Campaign for Justice for Jean Paul Sofia
The PILN supported Jean Paul Sofia’s family in the campaign to initiate a public inquiry into his death. Jean Paul Sofia’s body was found under tons of rubble following the partial collapse of a multi-storey building whilst work was being carried out. It took at least 14 hours to find his lifeless body. He was 20 years old and an only son.
Only a transparent and public process of inquiry can bring about justice for Jean Paul Sofia, for his family, and for society in general. The setting up of a public inquiry to answer questions such as whether his death could have been prevented; were there and are there failures in the system that are contributing to fatalities and injuries on construction sites; and how can reasonable action be taken to prevent fatalities and injuries on construction sites which could have been prevented. This is an essential first step towards securing the protection of the right to life.
Statement calling for a public inquiry into Jean Paul’s Sofia death.
Statement by civil society organisations calling for a parliamentary vote for a public inquiry.
Victims of Malta’s Construction Boom
The Foundation, through the PILN project, began research work related to construction site fatalities in 2022, when there was a clear trend of lack of accountability linked to construction fatalities – as was then confirmed by our findings in this report. Our efforts doubled a few weeks later, following the death of Jean Paul Sofia, the 20-year-old killed in a building collapse in Corradino.
Deaths in Prison
Following the surge in the number of deaths, specifically suicides, in Malta’s Corradino Correctional Facility (CCF), we wrote to Professor Nils Melzer, the Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment at the time, addressing the 14 deaths in prison between 2018 and 2021 and the degrading treatment by prison authorities inside the facility.