Statement to the Commission on Human Rights

Earlier this month, Mr Michael Bartolo, Ambassador of Malta in Geneva, made a statement to the Human Rights Commission on Agenda Item 9 on Further Promotion and encouragement of human rights and fundamental freedoms.

While referring to the reasons that people decide to leave their homeland, among them civil and ethnic strife, he pointed out that usually the hope for a better future for these people usually does not materialize and continues to be a dream. The Ambassador stated that this particular phenomenon is becoming increasingly common in the Mediterranean, where many are trying to gain access to other countries in different ways, to escape the various problems they have in their own countries. At this moment, Mr Bartolo, pointed out that the situation prevailing in Albania gave us cause for grave concern.

In this context he referred to the Second Ministerial Euro-Med Conference being hosted by Malta on 15 and 16 April 1997 to discuss cooperation between the Mediterranean States and the European Union in areas referred to in the Barcelona Declaration which included some aspects of the population pressures Mr Bartolo referred to.

On the reform of the Centre for Human Rights, the Ambassador stated that the Human Rights Centre should, like other parts of the United Nations, aim to be more relevant to the global needs and more efficient. The Ambassador made reference to suggestions made by Malta in other fora which touch upon the restructuring and strengthening of the United Nations.

When referring to the report on Human Rights of women throughout the United Nations system,Mr Bartolo stated that the new Maltese Government has appointed a Parliamentary Secretary for women's rights under the direct responsibility of the Prime Minister in order to enhance women's position in society at the decision-making-making level.

The Ambassador emphasized Malta's firm commitment to the fundamental right of equality between men and women in both law and practice.

He also informed the Commission that a Malta Human Rights Association was set up in September 1996 and that one of its first activities in collaboration with other local organisations would be an international conference on Migration and Human Rights in the Mediterranean which would take place in Malta in May 1997.

In conclusion Mr Bartolo stated that it was saddening fact that, on the eve of the 21st century, human beings are still living in sub-human conditions with their fundamental human rights denied, and that his country would like to do its part, no matter how small, to help eradicating suffering from this world, and to help promoting and protecting human rights.