The Human Rights Directorate (HRD), under the Ministry for Home Affairs, Security, Reforms and Equality, was set up with the aim of reaching national objectives in the areas of civil liberties, equality and non-discrimination, as well as the integration of migrants.
As part of its mandate, the Directorate is tasked with ensuring that proposals and initiatives uphold everyone’s fundamental human rights, as enshrined in Maltese and international law, and, wherever possible, further the creation of an equal and just society.
The Human Rights Directorate is comprised of dedicated Units covering thematic human rights issues and strands of equality, namely the:
The Directorate was initially set up under the name of Human Rights and Integration Directorate (HRID) in November 2015 to provide assistance to the Ministry for Social Dialogue, Consumer Affairs and Civil Liberties (MSDC).
After the general election of May 2017, the Directorate was incorporated into the Ministry for European Affairs & Equality (MEAE) and later in January of 2020, moved to form part of the Ministry for Justice, Equality and Governance (MJEG).
In March 2020, the Directorate changed name to be referred to as the Human Rights Directorate (HRD), while still retaining all its prior remits.
As of April 2022, the Directorate forms part of Ministry for Home Affairs, Security, Reforms and Equality.