The Parliamentary Secretary for Reforms and Equality, Rebecca Buttigieg, on Wednesday unveiled the Strategy and Action Plan for LGBTIQ+ Equality that covers the years 2023 to 2027.
The third National Strategy of its sort was unveiled during a conference attended by numerous stakeholders and members of civil society and aims to build on previous accomplishments while addressing contemporary societal challenges.
Following a period of significant reforms between 2013 and 2018 in relation to Malta's legal and policy framework, the last four years where characterised largely by mainstreaming efforts in the fields of health, education, employment, asylum, policing and tourism among others.
In total, 10 sectors and 94 measures make up the current Action Plan, based on various areas where LGBTIQ+ people still face discrimination or unequal treatment.
In her address, Buttigieg said that this strategy is being launched after consultation with the LGBTIQ+ Advisory Council, which includes representatives from civil society and other social partners.
“On the International Day against Homophobia, this Government is marking its commitment to continue working towards a more equal society. Through this action plan, we are communicating our vision in this field for the next five years,” said Buttigieg.
“Consequently, we will continue to build on the measures that have put us at the top of the Rainbow Index for the eighth consecutive year,” explained Buttigieg.
“It’s an ambitious plan built on the principles of dialogue and understanding, with the aim of proposing concrete reforms to better the lives of every single person,” she said. “As a government we are committing to treating everyone with the equal and dignified treatment that they deserve.”
Clayton Mercieca, the Head of the Division on Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, Gender Expression and Sex Characteristics Division within the Directorate for Human Rights, explained in more detail the goals and measures within the strategy and how the action plan will be implemented.
The Action Plan covers areas including measures to promote equal treatment in employment settings, the increased visibility of inclusive services for LGBTIQ+ elderly, persons with a disability, migrants and young people, as well as contributes to the fight against discrimination, hate speech, and hate crimes, amongst others.
“With renewed policy and ongoing collaboration with all organizations, we will certainly have the opportunity to achieve our ambition to foster a more inclusive society where every person can enjoy their fundamental rights,” Mercieca said.
“More than ever before, we are privileged with greater access to information to educate ourselves, but there is also the risk where misinformation, often based on exaggeration and sensationalism, spreads much faster. It is important to keep this in mind as a Department when implementing this plan,” said Mercieca.
The implementation of the measures will be coordinated by the Division on Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, Gender Expression, and Sex Characteristics (SOGIGESC) within the Directorate for Human Rights, in collaboration with various Ministries and public entities.