Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1534411
2 NEWS maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 16 APRIL 2025 KURT SANSONE ksansone@mediatoday.com.mt Prime minister had promised EU leaders human rights reform Malta's foreign minister 'not happy' with Hungary's constitutional ban of LGBTIQ gatherings CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Convention reform was not on Malta's agenda when Borg first unveiled the country's pri- orities in February and neither was it mentioned on Tuesday at an event during which the presidency logo was unveiled. "I spoke with the prime min- ister and this is the programme Malta will be pursuing," Borg reiterated with reference to the priorities he had just outlined. The decision to stick to the priorities outlined in February can be interpreted as a snub to the prime minister, who had raised the issue of reform in March. Malta's agenda includes the protection of children, strengthening of young peo- ple's voices, furthering the fight against violence and dis- crimination with a particular emphasis on violence against women, focussing on com- batting human trafficking and hate speech, and promoting the inclusion of LGBTIQ+ people. Malta will also be tasked with organising the celebrations connected to the 75th anniver- sary of the Convention of Hu- man Rights in November. Borg insisted Malta will work to "protect and strengthen hu- man rights". When pressed further about the commitment the prime minister made to EU leaders, Borg said he saw noth- ing wrong with prime ministers discussing ongoing challenges caused by migration. "I understand the discussion about the convention will con- tinue among the group of 14 like-minded countries within the EU forum but the technical people leading Malta's Coun- cil of Europe presidency will be focussed on the priorities I have outlined," Borg said. During an informal meeting on migration at the margins of the EU summit last month, Prime Minister Robert Abe- la told fellow leaders Malta will put reform of the Hu- man Rights Convention on its agenda when it takes over the Council of Europe presidency. His comments raised eye- brows among human rights ac- tivists and also caught his own government by surprise. But the prime minister dou- bled down when addressing parliament a few days later, in- sisting "loopholes" and "rigid interpretation" justified human rights reform to tackle irregu- lar migration. Robert Abela (left) sitting next to Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, a co-sponsor of the pre-summit migration meeting in March (Photo: EU) Malta's Foreign Minister Ian Borg says he is uncomfortable with Hungary's constitutional amendment banning LGBTIQ gatherings but stops short of condemning the regressive decision MALTA'S Foreign Minister Ian Borg has expressed discomfort with Hungary's constitution- al ban on LGBTIQ+ gatherings and will be seeking clarifications from his Hungarian counterpart. However, Borg stopped short of condemning Hungary for its regressive action, noting the de- cision was taken by a sovereign state within its own legislative parameters. "I am not happy," Borg said when asked by MaltaToday for his reaction to the decision taken by the Hungarian parliament on Monday to amend the country's constitution. The constitutional amendment allows the Hungarian govern- ment to ban public events by LG- BTIQ+ communities, a decision that critics are calling another step toward authoritarianism. "I look forward to discuss the matter with my colleague in Hungary. There are issues where we think along the same wave- length but this is not one of them," Borg insisted, adding he comes from a government that has significantly advanced the rights of LGBTIQ+ people over the past 12 years. "I will make it clear to him [Hungary's foreign minister] and try to understand why [the amendment was intro- duced]." The amendment, which re- quired a two-thirds vote, passed along party lines with 140 votes for and 21 against. It was pro- posed by Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's ruling Fidesz-KDNP co- alition. The amendment declares that children's rights to moral, physi- cal and spiritual development su- persede any right other than the right to life, including the right to peaceful assembly. The consti- tutional amendment effectively legitimises a law that was passed last year banning LGBTIQ events in public. "This is not the first time the Hungarian government has legis- lated reforms that are controver- sial in this sense and the Hungar- ian people will have the chance next year to pass judgement," Borg said with reference to elec- tions due in Hungary in 2026. Malta will be taking over the presidency of the Council of Eu- rope next month and one of the first events on its programme is hosting the IDAHOT+ Forum. IDAHOT is the international day against homophobia, biphobia and transphobia. Borg was speaking at an event in which the logo of Malta's Council of Europe presidency was unveiled. Advancing the rights of LGB- TIQ persons is one of the prior- ities of Malta's Council of Europe presidency and in line with the Labour government's reforming streak in this sector. Since 2013, the Maltese govern- ment has legislated for marriage equality, including the right to adopt, banned conversion ther- apy, and introduced legislation that allows people to self-identi- fy without the need to undergo complicated judicial processes.