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Malta: Commissioner raises concerns over freedom of expression and the lack of justice for Daphne Caruana Galizia
The Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatović, published her letter to the Prime Minister and to the Speaker of the Parliament of Malta today, expressing concern about the implementation of the recommendations of the public inquiry report into the murder of Daphne Caruana...
Letter
Malta should strengthen the protection of the media and access to information, in line with international standards
“The Maltese authorities must ensure that legislative work launched pursuant to the public inquiry report into the assassination of Daphne Caruana Galizia complies with international standards and is fully open to public scrutiny and participation”, said today the Council of Europe Commissioner...
Country report
Malta: High time for justice for Daphne Caruana Galizia and for reforms to safeguard media freedom and better protect the rights of migrants and women
The Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatović, published today the report on her visit to Malta carried out in October 2021, with recommendations on safeguarding media freedom and ensuring the safety of journalists, protecting the lives and dignity of refugees, asylum...
Country visit
Reforms needed to better protect journalists’ safety and the rights of migrants and women in Malta
“Implementing the recommendations of the public inquiry report which found that the state must bear responsibility for Daphne Caruana Galizia’s assassination should be a top priority for the government”, said today the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatović, following a...
Statement
Justice should be ensured to honour the memory of Daphne Caruana Galizia
“Daphne Caruana Galizia was a courageous woman and a brilliant journalist. She used her skills to speak truth to power. She served the public good, believing in the power of journalism to build a more just society. Despite herself, she became the symbol of all the threats against journalists when...
Statement
Immediate action needed to disembark migrants held on ships off Malta’s coast
“The situation of more than 400 persons kept on private ships just outside Malta’s territorial waters is unsustainable and requires immediate action”, said today Dunja Mijatović, the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights. Since Malta closed its ports in response to the Covid-19 crisis,...
Letter
Commissioner urges Malta to meet its obligations to save lives at sea, ensure prompt and safe disembarkation, and investigate allegations of delay or non-response to situations of distress
In a letter addressed to the Prime Minister of Malta, Robert Abela, published today, the Commissioner urges the Maltese government to fully meet its human rights obligations towards migrants, including asylum seekers and refugees, who cross the Mediterranean to reach Europe. “In accordance with...
Statement
States should ensure rescue at sea and allow safe disembarkation during the COVID-19 crisis
“Despite the unprecedented challenges European countries face due to COVID-19, saving lives at sea and disembarking survivors in a safe port must continue”, stated today Dunja Mijatović, the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights. The Commissioner calls on Council of Europe member states...
Letter
Commissioner urges the Maltese government to ensure the independence of the investigation into the murder of Daphne Caruana Galizia
The Commissioner published today an exchange of letters with the Maltese government concerning the investigation into the murder of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia. In the letter to the Prime Minister sent on 26 November, the Commissioner expressed concerns regarding alleged political...
Statement
Malta must establish accountability for the murder of Daphne Caruana Galizia
“The Government of Malta remains far behind in its obligation to ensure that investigations in the murder of Daphne Caruana Galizia are conducted in a prompt, effective, independent and impartial manner,” said today in a joint statement Dunja Mijatović, Council of Europe Commissioner for Human...
Letter
Commissioner calls on Maltese authorities to withdraw posthumous defamation lawsuits against the family of Daphne Caruana Galizia
Today, the Commissioner published a letter addressed to the Prime Minister of Malta, Joseph Muscat, in which she recommends withdrawing the pending posthumous suits against the family of Daphne Caruana Galizia. “Some 30 civil defamation claims continue,” writes the Commissioner, stressing that...
Opinion Article
Learning the right lessons
Times of Malta, 16/10/2018 A year ago, today, Daphne Caruana Galizia was brutally killed when a powerful explosive device blew up her car. Twelve months later, her family is still waiting for justice – and her colleagues for better protection. So far, the investigations the Maltese authorities...
Need to reform abortion law in Malta
Times of Malta, 26/02/2018 When I visited Malta last November, I noted how the very restrictive legislation on abortion jeopardised women’s rights. I was also particularly struck by the lack of an open debate about this issue. It is, therefore, encouraging that some voices are now starting to...
Letter
Malta urged to improve the protection and integration of migrants
In a letter addressed to the Minister for Home Affairs and National Security of Malta published today, Commissioner Muižnieks urges Malta to improve the protection and integration of migrants. Expressing appreciation for Malta’s policy changes to end the automatic detention of migrant and its...
Letter
Malta urged to eradicate violence against women and ensure access to abortion care
In a letter addressed to Mr Joseph Muscat, Prime Minister of Malta, published today, the Commissioner urges the government to ensure that the Bill on gender-based and domestic violence and additional measures giving effect to the bill effectively address gender inequality and violence against...
Country visit
Malta should step up efforts to enhance protection of women’s and migrants’ rights
“I welcome the government’s efforts to combat domestic violence in Malta. The transposition into domestic law of the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence, currently debated in parliament, is a decisive step forward. However, more...
Country visit report
Malta is urged to ensure effective protection of migrants
"Many migrants in Malta face inadequate living conditions and have little chance of integrating durably in society" said the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Thomas Hammarberg, releasing today his report on the visit to Malta he carried out from 23-25 March 2011. According to the...
Country visit
European solidarity needs to be matched by strong efforts at national level to protect the human rights of migrants
"Malta and Europe need each other if the challenges of migration are to be met in a manner that respects human rights," said the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Thomas Hammarberg, following his visit to Malta from 23 to 25 March. According to the Commissioner, Malta needs to move...
Letter
Migrants’ rights: Commissioner Hammarberg publishes two letters to Italy and Malta
The Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Thomas Hammarberg, published today two letters he sent last August to the Minister of Interior of Italy, Roberto Maroni, and to the Minister for Justice and Home Affairs, of Malta Carmelo Mifsud Bonnici. The Commissioner's letters refer to that...
Follow-up report on Malta (2006)
Follow-up report on Malta: Assessment of the progress made in implementing the recommendations of the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights. 2003-2005 CommDH(2006)14 / 29 March 2006
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