Ir-Refugjati f’Hajti (Refugees in My Life) - by Charles Buttigieg the first Refugee Commissioner in Malta – was launched this week on the occasion of World Day of Migrants and Refugees.

The author recounts how the refugee experience in Malta began and developed from the 1970s up to the first decade of the new Millennium.  He writes about his personal and direct experience first as head of the Refugees Section of the Emigrants’ Commission (1987-2000) in its role as the UNHCR’s Operational Partner in Malta and then as the person entrusted with the setting up and operation of the Office of the Refugee Commissioner (2001-2007) in Malta.

The book opens with an introduction on the international phenomenon of refugees, which explains how the 1951 Refugee Convention and UNHCR came into being. The introduction also describes how, way back in 1971, Malta entered the international domain of the legal protection of refugees by signing the Convention, and how less than two years later Malta helped around 360 refugees from Uganda. The introduction further recalls how the Emigrants’ Commission, led by Mgr Philip Calleja, was the first local institution that committed itself to the protection of refugees and worked with UNHCR.

The first section of the book describes how Mr Buttigieg entered the scene of the protection of refugees and the training he received by UNHCR to process on its behalf the applications filed in Malta for refugee protection under its Mandate.  It also focuses on the 1991 arrival in Maltese waters of two ships full of young Albanians; the various difficulties the Emigrants’ Commission faced in its endeavours on behalf of refugees; the episode of about 900 Iraqis who came to Malta in the 1990s; the very difficult issue of work permits for refugees and how in the 1990s the Emigrants’ Commission succeeded in finding resettlement for hundreds of refugees and people in a refugee-like situations who were in Malta.

The same section also illustrates the author’s participation in a 1993 international study concerning refugees; the first arrivals of boat people in Malta during the 1990s; the story of and fundamental role of the author in the case of the 105 refugees from Kosovo who were temporarily brought over to Malta in 1999; dramatic refugee accounts and human refugee experiences.

In the second section the author writes about the background leading to the introduction of refugee legislation in Malta, his appointment as Refugee Commissioner, the arrangement made with UNHCR when the whole exercise of refugee protection in Malta passed under the responsibility of the Office of the Refugee Commissioner and the sudden big upsurge in applications for asylum brought about by the explosion in the number of boat people reaching Malta in 2002. The section also includes writings about the art of asylum-seeker interviewing; the issue of interpretation and the difficulties it brings along with; other people the Office of the Refugee Commissioner had to work with; refugees and public opinion; the Eritreans who came to Malta in 2002 and other operators in the field of migration and refugees.

In his accounts, the author also delves deep in what a person with a long commitment in interviewing claimants for asylum and the determination of the acceptance or otherwise of their application for international protection might come face to face with. He also writes about particular problems he had to face in his work prior to and after he was appointed Refugee Commissioner.

All income of the book will go to the Refugee Fund of the Emigrants’ Commission, which for the past 40 years has been working for refugees and at present is giving shelter to around 400 refugees or people in a refugee-like situation in seven centres, primarily in Balzan.

Today the book is available from the Bon Pastur Refugee Centre, Balzan from 10am to 12noon at €12 and the author will be present to sign copies of the book.  From tomorrow, 20 January, the book will be available from Dar l-Emigrant at €15. Those wishing to reserve a copy are to send their details on [email protected]