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Category: Press Statement

Together, we remember Lassana Cisse Souleymane, whose life was so callously taken away.

On the evening of the 6th April,  Lassana Cisse Souleymane was murdered in Hal Far. Two other men were also victims in this attack. 

Lassana’s life mattered. He mattered to his family, to his friends, and he mattered to us. Such brutal acts of violence cannot and must not be ignored or silenced.

Together, we remember Lassana Cisse Souleymane, whose life was so callously taken away.

We stand in solidarity with our brothers and sisters who continue to experience violence, who do not feel safe.

We stand in condemnation of racism and wanton acts of hatred.

We encourage everyone to come together to denounce this act of violence.

We call upon the Maltese Police Force to commit all necessary resources to bring the perpetrators to justice.

We call upon Maltese authorities to ensure that all members of Maltese society feel respected, safe and protected.

Lassana Cisse Souleymane, brutally murdered on 6 April 2019.

Statement endorsed by:

  1. aditus foundation
  2. African Media Association
  3. Allied Rainbow Communities
  4. ARTfuLIFE
  5. Association des Ivoiriens a Malte
  6. Blue Door English
  7. Catholic Voices Malta
  8. Caritas Malta
  9. Chaplaincy, University of Malta
  10. Church Homes for the Elderly
  11. Christian Life Community (CLC) Malta
  12. Cross Culture International Foundation
  13. Dar Hosea
  14. Dar tal-Providenza
  15. Department for Inclusion and Access to Learning, University of Malta
  16. Department of Social Policy and Social Work, University of Malta
  17. Drachma LGBTI
  18. Drachma Parents Group
  19. Eritrean Community, Malta
  20. Fondazzjoni Paci u Gid – Peace and Good Foundation
  21. Fondazzjoni Sebh
  22. Foundation for Shelter and Support to Migrants
  23. International Association For Refugees
  24. International Integrity Foundation
  25. Isles of the Left
  26. Hal Far Outreach
  27. Integra Foundation
  28. Jesuit Refugee Service Malta
  29. Kopin
  30. Kummissjoni Ġustizzja u Paċi
  31. Malta Emigrants Commission
  32. Malta Humanist Association
  33. Malta Microfinance
  34. Malta Association for the Counselling Profession
  35. Malta LGBTIQ Rights Movement
  36. Malta Street Art Collective
  37. Maltese Association of Social Workers
  38. Men Against Violence
  39. Migrant Offshore Aid Station
  40. Migrant Women Association Malta
  41. Millennium Chapel
  42. Mina Tolu
  43. Moviment Graffitti
  44. Paolo Freire Institute
  45. People for Change Foundation
  46. Pete Farrugia
  47. Platform for Human Rights Organizations in Malta
  48. Prof. Andrew Azzopardi, Office of the Dean of the Faculty for Social Wellbeing
  49. Department of Youth and Community Studies
  50. Richmond Foundation
  51. Salesians of Don Bosco
  52. Segratarjat Assistenza Socjali tal-Azzjoni Kattolika Maltija
  53. Society of Jesus Malta (Jesuits)
  54. Solidarity with Migrants
  55. SOS Malta
  56. Spark 15
  57. St. Jeanne Antide Foundation
  58. Sudanese Community Malta
  59. The Association for Justice, Equality and Peace
  60. The Critical Institute
  61. The Good Shepherd Sisters – Dar Merhba Bik Foundation
  62. The National Foster Care Association Malta
  63. The Peace Lab
  64. Umberto Buttigieg
  65. UNHCR Malta
  66. Victim Support Malta
  67. Women’s Rights Foundation
  68. YMCA
  69. Youth Alive Foundation


Malta can and must do better!

Joint NGO appeal to the Prime Minister to resolve the Alan Kurdi standoff

We strongly urge Malta to allow the disembarkation of the over 60 people rescued over nine days ago by the Alan Kurdi. In doing so, Malta will ensure a humane end to this incident that prioritises the preservation of lives over political and legal considerations. Whilst we appreciate that these considerations are of course central to the determination of responsibilities and obligations, these should not override or ignore the need to ensure the safety of all rescued persons and of the rescuing crew.

We remind Malta and the European Union that Libya cannot be considered a safe port of disembarkation. Countless reports have been revealing the appalling human rights violations suffered by migrants in Libya. Furthermore, the recent escalation of violence in the country highlights the increased lack of security for Libyans and migrants alike. Forcibly returning migrants, as also Libyan nationals, to Libya would expose them to torture, sexual violence, arbitrary detention, discrimination and – in some cases – death.

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We express solidarity and deep sorrow

Joint NGO Statement on the murder of Lassibe Souleymane

We are deeply saddened by news of the death of Lassibe Souleymane, brutally shot in Ħal Far over the weekend. We also wish all the very best to the two other victims of the shooting, and hope they recover without permanent or serious damage. Whatever the actual reasons for this terrible incident, it affects not only the three victims but the entire migrant community in creating a sense of fear, lack of security and isolation. It also affects us all, a nation jolted by an appalling act of violence.

As we eagerly await the outcome of the investigations, we urge Malta’s highest authorities to unequivocally condemn all forms of violence – whatever their motivation. We caution that, should it emerge that this was in fact a racially-motivated incident, Malta would be called upon to face far more than an act of assault, but far graver crime aimed at instilling terror in entire communities.

Secondly, we expect the Malta Police Force to step up: commit all necessary resources to bring the perpetrators to justice; ensure the survivors are treated as victims of crime and guaranteed all the support and protection they need.

Importantly we underline the need to comfort and express solidarity with all residents of Ħal Far, assuring that all will be done to restore good order and security for the locality’s communities.

Statement endorsed by the following organisations:

  1. aditus foundation
  2. African Media Association Malta
  3. Allied Rainbow Communities (arc)
  4. Blue Door English
  5. The Critical Institute
  6. Department for Inclusion and Access to Learning, University of Malta
  7. Drachma LGBTI
  8. Drachma Parents
  9. Foundation for Shelter and Support to Migrants
  10. Integra Foundation
  11. International Association for Refugees
  12. Isles of the Left
  13. Jesuit Refugee Service (Malta)
  14. Kopin
  15. LGBTI Plus Gozo
  16. Malta Emigrants’ Commission
  17. Malta Humanist Association
  18. Malta LGBTIQ Rights Movement
  19. Men Against Violence
  20. Moviment Graffitti
  21. National Foster Care Association Malta
  22. Richmond Foundation
  23. Solidarity with Migrants
  24. SOS Malta
  25. Spark15
  26. Sudanese Community Malta
  27. Victim Support Malta
  28. Women’s Rights Foundation

Voice for Choice – L-Għażla Tagħha

aditus foundation is one of the 6 civil society organisations which formed the first pro-choice coalition in Malta launched on the 8th March 2019. The coalition was set-up to lobby for the decriminalisation of abortion and to raise awareness in the community to combat the stigma that surrounds abortion.

Press Release – 8th March 2019

Voice for Choice is the first Maltese pro-choice coalition made up of civil society organisations and individuals who together want to campaign for reproductive rights and justice in Malta. We are grassroot organisations that represent various sectors of our society, as well as individuals that are passionate about reproductive health and rights.

Abortion continues to remain criminalised in Malta in all circumstances. We know that the reality is that women in Malta are still seeking and having abortions. However, this comes at both a financial and a social cost, as well as at the cost of their physical and mental health, as these women continue to live in fear, stigma and shame in our society.

In the last decades Malta has made great strides to be a more inclusive society. It is therefore time that the laws related to abortion follow suit so as to reflect the reality of people’s lives. We are here to ensure that all pregnant persons, irrespective of their gender, ethnicity, beliefs or age are supported, respected and protected whatever their choices.

Voice for Choice today launches its campaign to:

  • strive for a society based on equal respect and justice free from discrimination for all genders and minority groups;
  • ensure that barriers in accessing sexual and reproductive health and rights are removed;
  • promote equality in the area of sexual and reproductive health and rights;
  • remove shame and stigma related to sexual and reproductive health and rights.

We intend to achieve these goals through campaigning for the decriminalisation of abortion and advocating for laws that ensure that the health of pregnant people is protected and in line with international human rights standards through proper abortion care.

We will further strive to educate and debunk the myths surrounding abortion by providing factual information about sexual and reproductive health and rights.

To this aim, we will be organising activities to raise awareness in the community and combat the stigma and shame surrounding abortion, and providing up to date information to support evidence-based policy. Starting tomorrow, we will roll out our first social media campaign entitled “30 abortion myths: Get the facts straight’’.

Voice for choice will also be organising an annual event to commemorate ‘International Safe Abortion Day’ on the 28 September of each year.

Contact details:
Email: vfcmalta@gmail.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/V4CMalta/

Founders:

Women’s Rights Foundation
Moviment Graffitti
Malta Humanist Association
Integra Foundation
aditus foundation
Men Against Violence

Individual co-founders:

Francesca Fenech Conti and Jelena Dimke, admins Women for Women
Liza Caruana-Finkel

Doctors for Choice Malta officially joined the coalition on the 9 May 2019.

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Less worthy, less human. Joint NGO Statement on the treatment of Turkish workers in Malta

We are deeply concerned at recent reports on the importation of Turkish nationals to work on a number of major construction projects. It is upsetting to read that hundreds of men will be housed in metal containers or similar make-shift structures and paid the lowest possible rates in return for what is extremely tough and strenuous work.   

Under no circumstances can metal containers be considered humane treatment, and the refugee centres in Ħal Far provide ample evidence of the severe impact such living conditions have on a person’s physical and mental health. For too long, Malta has been on a path of normalising the ill-treatment certain foreigners. It would appear that the lives of those migrants filling the employment gaps of work often described as ‘what the Maltese no longer want to do’ are deemed less significant, less worthy, less human.

Malta has the obligation to respect, protect and fulfil the fundamental human rights of all persons in Malta, irrespectively of their nationality or their purpose of stay in Malta. In particular, all persons should be treated with dignity, be protected from forced labour and provided with humane conditions of employment. In this regard, human rights law and labour law complement each other in ensuring that all workers are free from abuse and ill-treatment.

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