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Saskia Cassingena

Protection of Adults in Situations of Vulnerability | Part 3: From Guardianship to Personal Autonomy Litigation & Dispute Resolution

Protection of Adults in Situations of Vulnerability | Part 3: From Guardianship to Personal Autonomy

Introduction This is the final instalment of our three-part series examining Malta’s 2026 reforms relating to the protection of adults in situations of vulnerability and the promotion of personal autonomy. In Part 1, we introduced the Protection of Adults in Situations of Vulnerability Act (Chapter 659 of the Laws of Malta), outlining its objectives, guiding principles and institutional framework. Part 2 examined how that framework operates in practice, from the reporting and investigation of concerns through to the implementation and review of protective measures. This article turns to the companion legislation, the Various Laws (Personal Autonomy) (Amendment) Act, 2026 (Act…
Maria-Lisa Buttigieg and Saskia Cassingena
19th August 2026
Protection of Adults in Situations of Vulnerability | Part 2: From Investigation to Court Order Litigation & Dispute Resolution

Protection of Adults in Situations of Vulnerability | Part 2: From Investigation to Court Order

Introduction In the first part of this series, we examined the Protection of Adults in Situations of Vulnerability Act (Chapter 659 of the Laws of Malta) (“the Act”), focusing on the objectives of the legislation, the adults it seeks to protect and the institutional framework established to support its operation. This second article considers how the framework operates once concerns are reported. It examines the investigative process, the assistance and protective measures available under the Act, and the procedures through which they may be ordered, reviewed and enforced. From Report to Investigation Once a report is received under the Act,…
Maria-Lisa Buttigieg and Saskia Cassingena
10th August 2026
Protection of Adults in Situations of Vulnerability: A Three-Part Series Litigation & Dispute Resolution

Protection of Adults in Situations of Vulnerability: A Three-Part Series

Part 1: Protecting Malta’s Most Vulnerable Introduction Malta's legal framework for the protection of vulnerable persons has undergone a significant reform with the enactment of the Protection of Adults in Situations of Vulnerability Act (Act XIV of 2026), now Chapter 659 of the Laws of Malta. For the first time, Malta has introduced a dedicated statutory regime aimed specifically at safeguarding adults who, because of disability or the effects of ageing, are unable to protect themselves from harm, abuse, neglect or exploitation. This legislation does far more than introduce new reporting obligations or create additional offences. It establishes an entirely…
Maria-Lisa Buttigieg and Saskia Cassingena
4th August 2026
Agricultural land in Malta
Legal Notice 150 of 2025: Malta’s New Agricultural Land Protection Regulations Set to Come into Force Civil Law

Legal Notice 150 of 2025: Malta’s New Agricultural Land Protection Regulations Set to Come into Force

Introduction On the 28th of July 2025, the Minister for Agriculture formally launched the Protection of Agricultural Land Regulations (Legal Notice 150 of 2025) under the Agriculture Act, Chapter 639 of the Laws of Malta (hereinafter referred to as “the Regulations”). Grounded in the 2022 Agricultural Land Reform White Paper and aligned with the objectives set out in Malta Vision 2050, the Regulations create a legal framework for safeguarding farmland situated outside the development zone (commonly and hereinafter referred to as “ODZ”). The purpose of the Regulations is to prevent misuse for non-agricultural purposes and to preserve the land’s productive…
Saskia Cassingena and Stephen Muscat
10th September 2025