Malta
As of 2026, Malta is recognized as a stable democracy with high human rights standards, particularly in LGBTI+ rights, where it consistently ranks among the top in Europe. However, it faces ongoing international scrutiny regarding press freedom, migration policies, and its highly restrictive abortion laws.
The following are the current human rights issues associated with Malta:
1. Sexual and Reproductive Rights (Abortion)
Malta maintains some of the most restrictive abortion laws in the world and remains the only EU member state with a near-total ban.
Limited Exceptions: A 2023 amendment allows termination only when a woman’s life is in "immediate danger" and her health is in "grave jeopardy." This excludes exceptions for rape, incest, or fatal fetal abnormalities.
Access Barriers: Even when legal, the procedure requires the approval of three specialists. In 2024, only four legal abortions were recorded in Malta.+1
Criminalization: Despite political rhetoric suggesting women will not be jailed, the law still allows for up to three years' imprisonment for women who undergo the procedure and four years for medical professionals involved.
2. Press Freedom and Rule of Law
While progress has been made, the shadow of the 2017 assassination of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia persists.
Justice and Impunity: In January 2026, the Court of Appeal upheld life sentences for the hitmen who supplied the explosives. However, civil society groups argue that the "climate of impunity" identified in the 2021 public inquiry has not been fully dismantled.+1
SLAPP Lawsuits: Journalists still face Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs)—legal actions intended to bankrupt or silence critics—often filed in foreign jurisdictions to maximize costs.
Freedom of Information (FOI): State agencies are frequently criticized for delaying or refusing FOI requests, leading to protracted legal battles for media houses seeking public records.
3. Migration and Asylum Seeker Rights
Malta’s position on the front line of Mediterranean migration has led to policies that human rights bodies describe as "heavy-handed."
Search and Rescue (SAR): Malta is frequently accused of failing to respond to distress calls in its SAR zone or coordinating with the Libyan Coast Guard to intercept and return migrants to Libya—a country the UN does not consider a "safe port."
Detention Conditions: The use of "automatic detention" on public health grounds has been ruled illegal by the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR). Reports continue to highlight poor conditions and lack of legal assistance for those held in the Safi and Hal Far detention centers.
The "El Hiblu 3" Case: In early 2026, UN experts again urged Malta to drop "terrorism" charges against three youths who, in 2019, allegedly persuaded a ship captain not to return them to Libya. Critics view the prosecution as a means of scapegoating migrants.
4. Racism and Social Cohesion
With nearly 30% of the population now being non-Maltese, social tensions have risen.
National Action Plan: In late 2025, the government launched the National Action Plan Against Racism (2025–2030) to address increasing hate speech and discriminatory practices in the labor and housing markets.
Labor Exploitation: Migrant workers, particularly those from outside the EU (Third Country Nationals), are vulnerable to "modern slavery" conditions in the construction and hospitality sectors, involving excessive hours and sub-minimum wages.
5. Rule of Law and Corruption
Judicial Independence: While the judiciary is generally independent, the pace of justice is exceptionally slow. Significant corruption trials involving high-ranking former officials (including cases related to the 2015 hospital privatization) continue to experience long delays.
Religious Privilege: The Roman Catholic Church remains the state religion, and its influence is still felt in the education system and public policy, which some humanists argue creates a "religious privilege" that impacts the rights of the non-religious.