Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1256426
3 LETTERS & EDITORIAL maltatoday | SUNDAY • 7 JUNE 2020 Mikiel Galea Letters & Clarifications Breach of UN CRPD Committee Recommendations In 2014, Malta presented its Initial Report to the (UN) Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disability. In 2018, a high-level Maltese delegation which included delegates from various ministries met up with the UN CRPD Committee during the 20th session in Geneva for further clarifications to the questions posed orally by this Commit- tee. This is an obligation to which our country is bound to submit to, from time to time on the request of this Com- mittee. This commitment came into force in 2012 when Malta ratified the UNCRPD. Following this 2018 meeting in Ge- neva, the UN CRPD Committee for- warded its recommendations to Malta, among which the following: The Committee recommends that the State party take into account its general comment No. 5 (2017) on living independently and being included in the community, and: (a) Ensure that existing residential institutions that contribute to the se- clusion of persons with disabilities are closed and that the provision of ap- propriate community-based services is strengthened; (b) Ensure that all projects support- ed by public funds are carried out in a community setting, do not contribute to seclusion of persons with disabilities, are monitored by organizations of persons with disabilities, and are provided with sustainable continuous funding; (c) Adopt the legal and other nec- essary measures, such as the planned Personal Autonomy Bill and the UN CRPD Bill, that will make article 19 of the Convention justiciable; (d) Ensure that the financial and other measures are in place that allow persons with disabilities to be provided with personal assistance and that personnel supporting persons with disabilities in the community are appropriately trained, if necessary. It has recently been made public that three other community homes for persons with disability will be open in the coming months. This 'investment' of some €3 million will lead to up to 26 persons with disability to live in these homes. This 'investment' is being carried out notwithstanding the clear recommen- dations of the UNCRPD Committee which recommendations were defined after the composition of Malta's Initial Report and the Malta delegation's at- tendance to Geneva's meeting. Obvious- ly, the professional and detailed Initial Report was not done on a voluntary basis. On the other hand, the Govern- ment paid nearly €17,500.00 for the Malta delegation to have a constructive dialogue with the UN CRPD Committee in Geneva. All this from our taxes. Our taxes are now being used to open three other homes for persons with disability in the community despite this goes against the recommendations of the UN CRPD Committee and the spirit of the UNCRPD which Malta has ratified. The Malta Federation of Persons with Disabilities asks whoever is responsible for this to justify why we have such a situation. Marthese Mugliette President, MFOPD Anti-Catholics SEEING that the editor is so parsimoni- ous with my letters, I cannot fail to no- tice the prominence of letters written by the sensitive soul of Dr Colombo and the hotbed of militant anti-Catholicism and theism of J. Guillaumier (at least in the re- cent past). Any effort on my part to con- found their theories is always dwarfed by their tough-mindedness and tenacity. As my words may sound inadequate, like a David and Goliath scenario, I quote some terse divine words read some days ago in the Mass: "In the world you have tribulation, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." (John:16:33) John Azzopardi Zabbar