Law graduates at their ceremony yesterday. Photo: Jason Borg

Professionals should be legally obliged to immediately inform Aġenżija Appoġġ when told of a case of child abuse, a lawyer said yesterday.

Daniela Bonanno, who graduated as a doctor of law, said her thesis called for a change in legislation, making it obligatory for professionals to report any abuse of a minor.

Speaking to a group of graduates at the Jesuits Church in Valletta, Dr Bonanno admitted that this could have negative repercussions but “the fundamental principle is that the interest of the victim of abuse should always be supreme”.

In the absolute majority of cases, the abuser was a family member or close friend and, for that reason, the intervention of a professional was fundamental to stop it and give protection to the victim.

Dr Bonanno also called for more investment in the Maltese courts, especially the family sector, to create an environment that was not prejudicial for children. Listening to what they had to live through was beneficial, she added.

“I can’t understand how we continue to patronise children and think that we know what they feel, want or what’s best for them,” she said.

Although there were cases where children lied and “caused more damage than good,” these were the exceptions and not the rule.

“These are serious cases, which we need to learn from. Due to a lack of human resources, the children’s lawyer only meets them once before preparing the report – can you tell me how you can build a rapport strong enough for them to trust you?”

If children were not given respect, how could they be expected to respect authority, she added. Academic Ivan Sammut, within the Department of European and Comparative Law at the Faculty of Laws, also addressed the graduates.

The following students graduated yesterday:

Faculty of Laws

Doctor of Laws

Sponsor: Professor Kevin Aquilina

Alfred Abela, Stephanie Abela, Emilienne Ruth Agius, Marc Agius Fernandez, Douglas Aquilina, Abigail Attard, Jonathan Attard, Sarah Michelle Attard, Myrna Azzopardi, Daniela Bonanno, Claire Bonello, Rita Bonello, Adriana Borg, Kira Borg, Roxanne Borg, Evelyn Borg Costanzi, Christina Borg Debono, , Timothy Borg Olivier, Carl Brincat, Marika Brincat, Thomas Bugeja, Aidan Buhagiar, Ryan Buhagiar, Raiza Busuttil, Amadeus Cachia, Katia Cachia, Justine Calleja, Amy Camilleri, Edward Mario Camilleri, Emma Camilleri, Maria Camilleri, Gianluca Cappitta, Roderick Caruana, Analise Cassar, Lara Cassar, Neil Chetcuti*, Ruben Collins, Angelica Coppini, Matthew Cutajar , Maria De Martino, Mark Anthony Debono, Renee’ Debono, Andrea Debono Sant Cassia, Alexandra Dimech, Denia Ellul, Sara Ellul, Christine Falzon, Ryan Falzon, Aaron Michael Farrugia, Ian Carl Farrugia, Jean Claude Farrugia, Rosemarie Farrugia, Sarah Anne Farrugia, Mattia Felice, Stuart Firman, Philip Formosa*, Chiara Frendo, Christian Frendo, Jessica Friggieri, Claire Galea, Roderick Gatt, Rachel Gauci, Bernice Gerada, Clive Gerada, Joseph Carmel Gerada, Charlon Gouder, Daphne Ann Grech, Maria Grech, Catherine Grima, Charlene Grima, Fabio Imbroll, Nicola Jaccarini, Maria Stella Magri, Michele Magro, Tessa Mallia Borg, Simon Manduca, Roselyn Micallef, Mario Mifsud, Martha Mifsud, Kristina Miggiani*, John Claude Mizzi, Christabel Muscat, Anthea Piscopo, Kevin Plumpton, Terence Sacco, Amy Saliba, Christine Sammut, Stephanie Soler, Karl John Tanti, Andrea Theuma, Cristina Tufigno, Giles Xuereb, Charlene Zammit and Keith Zammit.

Master of Laws in European and Comparative Law

Sponsor: Professor Kevin Aquilina

John Bonello, Ann Marie Cutajar, Aiste Gerybaite, Judy Inguanez, Kamile Mateliunaite, Vincienne Pace, Yulia Tsekhanskaya and Migle Virbalaite.

Master of Laws in International Law

Sponsor: Professor Kevin Aquilina

Magdalena Aleksandrova Gatseva.

*In absentia