Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1346072
13 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 3 MARCH 2021 OPINION Michael Camilleri EARLIER this week, on 1 March, the Hu- man Rights Directorate joined the rest of the world in celebrating the United Nation's Zero Discrimination Day, a day where we recognise our constant commit- ment to ensuring true equality for all. Zero Discrimination Day is all about individuals enjoying their right to live a full life, with dignity, and free from unequal treatment, irrespective of who they are. This year's theme explored discrimina- tion against women and girls in all their diversity. Discrimination is a fickle and tricky issue to eradicate; it seeps in our way of life qui- etly, disrupting opportunities for so many among us. It is also complex to address. Discrimina- tion against women, for instance, can in- tersect with many characteristics. It is easy to see how women of colour, for instance, can face greater discrimination than Cau- casian women in European countries; or how trans women also face unique chal- lenges due to their identity. Despite the complexity of the issue, we are committed to addressing it as com- pletely as we possibly can. The Government is currently in the final stages towards the publication of the first Strategy and Action Plan towards Gender Equality and Mainstreaming, an essential tool to mainstream gender issue in all lev- els of our policy and decision making. This document will seek to make tangible im- provements to each and every one of our daily lives. In parallel, Parliament is currently de- bating a gender corrective mechanism to ensure greater female representation in Parliament. Should it be enacted come next election, the Maltese Parliament will be radically different. Over the years, we have worked to break down these gender-based obstacles. From our internationally renowned legislation for the recognition of all gender identi- ties and sexual orientations, to marriage equality, and the right to begin one's own family without unnecessary State intru- sions, we have shown, time and time again, that equality is no mere buzzword. It is a core principle of who we are, and it guides all our work. We acknowledge, however, that much remains to be done. We look forward, for instance, to the enactment of the Equality Bills. These proposals, which are also currently before Parliament, will considerably strengthen Malta's equality framework. We also wish to explore issues related to race and origin which are undoubt- edly sensitive for many. To this end, the coming months will bring about Govern- ment's first Action Plan against Racism and Xenophobia. In a society forged from different cultures across centuries, racism and hate should be alien to us. We need to work towards becoming a society that welcomes anyone who chooses to be part of our community. This Directorate is currently also work- ing on an EU-funded project – Equality for All in Malta – which seeks to address the severe underreporting of cases of al- leged discrimination on the grounds of race; ethnic origin; religion; and belief, by raising awareness of national and Europe- an equality laws and remedies among mi- grant and religious communities. We have to look ahead: we have come far, but together, we can reach even great- er heights in the sector. Discrimination has no place in our society Michael Camilleri is Director of the Human Rights Directorate Discrimination is a fickle and tricky issue to eradicate; it seeps in our way of life quietly, disrupting opportunities for so many among us