Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1524066
10 OPINION maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 17 JULY 2024 IT isn't easy for any govern- ment to concentrate on up- holding human rights, even when they have an avowed commitment to them, and par- ticularly when they prove to be contentious, or to impact only minorities. For this reason, each United Nations (UN) member state is the subject of Universal Peri- odic Review by the UN's Hu- man Rights Council. This is a unique process in which, over a period of four and a half years, UN member states as- sess each of their fellow-mem- bers' records on human rights, based on information from the government concerned, the UN Commissioner for Human Rights, and other stakeholders, including NGOs, who choose to make submissions. This year, it was Malta's turn, amongst others, to receive rec- ommendations from member states on how it can improve its adherence to human rights. The report on Malta was con- sidered at the 29th meeting of the Human Rights Council on 8 July. While there was progress to note, and the Maltese govern- ment accepted most of the rec- ommendations made by other states, there remain many are- as of concern. With the support of our col- leagues Humanists Interna- tional, Humanists Malta made a verbal statement to the 8th July meeting (one of only six statements accepted from stakeholders, and limited to two minutes. It can be found here https://youtu.be/FXT7I_ FesGA). We focused on the dispropor- tionate influence of the Catho- lic Church, including with its constitutional position, on the issues of abortion, sexual and reproductive health rights, sex education, and ethics educa- tion, reiterating our concerns laid out in an earlier joint sub- mission with Aditus. We also urged the Maltese government to implement without delay the recommen- UN report on Malta's human rights record Mirane Vella and Joanna Onions are Humanists Malta committee members Mirane Vella & Joanna Onions Apart from the issues raised by Humanists Malta, there were also recommendations from member states on better treatment of migrants; eliminating racism, gender discrimination and gender-based violence