Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1276949
12 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 9 AUGUST 2020 Renee Laiviera Is NCPE Commissioner OPINION Renee Laiviera Katrina Cassar Human rights can build a fairer society A third party against tribalism 'ALL human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights' states the first Article of the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Irrespective of gender, nationality, place of res- idence, sexual orientation, na- tional or ethnic origin, birth, age, race, religion, language, disabil- ity, family status, or any other status, individuals are all equally entitled to the enjoyment of all human rights without discrimi- nation. Around 88% of people in the EU believe that "human rights are important for creating a fair- er society". The highest levels of agreement with this statement are found in Finland (95%) and Malta (96%). The survey findings from the EU Agency for Funda- mental Rights (FRA) show that people in the EU widely believe that human rights have a useful and meaningful role in their lives. FRA findings also indicate that people's income and education levels can have an impact on their views on human rights. People who struggle to make ends meet on their household income and those whose high- est completed level of education is lower secondary education or less, are more likely to think that not everyone benefits equally from human rights and that some take unfair advantage of rights protection. As FRA Direc- tor, Michael O'Flaherty, said "It is alarming how many young Eu- ropeans or those who struggle to make ends meet feel abandoned by human rights. Human rights are for everyone and nobody should feel left behind." In this context, FRA recom- mends that the EU and its Mem- ber States undertake targeted measures to ensure that those socially disadvantaged are effec- tively informed on their rights and how to claim them. Actions should be undertaken to help im- prove rights awareness for people who have lower levels of educa- tion. FRA recommends Nation- al Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs), Equality Bodies and Ombuds Institutions to commu- nicate, promote and make acces- sible the fundamental rights that people are entitled to. Moreover, many EU respond- ents are not aware of the three main international human rights instruments; the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948), the Council of Eu- rope European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) (1950), and the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the EU (2000). Out of these three, the Charter is less well known than the other two. Around 68% of people in the EU have heard of the ECHR or the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (67%), compared with about half of all people who have heard of the Charter (53 %). In this regard, EU Member States are urged to consider how to provide accessible informa- tion to the public on the funda- mental rights enshrined in the Charter. In return, this would also support NHRIs in their ef- forts to promote awareness and improve the implementation of the Charter. Indeed, NHRIs are the cor- nerstone for the promotion and protection of human rights. In Malta, legislation is currently being discussed in Parliament to transform the National Com- mission for the Promotion of Equality (NCPE) into a Human Rights and Equality Commission (HREC). With this transforma- tion, Malta's legal framework on human rights and equality will be strengthened with the widening of NCPE's remit and sanction- ing powers. The new Commis- sion will be answering directly to Parliament and thus being wholly independent of a particu- lar Ministry. This institution will monitor the implementation of the strengthened equality leg- islation and provide individu- als with a stronger mechanism against discrimination and other human rights breaches. In order to "ensure continued support for human rights, it is necessary to inform people in all segments of society about how human rights are important for them not as abstract concepts, but in relation to their daily lived realities". IT is no secret that politics in Malta has, for a long time, been plagued by party fanaticism and tribalism. To the typical Maltese person, the party that their family supports is a part of their identity, and it has little to do with their po- litical ideology: one is 'Nationalist' or 'Labour' because he is born 'Nationalist' or 'Labour', and not because he strongly believes in the actual values of either party. So what made me decide to step out- side of that traditional paradigm? One can easily understand why such a mindset is so toxic to Malta's political landscape. Po- litical parties in Malta need not uphold their own values, because they know that their supporters simply couldn't care less. Robert Abela has an extremely different political ideology to that of Dom Mintoff, and yet a typical Labour supporter would praise both, be- cause it doesn't matter the way in which one governs as long as they are governing on behalf of the "right" party. When the Nationalist Party sug- gested the rather run of the mill 'throw money at them' distribu- tion of €50 vouchers to combat business inactivity back in April, the suggestion was heavily crit- icised by Labour supporters. A LovinMalta poll revealed that at the time, 52% disagreed with the proposal. And yet a month lat- er when the Prime Minister an- nounced the distribution of €100 vouchers for the exact same rea- son, he was met with little to no criticism. This is because people in this country love to judge a policy not based on its own mer- its, but based on the party which brought it forward. Many float- ing voters have in turn been mo- tivated by social and economic pressures, rather than ideological ones. We need to break the mind- set that it is better to abstain than vote for a third party, and that the only alternative is one of the two major parties. It is a vicious circle which needs to be smashed once and for all. This trend of strong party loyalty is perhaps one of the reasons that Malta has never had a third party elected on its own ticket to Parlia- ment since Independence. Malta's lack of multi-party representation in the House of Representatives is quite shocking when compared to other countries. For example, the House of Commons in the United Kingdom consists of nine parties in total, despite an electoral system which strongly discourages voting for third parties. In contrast, Mal- ta's voting system should, in theo- ry, encourage third parties, since one has multiple choice. So what changed in Malta? It is not an ex- aggeration to say that our country has been in a civil war for genera- tions; a cold war, but a war none- theless. The two major parties hate one another so much, that they will bend any rule to keep each other out of power. What Malta needs is a paradigm shift away from this toxic approach to politics. People vote as much to keep their ene- mies out of power as much as they do out of loyalty. It's therefore about time that Malta has a strong and vocal third party: one with a clear ideolo- gy and strong values, which will not slowly become populist over time with the sole aim of secur- ing votes and retaining power. It would of course be a challenge to battle in a political landscape that has made it so difficult for such a party to succeed, but difficult does not mean impossible. In recent years, old power structures across Europe have been challenged by new parties and personalities. These currents of change have been slower to reach Malta, but even here, people are increas- ingly hoping for a viable change, especially younger generations. I myself form a part of this surge of enthusiasm for an alternative from youths. The youth wing of Alternat- tiva Demokratika – The Green Party has recently formed a new executive committee and we are looking forward to working to- wards a better future for Malta. We actively work to promote the Green progressive principles of grassroots democracy, social justice, ecological justice, animal rights, civil and human rights, in line with the principles of Alter- nattiva Demokratika and Partit Demokratiku, which are in the process of merging into one party. It's about time for politics in Malta to become more open and diverse, as it has for far too long been restricted by the "same old, same old" red versus blue, which is nothing more than a race to the bottom. Resources and peo- ple ready to take the plunge do not grow on trees, it is not a walk in the woods. However, if people have the courage to vote for what they truly believe in, to lend their support and help, then togeth- er we can save our country from infighting and secure a better to- morrow. We could become a nor- mal European country. All of this is why I decided to stand up and be counted. Katrina Cassar is PRO of Alternattiva Demokratika Zghazagh