A first unsuccessful attempt to establish
a victim support service in Malta — then called the
Criminal Justice Bureau — was
made in 1997. The organisation that took the initiative, Mid-Dlam
ghad-Dawl,
was an organisation established by Maltese prisoners two
years before. It aimed at creating a more humane prison,
but also strengthening justice generally.
The idea of setting up a centre of
information for victims of crime grew from the organisation's
experience with disoriented people who had somehow came
in direct contact with the criminal justice system. It
was felt that the system relates to victims in a thoroughly
impersonal manner, leaving them totally on their own to
cope as best they could with their distress. It was for
this reason that a victim support service was strongly
desired.
Another attempt, then, was again made
in January 2003, successfully resulting in the establishment
of Victim Support Malta on 9th June 2004. In a year's
time the professional technical and logistical structure
of the service was set up, the concept of the service was
launched amongst local professionals (who incidentally
gave it a warm welcome, and appeared to be very eager to
see it bloom and blossom), a handsome number of enthusiastic
volunteers were attracted to the service, and professionally
trained, and the membership to high-status international
bodies of mostly prestigious organisations — Victim Support Europe, and the World Society of Victimology (see further) — was secured.
In so short a period of time, and
totally self-funded, Victim Support Malta may be considered to have
made strides. The service it offers intends to:
