How can we improve hate crime reporting in Malta?

At the end of August (28-29), I attended a workshop on hate crime organised by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR).

ODIHR provides support, assistance and expertise to participating States and civil society to promote democracy, rule of law, human rights and tolerance and non-discrimination. It observes elections, reviews legislation and advises governments on how to develop and sustain democratic institutions. The Office also conducts training programmes for government and law-enforcement officials and non-governmental organizations on how to uphold, promote and monitor human rights.

The aim of the workshop was to familiarise civil society organisations with the concept of hate crime, especially in the context of migration, and introduce ODIHR’s work on reporting and addressing hate crimes in Europe.

This workshop was important for us all at aditus foundation, since we are searching for betters ways to support our beneficiaries when they are victims of hate crimes. In particular we are extremely concerned that, whilst we do know of hate crimes occurring in Malta, reporting levels remain extremely low…almost at level zero. My participation was funded by UNHCR Malta, for which aditus foundation is extremely grateful.

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aditus attends OSCE seminar on prevention of human trafficking in the Mediterranean

On 8th February aditus Director Dr. Neil Falzon was in Rome to participate in a seminar organised by the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) entitled Cooperation to Prevent Trafficking in Human Beings in the Mediterranean Region’.  The seminar attracted a range of participants from government entities, international organisations and NGOs, with the aim of exploring ways of enhancing regional cooperation in the struggle to combat human trafficking.

During the seminar, aditus forged new relationships with key partners and identified areas of possible activity.  In particular, aditus is alarmed at the increasing number of reports it is receiving regarding exploitation of domestic workers, and will be exploring ways of liaising with national entities in order to assess whether human trafficking for labour purposes is in fact an alarming reality in Malta.

We would like to thank the OSCE for inviting us to this timely event.