Roberta Buhagiar was today appointed as the new Refugee Commissioner by Prime Minister Joseph Muscat, in consultation with the Minister for Home Affairs and National Security, Michael Farrugia.

Dr Buhagiar is the fourth Refugee Commissioner and has succeeded Dr Martine Cassar, who was appointed in October 2016 for a three-year term.

Buhagiar has worked in the field of migration and asylum for the past twelve years with various actors including non-government and international organisations. Prior to her appointment, she acted as the Migration Advisor to the Government of Malta. In 2018, she was responsible for coordinating the ad hoc relocation initiatives from Malta to other EU Member States, after several rescue NGOs were allowed to disembark migrants on the island on a humanitarian basis.

Prior to her work for the government of Malta, Buhagiar worked for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). The roles she held with the UN Refugee Agency included heading the Protection Unit of the Malta Office, and monitoring protection issues in France. Buhagiar has also worked for local NGOs in the field of migration. She graduated as a lawyer from the University of Malta in 2006, holds a Masters in Diplomatic Studies (2007) from the Mediterranean Academy of Diplomatic Studies, and throughout her career she has specialised in refugee protection and asylum.

The Office of the Refugee Commissioner is established by the Refugees Act, Chapter 420 of the Laws of Malta, and is responsible for receiving and examining applications for international protection in Malta.