NGO Statement on the Human Rights Bill approved by Parliamentary Committee

Jul 22, 2026

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We are extremely disappointed that the Equality Minister’s first decision was to wholly ignore human rights NGOs. The Bill to strengthen Malta’s human rights regime and establish a much-needed human rights institution was rushed through Parliament, despite our requests to be given a chance to read and comment on the Bill.

This is a Bill of major importance for all people in Malta, with the potential of embedding human rights across all sectors of life. We have been working on this Bill’s predecessors for over 10 years, bringing our expertise and experience to the table with the aim of ensuring the highest possible human rights standards.

It is therefore with great surprise that we see the Equality Minister refusing to give us space to comment on the Bill. Had we been given the opportunity, we would have strongly welcomed the Bill and provided technical input on its provisions.
We are truly saddened by these developments, especially since the new Act will be forced upon us and the communities we work with. This will be a lost opportunity for Malta. We also hope this will not be the Equality Minister’s chosen way to engage with Malta’s human right sector.

We strongly urge Equality Minister Rosianne Cutajar and Parliament to postpone this afternoon’s vote on the Bill in order to allow us to provide comment on the Bill’s provisions, in a spirit of dialogue.
___________________________

Nesprimu d-diżappunt kbir tagħna li l-ewwel deċiżjoni tal-Ministru għall-Ugwaljanza kienet li tinjora kompletament lill-NGOs li jaħdmu fil-qasam tad-drittijiet umani. L-Abbozz tal-Liġi li jaf isaħħaħ is-sistema tad-drittijiet umani f’Malta u li se jwaqqaf istituzzjoni indipendenti tad-drittijiet umani, ġie mgħaġġel fil-Parlament, minkejja t-talbiet tagħna biex tingħatalna l-opportunità naqraw l-Abbozz u nagħtu l-kummenti tagħna dwaru.

Dan huwa Abbozz ta’ Liġi ta’ importanza kbira għall-persuni kollha f’Malta, b’potenzjal li jdaħħal u li jsaħħaħ id-drittijiet umani fis-setturi kollha tal-ħajja. Aħna ilna naħdmu fuq il-verżjonijiet preċedenti ta’ dan l-Abbozz għal aktar minn għaxar snin, billi nġibu l-għarfien espert u l-esperjenza tagħna fuq il-mejda bil-għan li niżguraw l-ogħla standards possibbli tad-drittijiet umani.
Għalhekk, hija sorpriża kbira għalina li naraw lill-Ministru għall-Ugwaljanza tirrifjuta li tagħtina spazju sabiex nikkummentaw dwar l-Abbozz. Kieku ngħatajna din l-opportunità, konna nilqgħu b’mod qawwi l-Abbozz u nipprovdu kontribuzzjoni teknika dwar id-dispożizzjonijiet tiegħu.

Aħna tassew imnikkta b’dawn l-iżviluppi, b’mod partikolari peress li l-Att il-ġdid se jiġi impost fuqna u fuq il-komunitajiet li naħdmu magħhom. Din se tkun opportunità mitlufa għal Malta. Nittamaw ukoll li dan mhux se jkun il-mod magħżul mill-Ministru għall-Ugwaljanza biex timpenja ruħha mas-settur tad-drittijiet umani f’Malta.

Inħeġġu bil-qawwa lill-Ministru għall-Ugwaljanza Rosianne Cutajar u lill-Parlament sabiex jipposponu l-vot ta’ dan l-Abbozz ta’ Liġi, sabiex inkunu nistgħu nipprovdu l-kummenti tagħna dwar id-dispożizzjonijiet tiegħu, fi spirtu ta’ djalogu.

Statment signed by: aditus foundation, African Media Association Malta, Blue Door Education, Caritas Malta, Checkpoint Malta Dance Beyond Borders, The Daphne Caruana Galizia Foundation, Foundation for the Ukrainian Community of Malta, Humanists Malta, Jesuit Refugee Service Malta, MGRM, Migrants Commission, Migrant Women Association Malta, Moviment Graffitti, Repubblika, SOS Malta, Spark15.

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