ARCHIVED

1. Highlight the concrete actions taken between 1 January – 31 December 2017 to implement the commitments which contribute to achieving this transformation. Be as specific as possible and include any relevant data/figures.

In the past year, Malta has remained fully committed to the promotion of international human rights law. New prison recruits were given lectures during their basic course at the Academy for Disciplined Forces focusing on early signs of radicalisation and extremism. In this respect, one can note that a very good working relationship exists between the authorities of the Corradino Correctional Facilities and the Counter Terrorism Unit, Malta Police Force. Moreover, during the Maltese Presidency of the Council of the European Union – more specifically on 23 May 2017 - the Maltese Presidency in collaboration with the European Commission, the EU Network for investigation and prosecution of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes, along with Eurojust, hosted the second EU Day against impunity for genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes, in Brussels. The event provided an opportunity to raise awareness about the most heinous crimes of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes and to exchange views on the best ways to ensure the domestic fight against impunity. The second EU Day promoted national investigations and prosecutions, recognised the common efforts of the EU Member States and the European Union in enforcing international criminal law, to address the position and participation of victims in criminal proceedings for these crimes, and to reinvigorate Europe-wide commitment for the continuing and efficient fight against impunity of these crimes. Practitioners, representatives from international criminal courts and tribunals, Member States, European Institutions, International Organisations, NGO’s, academics, lawyers and journalists attended this event.

1. Highlight the concrete actions taken between 1 January – 31 December 2017 to implement the commitments which contribute to achieving this transformation. Be as specific as possible and include any relevant data/figures.

Malta continued to pursue a policy urging the main humanitarian actors and donor countries to provide development incentives for countries which adhere to good democratic governance and respect for the rule of international law.  This conforms with established practice of the EU to condition development assistance to good governance and respect for human rights and the rule of law.  Malta achieved this through the careful examination of every humanitarian response it financed, paying close attention to what the funds would be utilised for by the respective humanitarian agency. 

1. Highlight the concrete actions taken between 1 January – 31 December 2017 to implement the commitments which contribute to achieving this transformation. Be as specific as possible and include any relevant data/figures.

Malta’s Migrant Integration Strategy and Action Plan (Vision 2020) was publicly launched in December 2017. The Strategy creates a framework for promoting successful integration through the level of the migrants’ own sense of belonging to Maltese society and the space Maltese society allows for such integration in its different sectors and strata.

Various structures and mechanisms are present within Malta’s education system to ensure better integration of learners with a migrant background, thus reducing gaps in education.

In order to ensure linguistic and better social integration, accredited courses in English-as-a-foreign language (EFL) and Maltese-as-a-foreign language (MFL), are offered by the Directorate for Research, Lifelong Learning and Employability within the Ministry for Education and Employment. Various efforts to achieve better integration of migrants are also being taken within tertiary education. The Malta College of Arts Science and Technology (MCAST), Malta’s main VET institution, offers the possibility of additional support in English for MCAST students, asylum applicants and beneficiaries of international protection through its Learning Support Unit. In addition, MCAST has also launched a series of basic courses in Maltese for Foreigners (MFF) in the last two academic years.

The University of Malta (UoM) is taking a number of initiatives in order to help asylum seekers and beneficiaries of international protection integrate better within its system. As a member of the European Migration Network, the UoM is fully committed to foster a multicultural learning environment which is able to interpret and shape today’s social forces. It recently launched SPARK, a voluntary network of lecturers within the University, assisting migrants with obtaining a sound knowledge of the English language and to sit for internationally recognised English proficiency exams. 

1. Highlight the concrete actions taken between 1 January – 31 December 2017 to implement the commitments which contribute to achieving this transformation. Be as specific as possible and include any relevant data/figures.

Joined-up humanitarian-development analysis and planning towards collective outcomes

Malta continues to work on strengthening the nexus between humanitarian and development action in order to better anticipate, prepare for and respond to a crisis. Besides contributing to various international humanitarian agencies, Malta has also dedicated part of its financial aid to help to build resilience in developing countries. 

Malta has acted swiftly in order to assist development actors in engaging early and in a sustained way with humanitarian actors to bridge the divide, so that crises are more likely to end sooner and are less likely to be repeated.

During the first half of 2017, Malta assumed the Presidency of the Council of the European Union.  During this period, Malta became an advocate for fostering the relationship between humanitarian aid and development, culminating in the adopted Council Conclusions in May 2017, entitled "Council conclusions on operationalising the humanitarian-development nexus". 

1. Highlight the concrete actions taken between 1 January – 31 December 2017 to implement the commitments which contribute to achieving this transformation. Be as specific as possible and include any relevant data/figures.

Malta has been attentive to prepare the best possible response to each humanitarian crisis. By carefully studying each situation, Malta was able to identify risks early ahead and consequently prepared a tailor-made response to best mitigate vulnerabilities.

Further actions include the funding of humanitarian agencies who actively worked on the ground and paid particular attention to possible risks that could emerge during a humanitarian response. To this end, humanitarian response plans were carefully studied before financing them in order to make sure that the right response would be supported.