Civil Society organisations have called on the Maltese government to withdraw its support from a joint statement it signed which urged the Council of Europe to revise the Convention of Human Rights.

The States that signed the letter had said, among other things: "In addressing under the Convention, the challenges in expulsion of foreign criminals, migration management and cooperation with third countries regarding asylum and return procedures, as well as removal procedures and instrumentalisation of migration, a right balance has to be found between the migrants' individual rights and interests and the weighty public interests of defending freedom and security in our societies."

A number of civil society organisations, in a statement, said: "We are deeply concerned at Malta's statement urging the Council of Europe to explore how to restrict the fundamental human rights of migrants. Packaged as national security measures, the proposals will result in a dramatic lowering of human rights standards in over forty States across Europe. We find it unacceptable that Malta aligns itself with political movements seeking to expose people to acts that Courts have repeatedly found to be illegal and in contravention of basic human rights standards."

On Human Rights Day (10 December), Malta joined 26 States "to propose a radical revision of how Europe defines and handles the human rights of migrants. The Statement proposed a number of measures the States think are necessary for them to 'guarantee our populations' human rights', reinforcing the dangerous idea that human rights are the privilege of European nationals, whilst non-nationals are expected to rely on our pity or generosity to be recognised as human," the organisations said.

The organisations said that whe proposed measures would permit States "to do what is today considered illegal, immoral and an affront to human dignity."

"They would allow States to deport people where their removal would result in their torture or where it would break up families."

This is not migration management, the organisations said. "It is a weak response to a growing far-right sentiment, one that panders to hatred, division and discrimination rather than tackling it with sensitivity and political responsibility."

"As a signatory to this horrific Statement, Malta is reminded that all persons are entitled to seek protection in other countries. Malta is further reminded that the 1951 Refugee Convention acknowledges that this right to seek asylum often requires people to undertake dangerous and unconventional routes. "

The civil society organisations underlined that Article 1 of the European Convention Malta is seeking to redefine is crystal clear: "the human rights protections it offers apply to everyone within Malta's jurisdiction. 'Everyone' is not determined by passport, skin colour, social, or other status."

"We note that this Statement was published on Human Rights Day, the very same day Malta's Human Rights Directorate celebrated its anniversary and achievements. It is indeed ironic that many of the human rights victories listed by the Parliamentary Secretary for Equality and Reforms are  actually based on the values and standards enshrined in the very same document Malta wishes to downsize," the organisations said.

"We therefore strongly object to Malta's participation in this Joint Statement and call on the Maltese Government to withdraw its signature and all support for the statement's proposals."

"We invite Malta to celebrate Human Rights Day and its achievements with the spirit they deserve, one based on genuine respect for the human dignity of all persons. We hope that these dark days will give Malta the opportunity to shine as a human rights leader, a role we will certainly support and promote."

The statement was signed by aditus foundation, African Media Association Malta, Malta Refugee Council, Men Against Violence, Blue Door Education, Women's Rights Foundation, The Daphne Caruana Galizia Foundation, Migrant Women Association Malta, PEN Malta, Spark 15, OASI Foundation, Anti-Poverty Forum - Malta, Drachma LGBTI+, Drachma Parents, RAAH, Prof. Colin Calleja - Dean Faculty of Education , Repubblika, Moviment Graffitti, Caritas Malta, Fondazzjoni St Jeanne Antide, MGRM - Malta LGBTIQ Rights Movement, SAR Malta Network, Malta Migration Archive, Association for Justice, Equality and Peace, Jesuit Refugee Service Malta.