the other party who has custody.

Anyone who leaves Malta or detains a child abroad in breach of a Maltese court order, or in breach of a protection order issued by a competent authority, shall also be liable to a maximum term of 13 years imprisonment.

Furthermore, in cases where there is a report of sexual activity between humans and animals, the crime of cruelty to animals will now be introduced in the law.

Zammit Lewis explained the importance of these amendments, which give some discretion to the Courts. “I would like to reiterate that most of these proposed amendments will protect children, who are, like our elderly and other vulnerable people, at the heart of our work as a government,” Zammit Lewis said.

He reiterated that these proposed changes were the result of a broad consultation.