Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1545002
4 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 20 MAY 2026 NEWS ELECTION 2026 CONTINUES FROM PAGE 1 A central PN proposal is to close remaining gaps in equali- ty legislation so that protection from discrimination clearly and explicitly covers all SOGIGESC grounds, including in the field of goods and services, and not only in limited areas. Effectively this would mean that no business or institution would be allowed to refuse a service to anyone be- cause of sexual orientation. This is stated in the manifesto as follows: "We will close the remaining gaps in equality legislation so that protection from discrimination clearly and explicitly covers all SOGIGESC grounds, including in the field of goods and services, and not only in limited areas." The proposal is in line with the government's proposed Equality Bill (Bill 96), aimed at creating a comprehensive framework pro- hibiting discrimination across all sectors, including employment, education, and services. It sought to protect individuals based on gender, race, religion, sexual ori- entation, and age. A core feature was the establishment of an in- dependent Human Rights and Equality Commission with judi- cial powers to investigate com- plaints and issue fines outside the traditional court system. Church and Catholic school representatives had expressed deep concern that the bill lacked a "conscientious objection" clause. They feared they would be legally forced to hire staff or teach curricula that directly con- tradicted Catholic doctrine. Sub- sequently the bill was put on the back-burner. The PN proposal would signif- icantly broaden Malta's equality framework, extending legal pro- tections beyond employment and institutional settings into everyday access to goods and ser- vices, including retail, hospitality, healthcare and financial services. PN's 2026 platform also in- cludes a social policy dimension focused on LGBTQIA+ ageing, proposing research into the needs of older LGBTQIA+ persons and the development of regional ser- vices aimed at reducing isolation and invisibility in later life. On trans healthcare, the party pledg- es improved access to medically necessary treatments, including hormone therapy and surgical in- terventions where required. This marks a notable evolution from the party's earlier position in 2014, when PN MPs abstained on the vote introducing same-sex adoption within civil unions. Labour: Continuation of existing equality framework The Labour Party positions itself as continuing an ongoing reform process. It highlights that following extensive consultation, work will proceed towards estab- lishing a National Human Rights and Equality Commission, with parliamentary processes expect- ed in the next legislature. This suggests a commitment to enact the structure which would imple- ment the Equality Act. Labour also refers to ongoing review of LGBTIQ+ legal protec- tions introduced since 2013, with a stated aim of ensuring "equality in practice" for individuals and families. It commits to continued sup- port for services such as Dar Qawsalla and the planned LG- BTQIA+ Hub in Valletta, which would provide counselling and wellbeing services, but offers lim- ited detail on expanding statutory obligations in goods and services. ADPD: Broader equality and structural approach ADPD also wants equality to be embedded across education, public policy and service provi- sion. It proposes mandatory com- prehensive sexual education in all schools without exception, explicitly including content on LGBTQIA+ relationships and identities as part of a standard national curriculum. ADPD also calls for anti-dis- crimination protections to apply explicitly and uniformly across all public and private services, covering not only SOGIGESC grounds but also disability, mi- gration status and other vulner- able categories. This would in- clude explicit safeguards in access to healthcare, education, housing and commercial services. In addition, ADPD highlights refugee policy, arguing that Malta's asylum and integration frameworks should recognise the vulnerabilities of LGBTIQ+ ref- ugees, many of whom originate from countries where such iden- tities are criminalised or socially persecuted, and therefore require stronger protections against dis- crimination and isolation. Nearly 60% of youth cite corruption as barrier to political participation BASED on survey data from 175 students across post-secondary and tertiary institutions examin- ing youth disengagement in Mal- tese politics, 59.4% of respondents cite corruption as a barrier in par- ticipation, 46.9% cited lack of trust in institutions, while 38.9% believe politics is dominated by insiders. Cost of living (73.1%) and hous- ing affordability (64.6%) ranked as top youth concerns, with only 26.9% feeling that political debate reflects real youth priorities. An- other 38.3% cited partisan politi- cal conflict. The social paper was released by Studenti Demokristjani Mal- tin (SDM), a student organisation present in various educational in- sititutions, explored how young people engage with politics, what is driving disengagement, and what reforms they believe are nec- essary to strengthen participation. Very low trust was reported in government, parliament, and the media, especially when compared to the significantly higher trust rates in the EU and student repre- sentative structures. While 60% of respondents said that they intend to vote, a signifi- cant proportion remain unsure or disengaged by perceptions of lim- ited relevance, trust deficits, and structural barriers within political systems. The report, titled The Silent Third, found that youth disen- gagement is not driven by apathy, but indicates that participation is increasingly conditional rather than automatic. Youth voices actively engaged in Maltese political life also con- tributed to the study, including representatives from Żgħażagħ Laburisti, Moviment Żgħażagħ Partit Nazzjonalista (MŻPN), and MP Eve Borg Bonello. EVA BRANNON ebrannon@mediatoday.com.mt Labour signals continuation of equality reforms and setting up of a Human Rights Authority