Cap. 539 Art. 3Right to understand and to be understood. Right to receive information from a competent authority.

(1) In relations with any competent authority in the context of criminal proceedings, all communications between the said authority and any victim shall be conducted in simple and accessible language, orally or in writing. Such communications shall take into account the personal characteristics of the victim including any disability which may affect the ability to understand or to be understood.

(2) Unless contrary to the interests of the victim or unless the course of proceedings would be prejudiced, a victim may be party, without unnecessary delay and as may be applicable, from his first contact with a competent authority in order to enable him to access the following rights set out in Directive 2012/29/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 October 2012 establishing minimum standards on the rights, support and protection of victims of crime, and replacing Council Framework Decision 2001/220/JHA:

(a) the type of support which can be obtained and from whom, including, where relevant, basic information about access to medical support, any specialist support, including psychological support, and alternative accommodation;

(b) the procedures for making complaints with regard to a criminal offence and the victim’s role in connection with such procedures;

(c) how and under what conditions the victim can obtain protection, including protection measures;

(d) how and under what conditions the victim can access legal advice, legal aid and any other sort of advice;

(e) how and under what conditions the victim can access compensation;

(f) how and under what conditions the victim is entitled to interpretation and translation;

(g) if the victim is resident in a Member State other than that where the criminal offence was committed, any special measures, procedures or arrangements, which are available to protect his interests in Malta;

(h) the available procedures for making complaints where the victim’s rights are not respected by the competent authority operating within the context of criminal proceedings;

(i) the contact details for communications about the victim’s case;

(j) the available restorative justice services;

(k) how and under what conditions expenses incurred as a result of the victim’s participation in the criminal proceedings can be reimbursed.