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Malta - Universal Periodic Review

UPR 31, November 14, 2018
Recommendations by Canada

Recommendations

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Thank you, Mr. President.

Canada welcomes the positive steps taken by Malta to protect and strengthen LGBTI rights. We also welcome the adoption of a number of laws, strategies and policies to deal with human rights issues, particularly with regards to women’s rights and migrants. While there has been much progress since the last UPR, additional measures could be adopted in certain areas.

Canada recommends that Malta:

1. Adopt measures to ensure the full respect and implementation of its international obligations relating to gender-based violence, including through appropriate training of the police force and the judiciary.
2. Invest appropriate resources to ensure the implementation of existing strategies relating to sexual and reproductive health and rights, including ensuring access to safe, affordable and modern means of contraception, and information related to them.
3. Work to address the shelter needs of migrants and asylum-seekers, and in particular improve living conditions in Open Centres.

Background

According to UPR Info, a non-profit, non-governmental organization (NGO) that tracks the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) process, in the first two cycles of the UPR, Malta received 216 recommendations, of which 77 were accepted (an acceptance rate of 36%). Canada’s previous recommendations to Malta were related to greater protection of migrant rights and strengthening integration of migrants into Maltese society.

Malta, a member of the EU and the Commonwealth, is a democratic country, with an extensive and progressive human rights legal framework. Malta is one of the most progressive countries in the world with regards to LGBTI rights. In July 2017, marriage equality legislation was approved, while cosmetic surgery on intersex babies and conversion therapy for gay and lesbian people has been banned. A Bill to create a Human Rights and Equality Commission is expected to be passed before the end of the year.

Malta has developed capacity to manage the reception and the accommodation of asylum-seekers, refugees and other beneficiaries of protection. In December 2017, Malta launched its Migrant Integration Strategy and Action Plan to address integration challenges for Malta’s various migrant communities.

Despite these positive steps, important challenges remain. Living conditions in the Open Centres for newly-arrived migrants are dire, with low hygiene levels, over-crowding, and a lack of physical security.

Sexual and reproductive rights remain an issue. Malta suffers from some of the highest teenage pregnancy and STD infection rates in Europe. Many of the measures outlined in its National Sexual Health Policy of 2010 and National Sexual Health Strategy of 2011 have yet to be implemented.

In June 2018, Malta adopted an Act on Gender-Based Violence and Domestic Violence, however, domestic violence continues to be on the rise. In 2017, the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Nils Mui啪nieks, encouraged the Maltese authorities to provide on-going training to more law enforcement officers, prosecutors and judges.

The European Parliament and several NGOs have raised concerns about political corruption, respect for the rule of law and freedom of the press. This was brought into the limelight with the murder of investigative journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia in October 2017.