ADŻ shows concern on the incidents which happened last night involving minors. These concerns are about the security and the lack of availability of leisure for youngsters in their early teens.
It is apparent that the presence of teenagers under the age of 17 is not permissible by law in locales where alcohol is served. Unfortunately this does not seem the case, since according to latest news update, the youngest injured is 13 years old.
ADŻ expresses concern on the lack of security available and on the fact that these youngsters are allowed to access these places. ADŻ calls for higher security at the gates and for increased spot checks by the relevant authorities.
Moreover, ADŻ is concerned that the presence of people of such age implies that there is a lack of alternative means of leisure. ADŻ would further call for the creation of alternative means of leisure which are more easily available for these youngsters.
As such, ADŻ suggests that all relevant stakeholders in this issue, mainly the Commissioner for Children and Aġenzija Żgħazagħ take urgent action to prevent such incidents from occurring again, by increasing access to leisure for youths. These bodies should be considering this situation as a starting point to increase access to Youth Hubs, and to research further ways of involving teenagers in the community thus they would not have to resort to entertainment which is not age appropriate.
ADŻ would like to express its sympathy for the families of the injured, whilst wishing the injured a speedy recovery.
Marc Andrea Cassar – Chairperson
Nizar Hingari – ADŻ PRO
Anna Azzopardi – ADŻ Secretary General and AD Spokesperson for Youth
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15 ta’ November 2015
Malta
ADŻ – Alternattiva Demokratika Żgħażagħ tixtieq turi t-tħassib tagħħha fuq l-inċidenti illi seħħew mal-lejl li għadda. It-tħassib huwa rigward in-nuqqas ta’ sigurtà preżenti kif ukoll dwar in-nuqqas ta aċċess għal divertimenti adattat għall-adoloxxenti.
Skont il-liġi, il-preżenza ta’ adoloxxenti taħt is-sbatax –il sena f’postijiet fejn jinbiegħ l-alkoħol hija llegali. Sfortunatement, lbieraħ ma jidhirx li dan kien il-kas lbieraħ, għaliex jekk ikollna nimxu mal-aħħar aġġornamenti tal-aħbarijiet, l-iżgħar vittma kellha 13 –il sena.
ADŻ tesprimi tħassib fuq in-nuqqas ta’ sigurta preżenti, u fuq il-fatt li dawn iż-żgħażagħ ġew permessi jidħlu f’dawn il-postijiet. ADŻ ssejjaħ għal iktar sigurtà fil-bibien ta’ dawn l-istabbilimenti kif ukoll iż-żieda ta’ Spot Checks regolaru mill-awtoritajiet konċernati.
Barra minn hekk, ADŻ tinsab mħassba għaliex il-preżenza ta’ adoloxxenti f’dawn il-postijiet tirrifletti il-fatt li żgħażagħ ta din l-eta mgħandhomx biżżejjed għażliet fuq kif iqattgħu il-ħin liberu tagħħhom.
Għalhekk ADŻ ssejjaħħ lil stakeholders relevanti għal din il-kwistjoni, principalment il-Kummissarju għat-tfal u l-Aġenżija Zgħazagħ biex jieħdu azzjonie urġenti ħalli dawn l-inċidenti dawn l-inċidenti ma jirrepetux ruħhom. Dan jista’ jsir billi jiżdiedu l-għażliet ta’ divertiment għaż-żgħażagħ. Dawn l-aġenziji għandhom jikkunsidraw din il-qagħda bħala punt ta’ tluq sabiex jiżdied l-aċċess għal Youth Hubs, u jirriċerkaw modi oħra kif jiġu nvoluti l-adoloxxenti fis-soċjeta. Dana sabiex, ma jkollhomx għalfejn jirrrikorru għal tipi ta divertiment li mhumiex adattati għall-eta tagħhom.
ADŻ tesprimi simpatija mal-familji tal-feruti u tixtieq tawgura fejqan ta’ fejqan ta’ malajr lil kull min weġġa’.
Marc Andrea Cassar – Ċerpersin
Nizar Hingari – ADŻ Uffiċjal għar-Relazzjonijiet Pubbliċi
Anna Azzopardi – ADŻ Segretarju Ġenerali u AD Kelliema għaż-Żgħażagħ
