The Council of Europe presented the Joint Project on “Supporting Malta in the design and implementation of a new National Anti-Trafficking Strategy and its first findings at the second meeting the Anti-Human Trafficking Inter-ministerial Committee (IMC) of Malta held online on 23 March 2023.

Set up with focal points from each relevant ministry to improve coordination in the field of trafficking in human beings and chaired by the Human Rights’ Initiatives Unit, the IMC plays a crucial role in the project. It is responsible for mobilising all relevant governmental entities to contribute to consultations, as well as reviewing and approving all draft assessment reports and proposals of recommendations for the future anti-trafficking Strategy and Action Plan before their presentation to the Human Trafficking Monitoring Committee of Malta.

In this context, the Foundation for Social Welfare Services (FSWS) presented the results and findings of its project “All Equal: Supporting Victims of Human Trafficking” funded by the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund which was implemented by its Aġenzija Appoġġ. Moreover, the Permanent Representation of Malta to the European Union presented the main aspects of the proposal to revise Directive 2011/36/EU on preventing and combating trafficking in human beings and protecting its victims. The IMC agreed on the importance of taking due account of the outcome of the revision process in the future Anti-Trafficking Strategy.

The Project “Supporting Malta in the design and implementation of a new anti-trafficking strategy” aims to contribute to the ongoing policy reform for combating trafficking in human beings in Malta. The project is co-funded by the European Union via the Technical Support Instrument, and implemented by the Council of Europe, in cooperation with the European Commission.