Blue Heart Campaign 2022

For the third consecutive year, the Human Rights Directorate in collaboration with the Parliamentary Secretary for Reforms and Equality organized a series of events between the 25th and 30th July 2022 as part of the national efforts to join the Blue Heart Campaign. The theme for 2022 is “Use and Abuse of Technology”.

This year’s Blue Heart awareness raising campaign consisted of outreach initiatives in collaboration with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, the Council of Europe (GRETA), Agenzija Appoġġ, Agency for the Welfare of Asylum Seekers, Correctional Services Agency, Victim Support Agency, Malta Police Force, Policy Development and Programme Implementation Officers, MITA, National Statistics Office, and the Directorate for Global Issues within the Ministry for Foreign and European Affairs and Trade.

A promotional video was developed showcasing this year’s campaign, which was also shown on national TV station. This initiative also contributes towards Action 6 of the of the National Action Plan on Human Trafficking 2020-2023.

Watch the promotional video for the Blue Heart Campaign 2022 below:

1. Lighting up of buildings in blue

For the UN World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, the Unit has asked local councils, ministries, and private companies to light up their building in blue as a sign of support for the Blue Heart Campaign. Contributors included the following local councils: Santa Venera, Gudja, Birkirkara, Birzebbugia, San Gwann, as well as the Ministry for Social Policy and Children’s Rights and the Ministry for Public Works and Planning.

Mtarfa Local Council

APS Bank Swatar

2. Outreach session with migrants at Hal Far Open Centre

An outreach session with migrants was organized as part of the Blue Heart Campaign on Tuesday 26th July. This session will be the first in a series to target migrants residing in open centres, community, and detention centres with the aim to raise awareness on what is human trafficking, how to identify signs of trafficking, where to report and the services available to potential victims of trafficking.

The session was coordinated by the Human Rights Directorate in collaboration with the Agenzija Appogg, the Agency for the Welfare of Asylum Seekers (AWAS), and the Correctional Services Agency (CSA).

The session is part of the All Equal Project coordinated by Agenzija Appoġġ, but also aims to contribute towards the implementation of Action 11 of the National Action Plan on Human Trafficking 2020-2023.

3. Family events at Gzira and Buġibba

Two family events were organized in Council of Europe Garden in Gżira and Buġibba Square on Tuesday 26th July and Thursday 28th July respectively. These events were intended to raise awareness among the general public on the growing phenomenon of trafficking in human beings and how it impacts the society we live in.

Kiosk stands were set up by the Human Rights Directorate, the Malta Police Force, the Victim Support Agency and Agenzija Appoġġ, to provide information to passersby on the support services available to victims and how one can report a potential case of trafficking through the National Referral Mechanism.

T-shirts and freebies with the United Nations Blue Heart Campaign logo were distributed and entertainment was made available for all the family with popcorn, doughnuts and day-tarts offered free of charge.

4. High Level Networking Session Event with Ambassadors

On Wednesday 27th July 2022 the Human Rights Directorate organized a networking event for Permanent Secretaries of all Ministries and members of the Diplomatic Corps. The aim of this event was to increase awareness on the need for transnational cooperation between Malta and international institutions and third countries in the fight against trafficking in human beings.

The Parliamentary Secretary for Reforms and Equality Hon. Rebecca Buttigieg opened this event, followed by an intervention by Director Human Rights Directorate Mr. Michael Camilleri and Senior Manager Human Rights Initiatives Unit Dr. Lynn Chircop Faure.

A recorded message was given by Ms. Ghada Waly, Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, and Ms. Petya Nestorova, Executive Secretary of the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings.

The event was closed by Permanent Secretary of the Ministry for Foreign and European Affairs and Trade Mr. Christopher Cutajar.

5. Networking Event for Policy Development and Programme Implementation Officers

On Friday 29th July 2022 the Human Rights Directorate organised a networking event among Government officials representing all Ministries, namely, the Policy Development and Programme Implementation (PDPI) Officers, with the aim to strengthen national cooperation.

The sessions included interventions from Parliamentary Secretary Reforms and Equality Hon. Rebecca Buttigieg, Permanent Secretary MHSR Mr. Emanuel Psaila, Director Human Rights Directorate Mr. Michael Camilleri and Senior Manager Human Rights Initiatives Unit Dr. Lynn Chircop Faure.

In addition, given the multi-agency and intersectional elements of tackling human trafficking, speakers were invited from the Ministry for Foreign and European Affairs and Trade represented by Mr John Busuttil, the Malta Information Technology Agency (MITA) represented by Mr. Martin Camilleri, the National Statistics Office (NSO) represented by Mr. Matthew Zerafa, and the Malta Police Force represented by Assistant Commissioner Dr. Dennis Theuma.

This activity, not only provided information on Malta’s obligations to tackle this crime, but also discussed ways and means to enhance current cooperative mechanisms, such as the setting up of an Inter-Ministerial Committee made up of representatives from each respective Ministry to ensure the development of comprehensive policies and the involvement of all sectors.

BLUE HEART CAMPAIGN 2022

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