Article 19 of Directive 2011/36/EU and Article 29 of the Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings require the establishment of a national rapporteur or equivalent mechanism, tasked with the assessment of trends in human trafficking, measuring of results of anti-trafficking actions, and monitoring of anti-trafficking activities of State institutions and the implementation of national legislation requirements.
In view of these obligations, this Committee shall be tasked with the monitoring of domestic human trafficking trends and anti-trafficking measures, including analysis of the suitability of these measures within the domestic context. The Committee may also issue recommendations for further research or further action against human trafficking.
Moreover, in virtue of its oversight function the Committee shall complement the role of domestic national rapporteur or equivalent mechanism, which role has been taken over by the Human Rights Directorate. Other functions of this Committee include endorsing Human Trafficking Action Plans; overseeing developments in the implementation of the Action Plan and in the implementation of other Human Trafficking related measures; and providing policy direction.
Chairperson:
Ms. Joyce Dimech - Permanent Secretary MHAL/MHSR
Ministry for The National Heritage, The Arts and Local Government
Ministry for Home Affairs, Security, Reforms and Equality
Secretariat:
Mr. Joseph St. John - Office of the Permanent Secretary MHSR
Dr. Lynn Chircop Faure - Human Rights Directorate
Members:
Mr. Angelo Gafa - Malta Police Commissioner
Dr. Christopher Soler - State Advocate
Dr. Victoria Buttigieg - Attorney General
Mr. Johan Galea - Permanent Secretary Ministry for Justice
Mr. Mark Musu - Permanent Secretary Social Policy and Children’s Rights
Mr. Anthony Gatt - Caritas Malta
The first meeting of the recomposed Human Trafficking Monitoring Committee was held on the 2nd of February 2023 at the Boardroom of the Ministry for Home Affairs, Security, Reforms and Equality.
The Chairperson of the Committee, Mr Emanuel Psaila, introduced the monitoring functions of this high-level mechanism and the work conducted by the Human Rights Initiatives Unit, within the Human Rights Directorate as national coordinators and rapporteurs on matters related to Human Trafficking.
The Senior Manager HRIU, Dr. Lynn Chircop Faure presented a Progress Report on the current National Action Plan, the Unit’s Project Management & Communication Plan for the implementation of the Reform and the prevention and awareness raising initiatives it coordinates.
The Programme Manager at the Council of Europe Anti-Trafficking Division, Ms. Stephanie Burel, was invited to give an overview of the Joint Council of Europe/European Union Project “Supporting Malta in the design and implementation of a new national Anti-Trafficking Strategy” to the Members of the Monitoring Committee.