Malta urged to drop support for rights revisions undermining migrants

A group of civil society organisations has raised 'deep concern' over a call by Malta and 26 other countries last week urging the Council of Europe to revise the Convention of Human Rights in a way which would restrict the fundamental human rights of migrants. 

"Packaged as national security measures, the proposals will result in a dramatic lowering of human rights standards in over 40 states across Europe. We find it unacceptable that Malta aligns itself with political movements seeking to expose people to acts that courts have repeatedly found to be illegal and in contravention of basic human rights standards," the NGOs said.

The NGO pointed out that Human Rights Day (10 December), Malta joined 26 states to propose a radical revision of how Europe defines and handles the human rights of migrants. They proposed a number of measures they view as necessary for them to “guarantee our populations’ human rights”, reinforcing the dangerous idea that human rights are the privilege of European nationals, whilst non-nationals are expected to rely on our pity or generosity to be recognised as human. 

"The proposed measures would permit states to do what is today considered illegal, immoral and an affront to human dignity. They would allow states to deport people where their removal would result in their torture or where it would break up families."

This, the NGOs said, is not migration management. "It is a weak response to a growing far-right sentiment, one that panders to hatred, division and discrimination rather than tackling it with sensitivity and political responsibility."

The NGOs insisted that all persons are entitled to seek protection in other countries.  

"We underline that Article 1 of the European Convention Malta is seeking to redefine is crystal clear: the human rights protections it offers apply to everyone within Malta’s jurisdiction. ‘Everyone’ is not determined by passport, skin colour, social, or other status."

"It is indeed ironic that many of the human rights victories listed by the Parliamentary Secretary for Equality and Reforms are actually based on the values and standards enshrined in the very same document Malta wishes to downsize."

The NGOs urged Malta to withdraw its signature and all support for the statement’s proposals.  

"We hope that these dark days will give Malta the opportunity to shine as a human rights leader, a role we will certainly support and promote."

The call was signed by aaditus foundation, African Media Association, Malta Refugee Council, Men Against Violence, Blue Door Education, Women’s Rights Foundation, The Daphne Caruana Galizia Foundation, Migrant Women Association Malta, PEN MaltaSpark,OASI Foundation, Anti-Poverty Forum – Malta, Drachma LGBTI+, Drachma Parents, Prof. Colin Calleja – Dean Faculty of Education,  Repubblika, Moviment Graffitti, Caritas Malta, Fondazzjoni St Jeanne Antide, MGRM – Malta, LGBTIQ Rights Movemen, SAR Malta Network, Malta Migration ArchiveAssociation for Justice, Equality and Peace, and the Jesuit Refugee Service Malta