The Human Rights Directorate

Across the world, including in Europe, we are witnessing a worrying surge in anti-equality rhetoric and targeted attacks on LGBTIQ+ rights. These are not abstract debates — they are real rollbacks of rights with deep consequences for people’s safety, dignity, and freedom.

Malta has made remarkable strides in advancing LGBTIQ+ rights and is often looked to as a leader in the field. But we cannot afford complacency. Our progress must be protected and strengthened through sustained effort, especially within the structures of the public administration.

The LGBTIQ+ Equality Strategy and Action Plan 2023–2027 places the public service at the centre of this work. It recognises that equality must not only be legislated but also implemented, modelled, and mainstreamed across institutions. The Strategy challenges public bodies to look inward and question how systems, policies, and internal cultures might inadvertently exclude or disadvantage LGBTIQ+ individuals, and to take deliberate steps to foster inclusion and respect at all levels.

Through the Human Rights Directorate within the Office of the Prime Minister (Reforms, Equality and Social Dialogue), the public administration has taken the lead in developing tools and training to embed equality and human rights perspectives across sectors. Over the past year alone, 169 officers from the Malta Police Force, 220 staff from the National Student Wellbeing Services, and 119 employees at St Vincent de Paule Residence received training on LGBTIQ+ related topics. These figures do not include those trained by attending specific modules developed in collaboration with the Institute for Public Service on human rights and sex, sexuality and gender equality.