Minister for Equality and Civil Rights, Rosianne Cutajar, today led a Maltese delegation at the High-Level Conference on Non-Discrimination (LGBTIQ+ Rights), held in Dublin under the Irish Presidency of the Council of the European Union and organised in cooperation with the European Commission. The conference brought together ministers, policymakers, experts, civil society representatives and international organisations to discuss emerging practices for advancing LGBTIQ+ equality and creating safer, more inclusive societies across Europe.
Addressing the conference, Minister Cutajar reaffirmed Malta’s commitment to upholding equality, human rights and non-discrimination, while highlighting the importance of maintaining progress at a time when LGBTIQ+ persons across Europe continue to face discrimination, exclusion and hate. The Minister stressed that equality is not only a legal obligation, but a fundamental European value that requires continued political leadership, investment and cooperation between governments, institutions and civil society.
The conference explored a range of priority themes, including the wellbeing of LGBTIQ+ youth and families in digital environments, the rights and inclusion of older LGBTIQ+ persons, advancing equal rights for intersex persons, and promoting safe environments free from discrimination, violence and hate. These discussions form part of wider European efforts to strengthen equality policies and share effective practices among Member States.
Malta’s participation reflects the Government’s ongoing commitment to contributing actively to European discussions on equality and non-discrimination. During the conference, Malta shared experiences arising from national legislation, policy development and implementation measures aimed at improving the lives of LGBTIQ+ persons and ensuring that equality protections are translated into meaningful outcomes for communities.
Malta also participated in a dedicated session on advancing the rights of intersex persons, where Malta’s experience in promoting bodily integrity, physical autonomy and human rights-based approaches was discussed alongside developments at the European level.
On the sidelines of the conference, Minister Rosianne Cutajar held a meeting with Norma Foley, Ireland’s Minister for Children, Disability and Equality. The discussion reaffirmed the excellent relations between Malta and Ireland and focused on shared priorities relating to equality, inclusion and human rights. The Ministers exchanged views on current challenges facing LGBTIQ+ communities across Europe, including online hate, misinformation and the need to ensure safe and inclusive environments for all. They also explored avenues for further cooperation and the continued exchange of good practices to advance equality and non-discrimination at European level.
The conference precedes the Meeting of the EU LGBTIQ+ Equality Expert Group, which will take place in Dublin on 7 October and will continue discussions on emerging policy developments, national strategies and collaborative approaches to advancing equality across the European Union.
Minister Cutajar stated that Malta remains committed to working together with its European partners to strengthen equality, protect human rights, and ensure that everyone can live in dignity and safety while participating fully in society.
