Malta
Non-discrimination law | Tonio Ellul | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. |
Gender equality law | Romina Bartolo | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. |
Legal developments
Discrepancy between the Maltese and English version of Article 29 of the Employment and Industrial Relations Act transposing Article 2(1)(c) of Directive 2006/54
The application of constitutional reform on gender quotas in Parliament leading to a gender corrective mechanism
The scope of this Bill is to ensure fulfilment of Malta’s obligations in terms of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the United Nations Principles relating to the Status of National Institutions (the Paris Principles)
The scope of this Bill is to make provision for the possibility of civil action based on claims alleging discrimination on the basis of disability in respect of the rights protected by the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, and to provide for further implementation of the said Convention
An independent Member of Parliament (MP) tabled a private members’ bill proposing the decriminalisation of abortion, a crime which carries up to three years’ imprisonment in Malta
The scope of this Bill is to incorporate all legislation dealing with equality in order to ensure legal certainty and elevate the principle of equality to a right in itself, making it applicable to all spheres of life. The Bill also implements the Twelfth Protocol to the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms into national law
In order to address financial barriers that victims of domestic violence may face and which may be a reason for not pursuing their case in court, the Government will offer a legal aid service by specially trained lawyers who will be engaged for this purpose
With the closure of all schools and child-care centres during the COVID-19 pandemic, many parents were forced to stay at home in order to look after their children. The Government set up a Parent Benefit for parents employed in the private sector of Malta, with children under 16 years of age, who were not able to work from home and who due to the impact of COVID-19, after 8 March 2020 could not go to work to take care of their children
A consultation document “Gender Balance in Parliament: Reform” was launched in order to receive proposals to challenge the under-representation of women in Parliament.
Women’s rights, Gender equality discrimination, Optional Protocol Cedaw Convention
The new Act on Gender-Based Violence and Domestic Violence provides for the substantive articles of the Council of Europe Convention on prevention and combating of violence against women and domestic violence (‘Istanbul Convention’) to be enforceable as part of the Laws of Malta; to promote and protect the right of everyone; to repeal the Domestic Violence Act (Chapter 481 of the Laws of Malta) and the Act on the ratification of the Istanbul Convention (Chapter 532 of the Laws of Malta) and introduces amendments to various laws.
Promotion of Equal Rights
Participation of women in politics
The Act is intended to regulate cohabitants by introducing rights and duties depending on the status of the cohabitants. It introduces three different forms of cohabitation, that is, de facto cohabitation, cohabitation by means of a contract between the parties and cohabitation by means of a unilateral declaration.
Discrimination in employment
Discrimination in Employment
Amendments made to the Equal Opportunities (Persons with Disability) Act listing fourteen rights rendering the said rights enforceable. Amendments also strengthen the KNPD’s regulatory role to ensure that the rights of persons with a disability are safeguarded
To sanction the failure to respect the disability quota under the Persons with Disability (Employment) Act
Discrimination in employment
An Act to regulate the compulsory addition of one member with Disability to various entities which are governed by Maltese Law
Recognition of right of each person to their gender identity and its free development
Country reports
Transposition and implementation at national level of Council Directives 2000/43 and 2000/78 - State of affairs 1 January 2022
How are EU rules transposed into national law? State of affairs 1 January 2022
Transposition and implementation at national level of Council Directives 2000/43 and 2000/78 - State of affairs 1 January 2021
How are EU rules transposed into national law? State of affairs 1 January 2021
State of affairs 01 January 2020
How are EU rules transposed into national law? State of affairs 1 January 2020
How are EU rules transposed into national law? State of affairs 1 January 2019
State of affairs 01 January 2019
How are EU rules transposed into national law? State of affairs 01 January 2018
State of affairs 01 January 2018
How are EU rules transposed into national law? State of affairs 1 January 2017
State of affairs 01 January 2017
How are EU rules transposed into national law? State of affairs 1 January 2016
State of affairs 01 January 2016
How are EU rules transposed into national law? State of affairs 1 January 2015
State of affairs 01 January 2015
Included in report: Gender Equality Law in 33 European Countries: How are EU rules transposed into national law in 2014?
State of affairs 01 January 2014
Included in report: Gender Equality Law in 33 European Countries: How are EU rules transposed into national law in 2013?
State of affairs 01 January 2013
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