Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/311673
News maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 14 MAY 2014 Prime Minister calls for end to transphobia and homophobia MIRIAM DALLI PRIME Minister Joseph Muscat called for an end to transphobia and homophobia and lauded a joint dec- laration of intent being proposed by Malta and Sweden in order to combat discrimination and ensure the LGB- TI community enjoys its rights. Addressing the second IDAHO forum commemorating the interna- tional day against homophobia, Mus- cat welcomed representatives of vari- ous governments to Malta, including the Swedish Minister for Integration Erik Ullenhag. "Welcome to a new Malta that is fighting discrimination at every turn," the Prime Minister told the foreigners and gay activists. "Simple gestures are as effective as legislative tools and the declaration of intent is a step forward. À la carte commitment is not enough… we need to stamp out homophobia and transphobia once and for all." Pointing out that Malta was mak- ing giant steps in supporting the fight against discrimination based on gen- der identity and sexual orientation, he said other countries have taken a step backwards giving legitimacy to discrimination. Muscat recounted attending a wed- ding between a man and a transgen- der and witnessing a day full of love and joy. "Isn't this the sort of society we want to live in? To accept and em- brace all forms of love?" he said. Muscat said it was encouraging to see so many governments and civil society representatives in Malta par- ticipating in the conference. He re- minded those present of how the gay lobby in Malta and the Labour Party campaigned vigorously for civil un- ions on a par with marriage. "It wasn't easy but we have delivered our promise. We worked in partner- ship whith those who have suffered discrimination and our policies were built on real needs," he added. In preparation for the civil unions legislation, the government set up a consultative council empowered to make legislative proposals. The legis- lation also extended the right to gay couples to adopt. "I can't tell you whether there were more gay or straight people rejoic- ing at the enactment of the law. But St George's Square was lit up with life and colour. I saw honest people celebrating advanced human rights," Muscat said to a cheering audience. Malta has also become the first country where discrimination against gender identity – and sexual orientation – is named in the coun- try's supreme law, the Constitution. The reference was inserted in the Constitution following a private member's bill presented by the Op- position. The amendment to the Constitution was approved unani- mously. "Progress can happen quickly if there is the will. The people are championing the change out of the values of love and respect, guided by politicians who don't want to be led by prejudice," the PM said. Prime Minister Joseph Muscat addressed the IDAHO opening ceremony yesterday evening. Also pictured: Civil Liberties Minister Helena Dalli (right) 'Malta is a political leader in LGBTI rights' – Swedish Minister JAMES J. PISCOPO MALTA should serve as an example to other countries who are lacking in LGBTI rights, Swedish Minister for Integration Erik Ullenhag yesterday. Opening the second IDAHO forum commemorating the international day against Homophobia (17 May) being held in Valletta, Ullenhag described the Minister for Civil Liberties Helena Dalli as an influential political leader through the work done the past year. "Ten years ago Malta and Sweden differed substantially on LGBTI is- sues and civil rights. Now we're on the same line of thought," the Swedish minister said. On her part, Helena Dalli admitted that Malta had a negative track record in the past and that hosting the forum in Malta was a statement in itself. "Yes, 10 years ago we were oceans apart from countries like Sweden... now we're just a sea," Dalli half-jok- ingly said. She recounted her experience as Malta's representative in the first IDA- HO meeting last year held in Nether- lands, where participants remained surprised with Malta's presence. "It's true that Malta was not on the forefront in this sector. But this government firmly believes in LG- BTI rights. It's a matter of right over wrong, of open-mindedness against prejudice, of equality over discrimi- nation. Nobody chooses how we were born, so why should we differentiate in how we treat each other?" Dalli said. The second IDAHO forum is being held in Valletta and is co-hosted be- tween Malta and Sweden. The forum brings together numerous interna- tional actors that work for LGBTI rights. On several occasions, those present remarked that Malta made great strides in this sector and even asked Dalli to send a message to other gov- ernments that had a conservative ap- proach on LGBTI rights. "I would tell them the experience I had when a mother of a 16-year old trans phoned me up and recounted her difficulties to have a child who was bullied at school due to his sexu- ality. To have a child who was not able to function in our society. When I passed on this experience to the Cabi- net, the ministers backed me up when I suggested that action was needed to stop this hardship," the civil liberties minister said. "It's a satisfaction to see how much we have worked to address this unfor- tunate reality," Dalli added. "But I don't totally agree that we're championing LGBTI rights. We are just giving back rights that every LG- BTI person had in the first place." jpiscopo@mediatoday.com.mt Civli Liberties Minister Helena Dalli with Swedish Minister for Integration Erik Ullenhag Teachers at loggerheads over 'deteriorating situation' MIRIAM DALLI THE Malta Union of Teachers (MUT) is threatening to direct its members to leave a classroom as teachers are finding it "im- possible" to control a class of 26 students at the Zabbar primary school. According to MUT president Kevin Bonello, ever since a teach- er was disciplined, "the situation has deteriorated to one which is untenable", with Year 2 students reportedly taking advantage of the situation and the teachers un- able to control them. The teacher was disciplined af- ter she made a six-year-old child kneel down in a yard while his classmates were asked to laugh at him. The incident had been raised by PN MEP candidate Helga Ellul. She had then asked the Education Minister to investigate the inci- dent. The matter was investigated and the teacher disciplined. The school also brought in a coun- sellor, a psychologist, a learning support assistant and an anti- bullying team in order to assist the child and his family. The MUT is now threatening to "direct all its members to go out of any classroom where the child in question is present". Contacted by MaltaToday, Bonello said the MUT would be resorting to this measure as a last resort. "Teachers are not being allowed to work, are facing threats of be- ing reported to the media if they dare discipline the students when they misbehave. They shouldn't be burdened with such responsi- bilities." The MUT has given the Edu- cation Department until today to find a solution. According to Bonello, the viable solution would be allowing the teachers and the school to work. "These teachers practically have a revolver pointed to their heads, since they are threatened with media exposure. The teachers now think twice before disciplin- ing the students and the school doesn't know what else it can do," Bonello said, adding that the stu- dents were becoming impossible to control. Seven of the students, he added, also have behavioural problems. A spokesperson for the Ministry for Education said the ministry was "keeping all avenues of com- munication open in a bid to find a solution". "In the meantime, the school 's administration is providing all professional aid and support to the child in question," the spokes- person said. The MUT claims that the six- year-old child, "appears to have profited from the situation and his behaviour is now hardly within control, which comes as no surprise considering that the parents are apparently, and sepa- rately, threatening the teacher, the school and the college with a media press conference". Bonello said the school had ex- hausted all options to compensate for the teacher's wrongdoing. "Despite the teacher's efforts to make up for her mistake, the situ- ation is now untenable. She was disciplined, received a warning and she did not contest it." Bonello also criticised Ellul for having mounted a media cam- paign on the incident, before first reporting the matter to the min- ister. "It was very irresponsible of that person, even though her inten- tions might have been good. This teacher was practically placed before a kangaroo court," he said, adding that the issue had been tackled "the other way round ". He added that the matter also backfired for the child, "who has now been placed under the spot- light". Attempts to contact Ellul for a comment proved to be futile by the time of going to print. YOUR FIRST CLICK OF THE DAY www.maltatoday.com.mt As a PN candidate, Helga Ellul highlighted the ordeal a six-year-old underwent in school