Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1537913
10 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 27 JULY 2025 NEWS Behind the blue heart: Shining a light on human trafficking THE World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, commemorated annually on 30th July, serves as a global reminder of the urgent need to combat human trafficking, a serious violation of human rights. This year's theme, "Human Traf- ficking is Organised Crime – End the Exploitation," calls upon institutions to step up their role in tackling trafficking networks and protecting individuals at risk. Human trafficking is a global issue that transcends international borders. It is a complex crime that involves the ex- ploitation of people through coercion, deception or other means, for the profit of others. This crime violates the funda- mental rights and freedoms of millions across the world, and can affect anyone regardless of age, gender, or nationality. Victims may be trafficked for purpos- es such as sexual exploitation, forced labour, domestic servitude, forced crim- inal activity, illegal adoption, forced mar- riage, and exploitation of surrogacy. Hu- man trafficking remains one of the most pressing and complex human rights challenges of our age and with advance- ments in digital technology, trafficking has also moved online, including in the form of cyber scams where victims are manipulated into committing online fraud. Traffickers also exploit technologi- cal advancements including AI for online recruitment and victim control. Since 2008, Malta has been a Party to the Council of Europe Anti-Trafficking Convention. In line with the require- ments of the Convention, Malta adopts a coordinated and multidisciplinary ap- proach, to incorporate the prevention of human trafficking, the protection of victims' rights and the prosecution of traffickers. The Human Rights Directorate (HRD) has led the coordination of Malta's an- ti-human trafficking efforts since 2020, with the aim of streamlining efforts be- tween various stakeholders. In this con- text, HRD led the development of the 'National Strategy and Action Plan on Combatting Trafficking in Human Beings in Malta (2024-2030)'. This Strategy prior- itises a human rights-based, victim-cen- tred and multidisciplinary approach to eliminating exploitation. It also strength- ens institutional frameworks and pro- motes inter-agency cooperation, both of which are cornerstones of effective pub- lic administration. Raising awareness on the matter is a key pillar of Malta's anti-trafficking re- sponse. The Blue Heart Campaign, led globally by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), is an aware- ness raising initiative to fight human trafficking and its impact on society. It seeks to encourage involvement from governments, civil society, the private sector, and individuals alike, to inspire action and help prevent this crime. The Blue Heart represents the sadness of the victims of trafficking, whilst reminding us of the cold-heartedness of those who buy and sell human beings. It is important to remember that or- ganised criminal groups are key drivers of human trafficking. In fact, 74% of traf- fickers operate within organised crime groups. This year's Blue Heart Campaign emphasises the vital role of law enforce- ment and the criminal justice system in dismantling organised trafficking net- works while ensuring a victim-centred approach. Within the Public Service, civil servants and public officers play a vital role in identifying potential signs of trafficking and ensuring cases are referred through the appropriate channels. Exploitation is not always visible, and human trafficking often hides in plain sight. Therefore, it is essential that all public officers remain vigilant, informed and proactive. What Can Public Officers Do? • Stay informed: Understand the in- dicators of human trafficking and familiarise yourself with your direc- torate's or department's internal procedures for handling suspected cases. • Support prevention: Use your role to strengthen institutional safe- guards and promote ethical prac- tices in service delivery. • Promote coordination: Participate in inter-agency efforts and contrib- ute to innovative approaches that support national efforts to tackle human trafficking. Raise awareness: Use opportunities within your entity to inform others, in- cluding colleagues and other stakehold- ers, about the issue. If You Suspect a Case of Trafficking Public officers who suspect a traffick- ing case should take immediate steps to report the matter to the competent au- thorities. • To report suspicious activity: 119 • To access support services: • Victim Support Agency – 116 006 • Foundation for Social Welfare Services – 179 As Malta continues to strengthen its na- tional response to human trafficking, the role of the Public Service remains critical. Across all sectors, including enforcement, policy, education, health, social welfare, and administration, public officers have a key role to play in combatting this crime. This World Day Against Trafficking in Persons serves as a timely reminder of our shared responsibility and of the meaningful impact the Public Service can make. By leading by example, public officers can help tackle exploitation and promote justice in all areas of life. THIS IS A PAID COLLABORATION High alcohol prices, cheaper tobacco CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Within the EU, Malta ranked as the fourth most expensive for milk, cheese, and eggs, as well as for fruit and vegetables. The on- ly EU countries with more expensive milk, cheese, and eggs were Greece, Cyprus, and Bulgaria. The only countries with more ex- pensive fruit and vegetables were Luxem- bourg, France, and Sweden. Malta was also the fifth most expensive for non-alcoholic beverages. When com- bining food and non-alcoholic beverages, Malta's overall price level was the fourth highest in the EU—below Luxembourg, Denmark, and Ireland, and slightly above Austria and France. All these countries have significantly higher minimum wages than Malta. Eurostat's comparison is based on price level indices, which measure how the cost of a comparable basket of goods differs across countries, with the EU average set at 100 for each item. The prices used in the Eurostat comparative analysis were collect- ed in spring 2024. While overall Malta has some of the high- est food prices, this is not the case for meat and fish, where prices were slightly below the EU average.For meat, Malta ranked as the 12th most expensive, with prices two points below the EU average. Fish is also less expensive than the EU average, with Malta ranking 16th in seafood prices. Bread and cereal prices are just above the EU average but are more expensive in 15 other EU member states. The Eurostat data also shows that Malta had the 8th highest alcohol prices in the EU but considerably cheaper tobacco prices. In fact, Malta ranks 14th in terms of tobacco prices. Across the board, Eurostat's data show wide variations in food and drink prices between European countries. The lowest price levels for food and non-alcoholic bev- erages were recorded in Romania, Bulgaria, and Poland, all significantly below the EU average. The highest overall levels were found in Luxembourg and Denmark within the EU, and in Switzerland and Iceland when in- cluding non-EU countries. Malta's index values for nearly all food and drink cate- gories place it among the most expensive countries in the EU and Europe—particu- larly for oils and fats, milk, cheese and eggs, and non-alcoholic beverages. Category Malta Price Index Malta Rank (out of 27 EU countries) Highest Price Country (EU) Oils and fats 130.5 1st Malta Non-alcoholic beverages 124.8 5th Finland Meat 98.4 12th Luxembourg Fish and seafood 97.9 16th Denmark Milk, cheese, eggs 123.5 4th Cyprus Bread and cereals 104.4 16th Denmark Alcoholic beverages 125.3 8th Finland Tobacco 83.3 14th Ireland Fruit and vegetables 113.8 4th Luxembourg Food and non alcoholic beverages 112 4th Luxembourg