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Universal Periodic Review 31: Malta

The UK welcomed Malta’s advances in fighting discrimination and improving gender equality, but recommended accelerating the judicial process and reviewing their plan against human trafficking.

• From: UK Mission to the WTO, UN and Other International Organisations (Geneva)
• Published: 14 November 2018

This was published under the 2016 to 2019 May Conservative government

Thank you, Mr. Vice President,

We welcome Malta’s progress in combating discrimination through adoption of a robust Equality Bill and steps taken toward a Human Rights and Equality Commission in line with the Paris Principles. We encourage Malta to establish such a Commission with urgency.

We acknowledge advances in judicial reform, including the adoption of the Media and Defamation Act 2018. We urge Malta to focus further attention on the challenge of slow judicial progress.

We commend Malta’s commitment to advancing gender equality with the introduction of comprehensive legislation on gender identity and a national LGBTIQ equality strategy and action plan for 2018 to 2022.

We recommend:

1. Implement a targeted strategy to accelerate judicial process to ensure decisions are reached within a reasonable timeframe.

2. Conduct a review of the national action plan against human trafficking, to strengthen investigation and prosecution of trafficking related crimes, while ensuring a victim-centred approach.

3. Adopt an open, merit-based process in selection of national candidates for UN Human Rights Treaty Body elections.

Thank you, Mr. Vice President.

Published 14 November 2018