Twelve years is more than enough time to discuss the need for a stronger framework to protect human rights and equality in Malta.
Yet, as the National Commission for the Promotion of Equality pointed out this week, that is how long the establishment of an independent National Human Rights and Equality Commission has been under discussion.
Malta still does not have one, and an attempt to change that stalled in Parliament earlier this year.
The NCPE has now urged both the government and the Opposition to ensure that discussions are finalised in the coming weeks so that legislation can be prioritised once Parliament returns from its summer recess.
That call should be heeded.
There were legitimate concerns over the manner in which the government sought to push the legislation through Parliament before the summer recess.
A reform of this significance, dealing with fundamental rights and the institutions responsible for protecting them, deserves proper scrutiny and meaningful consultation.
Criticism at the time was not confined to the Opposition. A number of organisations and stakeholders raised concerns about the process and called for more time to examine the proposed legislation.
But there is an important distinction between taking the time necessary to get a law right and allowing reform to remain stuck indefinitely.
The Opposition has since launched its own public consultation on the proposed commission. That provides another opportunity for stakeholders to make their voices heard and for shortcomings in the proposed framework to be addressed.
What it should not provide is another excuse for years of delay.
The government, for its part, should learn from the criticism surrounding the previous parliamentary process. Consultation on legislation of this importance should not be viewed as a box to tick. If concerns are well founded, they should be addressed before a new Bill is taken forward.
But both sides must now work towards an outcome.
As the NCPE noted, Malta remains without a dedicated human rights commission tasked with monitoring and promoting human rights.
It also said weaknesses remain in the country’s existing equality and anti-discrimination framework, which does not conform to EU directives on standards for equality bodies that should have been transposed by June.
Institutions tasked with defending equality and human rights must have the independence, authority and resources necessary to do their job effectively. The legislation establishing them must consequently be robust enough to withstand scrutiny.
That is precisely why the debate should be substantive rather than partisan.
There is room for disagreement over how the commission should operate, what powers it should possess and what safeguards should guarantee its independence.
Those disagreements should be debated and resolved. They should not become reasons to consign the entire reform to another parliamentary limbo.
After 12 years of discussion, Malta should be beyond debating this reform.
When Parliament returns, government and Opposition have an opportunity to demonstrate that the latest setback was just that – a setback, rather than the beginning of another prolonged period of inaction.
The objective now should be simple: consult properly, address legitimate concerns and produce legislation capable of commanding broad confidence.
Human rights reform cannot be rushed. But after more than a decade of discussion, neither can it be allowed to wait indefinitely.