The National Institute for Childhood is calling on Identity Malta to immediately rescind its decision on the 22 migrant children threatened with deportation and to bring its policies in line with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
The Institute, within the Malta Foundation for the Wellbeing of Society, said the timing of this decision was poignant and ironic as it coincides with the 30th anniversary from Malta’s adoption of this UN Convention.
The decision by Identity Malta is also in breach of the Convention on the Rights of the Child and is especially distressing as it is diametrically opposed to the Convention’s key articles — namely articles 2, 3, 7 and 9.
Article 2 calls on the State to respect and ensure that the rights set out in the Convention are respected and ensured for “each child within their jurisdiction without discrimination of any kind, irrespective of the child’s or his or her parents or legal guardian’s race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national, ethnic or social origin, property, disability, birth or other status”.
Furthermore, Article 3 states that all actions concerning children should be taken in their best interests.
The decision also breaches Article 16 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which states that the family, as the “natural and fundamental group unit of society is entitled to protection by society and the State”.