A new Safeguarding Policy was published in an activity held on the 5th of November in Imdina and presided over by the Bishops of Malta and Gozo, and the President of the Conference for Major Superiors representing the Provincials of the various Religious Congregations, who were also present.
The new policy, establish renewed safeguarding standards that all Church entities are expected to uphold, and formalize proper safeguarding structures for handling allegations made against both clerics and lay people working within the Church Structures. Key measures include setting up structures to ensure impartial preliminary investigations and risk assessments, improved recruitment procedures, and a new code of conduct setting clear expectations for appropriate behaviour and interactions by Church personnel, both online and in person.
Through a decision taken during the 2022 Ordinary Provincial Chapter the Augustinian Province of Malta introduced a clause in it’s Statutes by which it declares a Zero tolerance policy against any form of abuse. Through the same clause 130, the Augustinian Friars declared to abide to the common Policy of the Maltese Episcopal Conference and the Conference of Major Superiors.
The new policy replaces the original one established in 2015 when the Safeguarding Commission was set up.