Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1523932
MATTHEW VELLA mvella@mediatoday.com.mt 8 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 14 JULY 2024 NEWS JobsPlus Permit Number: 547/2024 The Authority for integrity in Maltese Sports is looking for an Executive (integrity). The applicant is expected to be analytical, curious and shall have a general interest in sports. The role includes data analysis, sport related investigations and promotion of the ideal of Sport Integrity and Clean Sports. The candidate shall be in possession of an undergraduate degree (at NQF Level 6) ideally in Finance or Criminology. Furthermore, the apploicant is requested to have a minimum of 2 years experience in data analysis. Experience in financial compliance will be considered an asset. The ideal candidate shall be IT knowledgeable, especially s/he shall be interested in financial investigations and the fight against match-fixing. The successful applicant shall be prepared to undergo specialized training. Interested applicants are invited to send their application via email. The application shall include a covering letter, a CV and a recent police conduct. Applications will be accepted until the 16 th of July 2024 at noon. Applications including the above-mentioned documents are to be sent to the following address: ryan.c.borg@aims.org.mt Fastest route to national human rights body is Ombudsman, says Zammit McKeon MALTA'S Ombudsman has pitched the parliamentary insti- tution as the rightful holder of an institution that would pro- mote, monitor and enforce hu- man rights as the island remains one of the EU's sole four coun- tries without a national human rights institution As things stand, the closest such institution in Malta so far is the National Commission for the Promotion of Equality (NCPE). But in his annual report for 2023, Ombudsman Joseph Zammit McKeon, a former judge, reaffirmed his office's call for its current remit to in- clude a broader human rights mandate. "This proposal aligns with the practices of many European countries where ombudsman institutions also function as NHRIs. The Ombudsman Act 1995 already empowers the of- fice to investigate complaints about unjust, oppressive, or improperly discriminatory acts or omissions, laying a solid foundation for such an expan- sion," Judge emeritus Zammit McKeon said. In 2013, the Office of the Om- budsman proposed the setting up of a national human rights institution that would ensure the observance of fundamental human rights, acting as a cen- tral point for coordinating the human rights-related activities of various national institutions and authorities, both public and private. In 2015, the government is- sued a White Paper – 'Towards the Establishment of the Hu- man Rights and Equality Com- mission' – with the Ombuds- man declaring that existing structures should not be weak- ened or demotivated. "The effectiveness of the proposed Human Rights and Equality Commission (HREC) depend- ed on its integration and com- plementarity with existing in- stitutions within Malta's legal order," Zammit McKeon said, reflecting on the White Paper. But the placing of the draft Equality Act on the legislative backburner, after suffering a backlash from the Maltese Catholic archdiocese, Catho- lic faith-schools, and other conservative voices, has so far slowed down the creation of the human rights institution. The Equality Act would have created a quasi-judicial body by way of an Equality Commis- sion, to rule over private and public institutions that dis- criminate between citizens in employment or access to goods and services. In his report, Zammit McKeon cautioned against the use of such bodies that could create contrasting deci- sions with other courts. "[We] need to debate and determine whether the suggested model met Malta's needs, considering its democratic development level, general human rights ob- servance, and the quality and efficacy of its judicial and qua- si-judicial authorities." After the dissolution of parlia- ment in 2022, both the Equali- ty Bill and the Human Rights and Equality Commission Bill lapsed and since then, the two bills have not been reproposed. National Human Rights Insti- tutions (NHRIs) in the EU are all tailored according to each member state's diverse legal and political landscapes. Zammit McKeon said that due to the lack of tangible pro- gress over the past two years, he was once again proposing integrating the functions of an NHRI within his office's struc- ture. A proposal was sent to the Prime Minister in November 2023. The Office of the Om- budsman also formally applied for Associate Membership of the European Network of Na- tional Human Rights Institu- tions (ENNHRI). "The proposal to recognise the Ombudsman institution in Malta as the National Hu- man Rights Institution (NHRI) presents several significant ad- vantages… the Ombudsman Act 1995 already lays a strong foundation for the institution to function as an NHRI," Zam- mit McKeon said. The Ombudsman said Malta's NHRI would capitalise on the established operational frame- work within the Ombudsman's office. "This means there is an existing infrastructure, expe- rienced personnel, and estab- lished procedures for handling complaints and promoting hu- man rights. This continuity en- sures stability and can enhance public trust and credibility." This would in turn avoid the duplication of resources and administrative structures in setting up a new NHRI from scratch. "Leveraging the existing in- stitution allows for more rap- id implementation of NHRI functions. It ensures continui- ty in handling ongoing human rights issues and complaints, providing uninterrupted ser- vice to the public," Zammit McKeon said. Additionally, the Ombuds- man is already known to the Maltese public, and can readily assume the NHRI role, making it easier for citizens to under- stand and access their human rights protections. "This fa- miliarity can lead to increased engagement and trust in the in- stitution's role in safeguarding human rights," he said. "Designating the Office of the Ombudsman as the National NHRI in Malta presents a prac- tical, resource-efficient, and ef- fective approach to strengthen- ing the country's commitment to human rights. It leverages existing structures and exper- tise while aligning with inter- national standards, positioning Malta to address the evolving human rights landscape better domestically and internation- ally." Ombudsman Joseph Zammit McKeon presents the annual report to Speaker of the House Anglu Farrugia