The Minister for Justice, Equality & Governance, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Johan Galea, today signed a grant agreement for €300,000 with Allied Rainbow Communities (ARC) represented by Clayton Mercieca, as the organisers of EUROPRIDE Valletta 2023, which will be disbursed over a three-year period.
Thanks to the work of ARC and their collaboration with other NGOs, the private sector as well as support from a number of government entities, Pride Week in Malta has increased considerably in visibility and participation through these past years.
Events such as EUROPRIDE in Malta constitute an important milestone for our country not only because such events will attract a large number of foreign participants, which augurs well for our economy, but because despite our country’s strong legal framework in this field, there is still work to be done to overcome the prejudice and discrimination that some members of the LGBTIQ community still face. The significance of Pride remains relevant and current.
Government efforts to promote awareness of diversity is ongoing also thanks to the work of the Human Rights Directorate which implements various projects and campaigns, in partnership with other ministries and in collaboration with the Consultative Council, which continues to occupy an important role.
Minister Edward Zammit Lewis stated that it is appropriate that this agreement is being signed today, the 17th of May, the International Day against Homophobia, Biphobia, Interphobia and Transphobia where Malta, for the sixth year running, ranked first on ILGA-Europe’s Rainbow Index. Malta gained 5 points on the previous year, and now stands at 94%, 20 percentage points ahead of any other of the 49 European countries.
Minister Zammit Lewis also signed a European Declaration proposed by France which aims to continue to strengthen civil liberties both in Malta, as well as at a European level. It is important that all enjoy the same rights without any distinction.
EUROPRIDE Valletta 2023 serves as an opportunity for Malta to continue in its efforts to raise awareness and share the best practices our country has established in this field.
