With reference to your editorial “A very bad thing” the Ministry for Social Dialogue, Consumer Affairs and Civil Liberties, wishes to point out the following:

Minister Dalli and Parliamentary Secretary Caruana had spoken about the Bill being discussed in Parliament, and the latter’s  traumatizing experience of receiving 60 phone calls a day from a stalker.

The Minister asked Dr Caruana for permission to speak about this experience during the second reading of the Bill.   So to your newspaper’s question: ‘Did Minister Dalli consult Parliamentary Secretary Caruana or at least inform her before mentioning the case?”  The answer is yes, of course, to both questions.

Dr Caruana herself had mentioned the case.

At no point were names mentioned during the debate, other than that of Dr Caruana, with her consent.   

Dr Dalli spoke about professionals, to make the important point that stalking does not occur only in the realm of some particular   facet of society.  Tertiary education and professional work experience do not preclude one from stalking because the act of stalking is a psychological and psychiatric matter and not tied to socio-economic background as some think.  The minister also mentioned a case which was brought to her attention  of a medical doctor who stalks his former wife, his children and their friends.

Dr Dalli simply stated that perpetrators need help. This is the truth of the matter if we want to seriously address the problem of stalking.

We do a lot and speak continuously of victims, as it should be, but we rarely speak about the perpetrators’ needs. It’s pointless empathizing and helping the victim, condemning the aggressor and stopping there.

It can happen to any of us – we may stalk or be stalked - thus  addressing the fragility of the perpetrator  is a must. This, not only for the intrinsic value of helping the perpetrator, but also for the instrumental value of preventing him or her from seeking other victims.   

In order to mitigate this scourge, we must continue to raise consciousness about the need to help the perpetrator.

Reuben Sciberras

Communications Coordinator Ministry for Social Dialogue, Consumer Affairs and Civil Liberties