Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1537666
6 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 20 JULY 2025 COMMERCIAL ALL children deserve pro- tection. We are a nation that prides itself on cherishing families, especially children. We step in when children are suffering because we feel that all children should be able to play, smile, learn, and enjoy life to the full! We protect children not only because they are our future, but because they present is so important to them. So why is that when we visit immigration detention cen- tres, we often meet children? Why has Malta decided that it is fine to deny some children smiles and replace them with fear, anxiety, and uncertainty? Contrary to what is publicly stated, Malta detains children. This has been repeatedly con- firmed by Malta's own Govern- ment entities and by Europe's highest human rights bodies in Europe. Just last week, Eu- rope's top detention experts noted that the children they had met in Malta's detention centres were only allowed in- to an exercise yard for around one or two hours a day. They stressed that the detention centres "are not designed to care for children, and not only are they inadequate in terms of material conditions, they also completely lack an adequate regime and any specific are provision to cater to the best inter- ests of the child." In a successful case we brought before the Eu- ropean Court of Human Rights, Malta had locked up five boys for over 180 days. Malta detained then in awful centres: some bathrooms had no doors, blocked drains of- ten flooded, no use of a yard or open space and no activities whatsoev- er. When Government experts assessed them, they noted "signifi- cantly elevated" or "ex- tremely high" levels of anxie- ty, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), acute stress, and three also had suicidal thoughts. They had also been harassed, threatened and tricked by the same people responsi- ble for their care. Not surprisingly, the Court confirmed that Mal- ta had violated the boys' human rights. Their de- tention was illegal and they were made to live in inhu- man and degrading con- ditions. It also underlined that States may only detain children as a means of last resort when no alternative available. What Malta did to these boys and to so many other children, is simply un- forgivable. As with all children, pro- tection should be our top- most priority. Children who reach Malta alone are espe- cially in need of protection. They should be accommo- dated in specialised places that cater for their needs: ed- ucation, leisure, psycho-so- cial support. Malta already has such plac- es and systems in place, so the alternatives are real. What is lacking is the commitment to continue saying: all children deserve protection," Dr. Neil Falzon, aditus Director. aditus foundation is a non-governmental organisa- tion established to monitor, re- port and act on access to fun- damental human rights for all persons in Malta. We advocate for stronger legal and adminis- trative frameworks for human rights protection. We also of- fer free legal services. Our lawyers visit Malta's de- tention centres on a regular basis. We provide information and support, intervene when our clients are being illegally detained. We believe that no child should be ever detained, and will continue to fight against Malta's detention of children. This video and our deten- tion work is supported by PRO ASYL. You can also support our efforts to end child deten- tion by donating here. Children belong in classrooms, not detention Manoel Island foreshore access enhanced ACCESS to the foreshore at Manoel Island has continued to improve following a series of initia- tives undertaken by MIDI, focused on enhancing overall accessibility and making the island's pop- ular swimming areas easier to reach. These initiatives included the installation of railings along the pathways leading down to the foreshore and site clearing works in various are- as of the coastline. During these works a winding staircase leading down to the beach under Fort Manoel was exposed following extensive clear- ance works. Improved accessibility to the foreshore has re- sulted in a rise in visitor numbers to Manoel Is- land. In fact, last year the island welcomed over 240,000 visitors. As part of its commitment to enhancing the vis- itor experience, MIDI has for the 8th consecutive year introduced a free weekend and public holi- day shuttle service for bathers on Manoel Island. Running until 21st September 2025, the service is an initiative undertaken by MIDI in collaboration with the Gzira Local Council. The shuttle service takes a circular route, starting from the Manoel Island bridge, from where it picks commuters and takes them to their favourite swimming spot on the north and east shore of the island. To keep the Manoel Island foreshore clean and safe visitors are encouraged to use the several bins placed along the foreshore which are routinely maintained by MIDI. MIDI introduces railings along pathways leading down to the foreshore Last year Manoel Island welcomed over 240,000 visitors