The government was cautious in the way it reacted to the conclusion of an investigation into social services that were given to Nicolette Ghirxi in the weeks and months that preceded her being murdered in her own home last year.
When it published the recommendations submitted by the board of inquiry last Monday, all the Social Policy ministry said was that it "noted" the conclusions and recommendations, and added that it remained committed to improve social services provided.
It did not say whether it will work to implement what the board of inquiry suggested. It did not say that it agreed with them. Neither did it say if the recommendations will be studied to see whether they are feasible.
In other words, this could turn out to be yet another report, compiled with the use of public money, which ends up on a shelf somewhere - until, perhaps, there is a new victim, and the exercise is repeated.
Why does the government, in the heat of the moment, order such reports to be drawn up and then, when they are submitted, does not appear to take them on board? What is the point of having such investigations being carried out, and then leave everything as it is? Does is just want to placate a volatile situation and then, when the waters have been calmed, do nothing and simply hope for the best?
The investigation has come up with recommendations that, at least, should be taken into consideration. The government has not given any indication that it will be doing this.
For one thing, it has been suggested that a risk assessment exercise should be presumed necessary for all harassment and domestic violence reports.
Is the government in favour of this? If yes, how does it plan to increase the resources available? It would be good to know.
There should also be a helpline especially dedicated to such problems. We had one installed last year for issues related to the construction industry (after the tragic death of Jean Paul Sofia), and the government has boasted about how much it has been effective.
Is it too much trouble to have a helpline for domestic abuses?
The inquiry has also recommended that secondary school students should be given specialised lessons which emphasise equality.
Can this suggestion be taken on? Or are we too focused on qualifications and more exams?
It was also suggested that protection orders in cases of domestic violence are issued by the duty magistrate as soon as possible. These cases cannot wait, it was remarked in the inquiry report.
Does the government agree with this?
It was also pointed out that men should be given the same protection. We all know that the majority of domestic abuse is against women, but there are situations when it is the man who is the victim and, in this case, he should be afforded a similar access to assistance.
Is the government not ready to acknowledge that there are also men who end up victims of abuse in the home?
The inquiry also highlighted the need for women who are threatened with death if they do not terminate a pregnancy to be given immediate help and, if need be, be offered a safe haven.
Is the government not willing to take on this recommendation? Is it prepared to take the risk?
The board recommended the setting up of a committee which keeps a watchful eye on developments in the sector. It said this committee should be made up of representatives from the police, Social Services Department and the courts. Its duty, among other things, should be to monitor measures taken in other countries which could be implemented in Malta.
Again, is the government not seeing the need for such a committee? We have tens of committees set up by the government for situations of lesser importance and less danger. Is the government unable to find the necessary resources?
With all these and other questions pending, the government then, on Friday, almost as it was an afterthought, issued a second statement - this time through the Ministry of Justice - in which it said that the number of magistrates dealing with domestic violence cases has risen from one to three in this legislature, and this meant cases are moving faster under magistrates who are now specialising in this particular sector. It also said that it will continue to invest in education campaigns to create more awareness.
In this second statement, no reference was made to the recommendations made by the board of inquiry set up by the Social Policy Ministry. Neither, again, was there anything about a plan to study the recommendations and eventually implement them.
Increasing the number of magistrates - perhaps one or two more would go a long way to help spread the accumulating work - and upping education campaigns are only a part of the solutions offered by the board of inquiry.
The government would do well to listen to what the board of inquiry suggested. But it's likely that, as it has done many other times, the report's recommendations will remain just on a piece of paper.