As part of the events marking 7 years of the "struggle for justice for Daphne Caruana Galizia", anti-corruption NGO Repubblika today published a redacted version of its anti-corruption strategy and manifesto entitled 'Defending Integrity' identifying 10 priority areas in the organisation's renewed efforts to mobilise a civic anti-corruption alliance. 

In a statement, the NGO appealed to other civil society organisations to join its efforts in prioritising and coordinating anti-corruption initiatives to give civil society the role of monitor of the conduct of public authorities, and to denounce and act on wrongdoing whenever this is revealed. The NGO also appealed to specific segments of the population, among others educators and donors identifying actions that each can take to reach the strategic objectives outlined in its document.

The report was published in redacted form to remove references that may fall foul of a court decree regarding any commentary surrounding the 2017 assassination of Daphne Caruana Galizia. It was written and printed before the decree was handed down and Repubblika published it in its restricted form until such time as the decree may be modified or lifted.

It includes a detailed survey of recommendations for actions to be taken by the Maltese state to fight corruption made by the Daphne Caruana Galizia public inquiry as well as international agencies including the Venice Commission, the ODIHR of the OSCE, the OECD, and the European Commission. The listed recommendations have not been implemented by the local authorities, the group said. The report also surveys electoral commitments made by the Labour Party which have not been implemented so far.

Repubblika identified 10 priority areas for its actions in the coming years:

1.         Renew pressure on the authorities to implement the recommendations of the Daphne Caruana Galizia public inquiry and international bodies that remain outstanding.

2.         Promote new codes of ethics for people in elected office to include civic participation in the implementation of anti-corruption measures at all levels from the Local Council to European institutions and every level in between.

3.         Promote legislative reform to ensure transparency under a meaningful and workable Freedom of Information law that operates even when the authorities are reluctant to reveal requested information.

4.         Promote new rules for the funding of political activity including a blanket ban of any funding coming from anyone who is somehow paid by the public authority to which a candidate or a party receiving funding is seeking election to or has been elected to. This is to be replaced by state funding of political activity.

5.         Promote the empowerment of transparency and anti-corruption institutions including the suggestion of the creation of special anti-corruption magistrates equipped with judicial police reporting directly to them.

6.         Promote a reform of whistle-blower protection legislation to properly protect witnesses of wrongdoing.

7.         Promote the social reuse of assets confiscated from crime whether these are confiscated temporarily pending proceedings or permanently after definitive conviction. Social reuse includes allocating confiscated assets to social enterprises.

8.         Promote the granting at law of legal standing to civil society organisations to speak for victims, whether identified or not, of corruption during criminal proceedings.

9.         Promote the introduction of transparency of any prosecutorial decisions not to prosecute corruption.

10.       Promote the criminalisation of "ecocide", that is the crime of corruption at the expense of the environment and the recognition of the legal standing of environmental NGOs to speak for the environment as a victim during criminal proceedings.

Quoting from her introduction to the strategy document, Repubblika President Vicki Ann Cremona said: "People in the country's administration are accountable to everyone, not just to those who voted for them. It is, therefore, imperative that the scrutiny of the conduct of people who are granted political power is constant, consistent, and vigilant. This is why we argue for strong and independent institutions empowered and expected to act to prevent, detect, and punish wrongdoing even if - especially if - the perpetrators are people of power. This is why we argue for the liberation of our independent media, which today functions under conditions that enabled the murder of a journalist. This is why, as committed citizens of this republic, we step up to hold the powerful within it to account, to remind them that their authority is transient, that the influence they enjoy has been afforded to them as a service to the common good, that our expectation that they act within the law is our right; and that to demand that they respect this and to denounce them when they don't is our duty as responsible citizens. This is why we are Repubblika."

'Defending Integrity' will be discussed at a Roundtable event hosted by Repubblika next Saturday 12 October 2024 at 10am at the Catholic Institute in Floriana.

Members of the public who wish to attend and participate in the Roundtable are invited to register at r[email protected].