Context
Although equality is one of the values upon which the European Union (EU) is founded, between 2015-2017 the National Commission for the Promotion of Equality (NCPE), the equality body in Malta received only 3 complaints on the grounds of religion/belief and 9 complaints on the grounds of race/ethnic origin.
When compared to other Member States, the EU MIDIS report showed that Malta experienced among the lowest levels of reporting of discrimination (11%) by victims, and amongst the lowest levels of awareness of the existence of the equality body (9%) and or anti-discrimination legislation (18%) amongst persons stemming from Sub-Saharan Africa.
Objectives
EQUALITY4ALLMT aims to tackle the issue of underreporting, as well as the lack of awareness on the functioning of the equality body through the following objectives:
- Development and delivery of training to members of minorities, who may include victims of discrimination based on religion or belief, race and/or ethnic origin, and/or multiple discrimination, to empower them to enjoy their rights and the new remedies laid down in the law;
- Training for 120 representatives of religious belief and race and ethnic minorities, who will subsequently train around 20 members each in their own organisations, a total of around 2400 persons;
- Raising awareness on EU Directives and new national legislation related to discrimination based on religion or belief, race and/or ethnic origin, and/or multiple discrimination, on intercultural understanding and equal opportunities, targeting the general public, a maximum of around 475,000 persons;
- Development of an outreach model targeting the grassroots, through local councils, to bring them on board in the fight against discrimination;
- Outreach to 68 Local Councils to develop further non-discrimination tools for action at the local level already utilised in a migrant integration setting, who can in turn reach the general resident population.
What is our role?
Together with ENAR and ENORB we will be designing and implementing training modules on equality and non-discrimination (points 1 and 2 above). Whilst ENAR and ENORB will focus on the theme’s European dimensions we will zoom in to the two equality laws Malta is in the process of adopting.
Our training will be provide accessible and intelligible information on the two laws. It will also trigger discussions amongst the participants on their identities in Malta and how they can be more active in the promotion of equality and non-discrimination.
We are very happy to work closely with Malta’s Human Rights Directorate, in a spirit of collaboration as we jointly promote a more inclusive Maltese society.
