The Parliamentary Secretary for Reforms and Equality Rebecca Buttigieg presented a detailed report on various aspects of the protection and strengthening of human rights in Malta. The Maltese delegation is taking part in what is known as the Universal Periodic Review, a process through which the United Nations Council in Geneva from time to time makes an evaluation on the state of human rights in – member countries of the United Nations.
This is the fourth time that this evaluation is being carried out in Malta. The Parliamentary Secretary Rebecca Buttigieg explained that since the last evaluation on Malta which was carried out in 2018, various measures and actions have been taken to further strengthen human rights standards in various fields. She mentioned among these, the strategies and action plans against gender-based violence and domestic violence, the first national strategy in favor of gender equality and the fact that Malta continued to rank in the first place in Europe in the field of the rights of LGBTIQ+ people.
Parliamentary Secretary Buttigieg explained various legislative measures and the plans being made to continue taking actions and implementing a policy in favor of a more equal and inclusive society, a society both in favor of integration and also in favor of the protection of journalists and freedom of expression.
“Malta has always embraced the universal values of human rights which are recognized in the constitution and which is leading to citizens and residents in Malta enjoying the protection of international conventions and even the protection of European Court of Human Rights.” Parliamentary Secretary Buttigieg added that it is a great honor and satisfaction that our country has been recognized by several countries for the fact that Malta is a pioneer both in the rights in favor of the LGBTIQ+ community and in what concerns -equality in society.
The Maltese delegation includes officials from various entities who also made interventions during this session. These include representatives from the Ministry for Foreign and European Affairs and Commerce , the Ministry for Justice and Reform of the Construction Sector , the Ministry for Health and Active Aging , the Directorate of Migration, the Directorate for Human Rights , the Commission for the Promotion of Equality, the Court Services Agency, the FIAU and JobsPlus.
Photo: MHSR_PS
