A 'Commission for the Safeguarding of Children and Vulnerable Adults' has been set up by the Church under the responsibility of the Maltese Episcopal Conference.

The commission's task will be to see whether a person working for the Church was a risk to children. During its investigations, it could recommend the temporarily suspension of a worker or volunteer if it felt this was the right thing to do or take action which would mitigate the risk it believed there could be.

The commission, which will start to function next month, is headed by Andrew Azzopardi and includes Roberta Attard, Kevin Borg, Fr Antoine Farrugia and Clarissa Sammut Scerri. Joseph Sammut and Mariella Fenech Pace will be legal consultant and administrator, respectively.

It will be taking over from the Church's Response Team inheriting five cases, three involving a minor - two of which were already in the public domain - and two involving an adult.

The setting up of the commission follows a new procedure announced in November for the immediate investigation of sexual abuse allegations and to determine the probability of such abuse having taken place.

Mr Azzopardi told a news conference this morning that the work of the Commission would not be to decide whether a person was guilty or innocent but to investigate to see whether it was risky for a particular person to work with children or in the community.

“Our aim is to create a culture where children and vulnerable adults feel protected and that what is being done is in their best interest,” he said.

"Child abuse happens in dark corners... We have to shed a light and give a voice to victims," Mr Azzopardi said.

He urged people with information or who had something to say to come forward and contact the commission at safeguarding@maltadiocese.org, tel: 2590 6421.

He said that although the commission's work had to be transparent when it came to procedure, there would be complete confidentiality about individual cases.

Mr Azzopardi said that although there was no time frame during which the commission had to conclude an investigation, its initial assessment would be delivered within a week. This assessment would determine the way forward.

Apostolic Administrator Charles Scicluna that the emphasis of the commission would not be to react to cases of abuses but to create a safeguarding environment.

Emphasis, he said, would be on formation and education.