VALLETTA (ITALPRESS/MNA) – The Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) has issued a damning assessment of Malta’s treatment of journalists and activists, warning of systemic hostility and unfulfilled reforms nearly eight years after the murder of investigative reporter Daphne Caruana Galizia.
The report, published by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, highlights persistent intimidation of human rights defenders, including disparaging rhetoric by senior politicians and the use of spurious lawsuits designed to silence critics.
Despite pledges to strengthen protections after the Caruana Galizia public inquiry, the OSCE concluded that Malta has failed to deliver comprehensive reforms. Instead, it found a “culture of hostility” where political figures dismiss activists as partisan or even “enemies.”
Journalists remain particularly vulnerable, with Malta recording the highest number of SLAPP cases per capita among 29 European countries between 2010 and 2021. The report warns that lawsuits and restricted access to information continue to undermine accountability.
Environmental and migration campaigners have also been branded as criminal facilitators by government officials, including Prime Minister Robert Abela. Women defenders face added risks, including sexist harassment and physical intimidation.
The OSCE condemned ineffective police protection measures and systemic denial of Freedom of Information requests, pointing to a deliberate weakening of oversight.
While noting that LGBTI rights groups receive strong state support, the report said the disparity underscores policy choices rather than capacity limits.
It urged Malta to strengthen anti-SLAPP laws, establish an independent human rights body, and implement the delayed public inquiry recommendations without further delay.
International pressure on Malta is mounting, with the Council of Europe and press freedom groups warning that the country remains one of the EU’s weakest performers on media freedom.
-Photo IPA Agency-
(ITALPRESS).
