During the ‘Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, Gender Expression and Sexual Characteristics (SOGIGESC) Unit Annual Conference’, Parliamentary Secretary for Equality and Reforms Rosianne Cutajar welcomed the publication of the second annual report related to the implementation of the LGBTIQ Equality Strategy and Action Plan.
This year’s report comes at the halfway point in the implementation of the LGBTIQ Equality Strategy and Action Plan 2018-2022, a document which has considerably advanced on the vision of ensuring that being LGBTIQ, as with not being LGBTIQ, becomes simply a fact of life, and not a determining factor in one’s movement in society.
Parliamentary Secretary Rosianne Cutajar said that she is pleased to be championing the enactment of the Equality Bill and the Human Rights and Equality Commission Bill, two decisive legislative proposals in the field of human rights and non-discrimination. While always seeking a broad consensus amongst stakeholders, she continued by emphasising that such consensus will not compromise on the core principles of equality they enshrine.
Parliamentary Secretary Cutajar continued by saying that, Malta continues to be regarded as a leader in the field of LGBTIQ equality, ranking first in the ILGA-Europe Rainbow Index for the fifth consecutive year. Moreover, she also referred to the FRA Report published earlier this year, which noted that the experience of LGBTIQ persons in Malta is better than the rest of EU countries. It is in this spirit that Malta shares its experience as best practice with fellow countries, as well as advocating for LGBTIQ equality through Malta’s ambassadors and permanent representatives.
She concluded by thanking all those who have collaborated with the SOGIGESC Unit in the implementation of the Action Plan and reiterated the Government’s commitment towards achieving 100% equality.
Photo: Centre Parliamentary Secretary Cutajar
