How many more times are we going to have reports saying that the system messed up or the State failed to do something before we really understand how “the system” and “the State” should do their duty? When are the individuals who run the “system” and the “State” going to be held accountable for their lack of action?

When Daphne Caruana Galizia was murdered in 2017, a board of inquiry had concluded that the State failed to do its duty. The State had failed to recognise the real risks to the journalist’s life, and failed to take reasonable steps to avoid these risks, the inquiry had found. The report concluded that a culture of impunity was created and that the tentacles of impunity spread to regulatory bodies and the police, which led to the rule of law collapsing.

Last month, we were told that another board of inquiry had found that the system had let Bernice Cassar down. Cassar was killed in Kordin last November after having filed reports with the police relating to domestic abuse. The whole system did not work as it was meant to work, the inquiry concluded. It happened because of lack of resources and increasing workload. With regard to the police, this led to the delay in the processing of reports, bad or no risk assessment, and an inadequate and non-immediate response on the part of the police. With regard to the courts, the lack of resources and the workload of the magistrate led to delays for cases to be appointed and heard.

Two women killed, in different circumstances and for different reasons, of course.

But the two reports have similarities in the sense that, both times, the judges conducting the inquiry found that the two women who had been killed had been failed by the “State” and by the “system”.

The thing is, we can compile tens of reports, but unless things change, for the better, it will all be useless. If the government and the authorities show no commitment to change their ways, and to provide better assistance and protection to one and all, then the reports will just be wasted paper.

Whether it’s a journalist, an office clerk, a teacher, a doctor, a carpenter, a waiter, a housewife or a child, each and every one of us should be afforded the same protection and assistance by the “State” and the “system”. That is what a civil society is all about, that we should all feel safe and supported.

So what is the government going to do? What are the authorities going to do?

Are we going to wait for another murder to establish an inquiry which will tell us what we already know – that the “State” and the “system” are not doing their job?

Who are the individuals who are supposed to be running the “State” and the “system” and why are they not shouldering the responsibility for their lack of action?

What is the point that judges holding inquiries are asked to make recommendations and, then, what they suggest is not implemented?

As the Women’s Lobby rightly pointed out in a statement last week, blaming the “State” or the “system” minimises responsibility. Shifting blame on the “system” is tantamount to manipulation, and gives false assurances that someone, somewhere is shouldering responsibility, when this is not the case.