A Maltese Child Migrants' Monument has been inaugurated at the Valletta Waterfront.

The monument, in the shape of a child's paper boat, was dedicated by Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi, who said that one of the conditions of a mother country's wellbeing and maturity was its capacity to remember all its children.

"This monument watches over our collective memory, lest we forget an important chapter of our history.

"This monument also serves to strengthen the unity and peace among all of us Maltese. It brings one historical chapter to a close. But I would hope it opens another: a new chapter in which the child migrants of Malta can find their rightful place in the unfolding story of Malta in a globalised world. A story that recognises the past and that calls on all Maltese around the world to be part of Malta's future," Dr Gonzi said.

The monument recalls emigration from Malta, particularly 310 children who left Malta for Australia between 1950 and 1965.

Most of the migrants' ships left from the quay where the monument is located.