The Malta Diversity & Inclusion Charter was established by the voluntary association CORE Platform with financial aid of €20,000 from the VOPS fund administered by the Maltese Council for the Voluntary Sector. This innovative initiative aims to foster diversity and inclusion in various sectors. The launch of this Charter was announced by the Minister for Inclusion and Volunteering Julia Farrugia Portelli and the Parliamentary Secretary for Equality and Reforms Rebecca Buttigeg, in the presence of the President of the CORE Platform association Helga Ellul.
The organizations that commit to this Charter undertake to respect the principles of diversity and inclusion in their operation. The Directorate of Human Rights will be the first public entity that will support and be signatory of the Charter for the next three years while the APS bank will be the first local commercial entity that will be a signatory of this Charter. Some of the measures contained in this Charter include the implementation of Human Resources practices where diversity is placed at the center of the operation and where inclusion is emphasized with all employees, together with measures others to ensure equal opportunities at every step of the employees’ careers. This is done through selection, recruitment and procedures and which have at their center inclusion.
Minister Julia Farrugia Portelli praised this initiative while emphasizing the need for more inclusion in the workplace. “It is worth taking into account the fact that the workplace is the place where we spend a good part of our daily time and it is crucial to make sure that apart from that the environment is one that protects inclusion and equality, the daily culture and the operation by which the company is run will be nothing less. I look forward to not only seeing more projects of this kind continue to come to life, but to see more companies and businesses of all sizes become signatories of this charter,” claimed Minister Julia Farrugia Portelli .
The Parliamentary Secretary Rebecca Buttigieg said that this Charter, which was promised in the electoral program of the elected Government, continues with the series of initiatives in favor of inclusiveness and diversity in the continuous drive to change certain mentalities. She encouraged the signatories of this Charter to ensure that in all their operations there is nothing that disturbs the values of inclusiveness and to ensure that everyone is valued and respected. She said that the advantage for signatories will be the opportunity to be part of a European platform that facilitates collaboration with signatories of similar charters in other member states of the European Union.
The President of the voluntary association CORE Platform Helga Ellul said, “Today marks an important step in our collective journey towards the creation of a more inclusive society, where every individual is valued and respected regardless of background, belief, or his abilities. The Charter announced today embodies our commitment to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in all aspects of our lives, whether in the workplace, in education, or in public spaces .”
