Proposed national human rights institution welcomed by aditus

Human rights NGO aditus foundation welcomed the Ombudsman's proposal for the setting up of an independent body to monitor and promote human rights.

The Parliamentary Ombudsman yesterday published a proposal for the setting up of a National Human Rights Institution (NHRI) in Malta.

Since its inception, aditus had called for such a body, including in talks with the relevant governmental authorities and with the Ombdusman himself.

"We are particularly happy that the Ombudsman has welcomed our recommendation to ensure a voice for civil society within the National Human Rights Institution, and we look forward to lending it our active support," aditus said in a statement.

Neil Falzon, director of aditus, added that such an insistituion could be an effective agent in ensuring the respect of human rights. "The NHRIs founded in terms of the Paris Principles can be extremely effective agents to ensure higher level of human rights enjoyment nationwide," Falzon said.

"If established, we hope Malta's NHRI will engage in concrete efforts to reach out to the least visible and most vulnerable members of our society."

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The Ombudsman is proposing an autonomous commission headed by the Parliamentary Ombudsman composed of national bodies and representatives of NGOs having a strong human rights content in their functions. The proposed commission would be autonomous and not part of government and would carry out its duties in full independence and be accountable to Parliament.

This proposal envisages the designation of the Office of the Ombudsman as the Maltese NHRI that would encompass and be required to work in consultation with other local authorities, entities, institutions and NGOs.