One of the best traits of this Labour Government is by far its willingness to challenge the status quo. Reforms have been at the top of its agenda ever since taking office in 2013. Malta made giant leaps forward with the introduction of civil rights and equality during the first tenure in government. This was just the first step towards a more avant-garde society with a progressive mentality.
Over the last twelve months, we kept up the momentum in our journey towards a more liberal society in line with the 2017 electoral manifesto. From day one, my parliamentary secretariat kicked off a wide consultation process focusing on five main pillars: Vote 16, Cannabis, Prostitution, Human Trafficking and Gender Equality in Parliament.
Once again, it had to be a Labour Government to change the political history of our country. As of next year, all youths aged 16 and over will have the right to vote in the European Parliament Elections. We will be the second EU Member State that has empowered their youths by giving them the opportunity to voice their opinion. In the run-up towards the elections, we will be embarking on an educational campaign aimed at exercising their right to vote.
Another reform close to heart is the fight against human trafficking. I am very proud of forming part of a government that has decided to tackle the problem head on. We will invest all our energy into fighting abuse and giving full support to victims. Over the past year and a half, we have made a lot of groundwork. We met a large number of stakeholders to better understand the best practices employed by our counterparts and listen to real-life experiences.
More often than not, when one thinks about human trafficking, the first thing that comes to mind is prostitution – specifically women in prostitution. It is a reality, but definitely not the full picture. In our case, 75% of human trafficking cases are related to employment, as opposed to other countries. Hence, we will be devising a national strategy that suits our reality, rather than transposing any of the other models that are often talked about.
In the meantime, we did not sit on our laurels. We have provided intensive training to Identity Malta officials in order to be able to detect cases of human trafficking. Our efforts paid off – this year they have uncovered one of the largest cases of human trafficking so far, involving 14 victims.
Government entities and the police force stepped up their efforts and started to tackle the phenomenon of massage parlours and gentlemen’s clubs. They are being given top priority in our discussions related to the trafficking of human beings and prostitution reforms.
We are also working on a nationwide marketing campaign intended to raise public awareness on human trafficking. This will include tips on how one can spot individuals who are suffering any form of abuse and how to report such cases to the authorities. Most importantly, the campaign will offer support to victims who choose to seek help through a dedicated exit programme.
We will also adopt a zero tolerance approach towards drug trafficking. The next step in the cannabis reform is to develop a national strategy focusing on harm reduction. Our efforts will be concentrated on children – our future. We want them to keep away from drug abuse by channeling their energy through sports, arts and culture.
The gender equality reform, for a more balanced representation in Parliament, will move to the next phase. Following the technical discussions held last year with various stakeholders, over the coming weeks, Government will be publishing a green paper as part of the public consultation process intended to outline the required changes in legislation to be presented in Parliament before being enacted in the Constitution. 70 years down the line, female representation in Parliament is at 10-13%, and I believe we owe future generations a positive turnaround towards a fairer society.
One of most important developments that came to fruition under this Government is the venture into the residency and citizenship by investment industry with the setting up of the Malta Residence and Visa Agency and the Malta Individual Investor Programme Agency respectively. Much has been said about the economic benefits for our country, however the RCBI industry did not simply stimulate our local economy, it has enriched our country by enhancing our human capital, as well as by bettering our cultural heritage.
While renewing IIP and considering new markets for further business growth in the residency by investment programme, we will keep improving the already stringent processes employed in the vetting of applications in order to ensure that the industry keeps flourishing and continues to provide opportunities for families to enjoy a better life in a more stable country and for successful entrepreneurs to keep expanding their businesses
The unprecedented economic boom and practically full employment in the local labour market, has led employers to constantly seek and engage foreign employees. This situation introduces new pressures on Identity Malta Agency which requires an increase in its resources to meet the increasing demands. At the same time, we need to send a clear message that there is no room for abuse. Identity Malta will be setting up an enforcement unit to make sure that the laws are obeyed. Identity Malta will also be introducing online facilities and extend its services in Gozo.
The portfolio under my remit epitomizes my beliefs. We venture into politics to make a difference. The year ahead of us indeed gives us the impetus to better the lives of Maltese and Gozitan citizens.
Julia Farrugia Portelli is Parliamentary Secretary for Reforms, Citizenship and Simplification of Administrative Processes