Minsitry for Social Dialogue, Consumer Affairs and Civil Liberties, Towards the establishment of the Human Rights and Equality Commission, White Paper, 2014
Country
Malta
Title
Year
Type of publication
Geographical coverage
National
Area/location of interest
Type of Institution
Public authority
Institution
Main Thematic Focus
Integration & inclusion
Target Population
General population
Key findings
This White Paper proposes a legal framework that aims to address identified gaps in a bid to ensure that Malta has an internationally accredited Human Rights and Equality Commission that meets the obligations of both human rights standards laid out in the Paris Principles and EU equality legislation.
A common recommendation in most of the submissions referred to the need to set up an independent National Human Rights Institution (NHRI) in accordance with the Paris Principles, which has the mandate, resources and authority to act as Malta’s focal point on human rights issues. To achieve the human rights framework outlined in this paper, in line both with Government’s position and the responses received towards the Scoping Consultation two main legislative initiatives are being proposed:
The first is the recasting of the Equality for Men and Woman Act into an Equality Act providing for a general principle of anti- discrimination in all spheres of life, also tackling intersectional discrimination.
The second is the adoption of a new Act establishing the Human Rights and Equality Commission entitled The Human Rights and Equality Commission Act.
Methodology (Qualitative/Quantitative and exact type used, questionnaires etc)
The White Paper is the result of a scoping consultation. 15 submissions were received from individuals, civil society organisations, academic institutions, national institutions and international institutions. 7 international meetings were held with representatives of the Council of Europe Commissioner of Human Rights, the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights, the European Network of National Human Rights Institutions, the European Network of Equality Bodies, the Danish Institute for Human Rights, the Netherlands Institute for Human Rights, and the Swedish Equality Ombudsman.
Locally, meetings were also held with representatives of the Office of the Ombudsman, the Human Rights Programme (Faculty of Laws) and the Department of Gender Studies (Faculty for Social Wellbeing).
Sample details and representativeness
15 submissions were received (5 from individuals, 5 from civil society organisations, 1 from academic institutions, 2 from national institutions and 2 from international institutions).