Supporting Malta in the design and implementation of a new anti-trafficking strategy (2022-2025)
About the project
The Project aimed to contribute to the ongoing policy reform for combatting trafficking in human beings in Malta. This reform requires special attention and expertise due to the complex and evolving nature of human trafficking. The Council of Europe provided its technical support to the Maltese authorities to design and implement a new Anti-trafficking Strategy and Action Plan in accordance with international standards in this area, in particular the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings. As Party to this Convention, Malta must adopt a coordinated and multidisciplinary approach, incorporating prevention, protection of victims’ rights and prosecution of traffickers. The project will make sure that the Strategy follows a human-rights based, gender-sensitive, interdisciplinary and cross-sectoral approach, covering prevention, protection and assistance of victims, access to justice, including compensation, an effective criminal justice approach and international cooperation.
Funding: The Project was co-funded by the European Union via the Technical Support Instrument and the Council of Europe, and implemented by the Council of Europe, in cooperation with the European Commission.
Duration of the project: 22 September 2022 – 31 January 2025
Download the leaflet about the project
Final Conference and side event | 15-16 January 2025
The Council of Europe, the European Commission (DG REFORM) and the Directorate for Human Rights (Prime Minister's Office) co-hosted on 15 January 2025, in St. Julians, Malta, the Final Conference of their Joint Project "Supporting Malta in the design and implementation of a new National Anti-Trafficking Strategy”. The Conference featured the presentation of Malta's National Anti-Trafficking Strategy and Action Plan, alongside the implementation tools developed under the project. The conference brought together around 100 participants, including national anti-trafficking authorities, civil society and international organisations, as well as experts and representatives of anti-trafficking bodies from Bulgaria, France, Greece, Portugal, Spain, and the United Kingdom. The conference was followed, on 16 January, by a side event on "Children's participation in the design of child-friendly anti-trafficking tools". [more...]
How does the project work?
The Project is implemented by the Council of Europe Anti-Trafficking Division based in Strasbourg, France in cooperation with the European Commission and the Project Team from the Human Rights Initiative Unit within the Human Rights Directorate in Malta. The development of all project deliverables is led by Council of Europe experts with the support of national experts and stakeholders. The project is co-funded by the European Union via the Technical Support Instrument.
What do we expect to achieve?
The Project is expected to achieve key results in supporting the Maltese authorities in the design and implementation of the new anti-trafficking Strategy and its accompanying Action Plan by using a multidisciplinary approach to:
- Establish a common strategic vision and goals for the fight against trafficking in human beings;
- Develop and test tools and processes to ensure that the Strategy is effective;
- Prepare Operational Guidelines to foster the coordination of stakeholders sustainably;
- Build capacities to support the implementation of the tools and the coordination of processes of the Strategy.
Who benefits from the Project and what are the Target Groups?
The Human Rights Initiatives Unit within the Human Rights Directorate of the Office of the Prime Minister, European Funds, Equality, Reforms and Social Dialogue (OPM-EES) is the lead institution for the management and coordination of the project on behalf of the Maltese authorities.
Other stakeholders to be involved in the implementation of the project will include:
- Relevant Ministries as represented by the Anti-Trafficking Inter-Ministerial Committee
- Office of the Prime Minister
- National Statistics Office
- Courts
- Office of the Attorney General
- Office of the State Advocate
- Commissioner for Children
- Non-Governmental Organisations
- Chamber of Commerce
- Private Sector
- Trade Unions
- Employers’ Association
- Media
Reference Documents
- GRETA's third Evaluation Report on Malta
- Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings
- Leaflet on victim's rights: EN - MLT
Who do we work with?
The Human Rights Initiatives Unit (HRIU) within the Human Rights Directorate (HRD) under the Office of the Prime Minister, European Funds, Equality, Reforms and Social Dialogue (OPM-EES).
The Council of Europe anti-trafficking Convention has its own monitoring mechanism set up to evaluate the implementation by the Parties.
Country monitoring | Malta
