About Report racism malta
Report Racism is an initiative of The People for Change Foundation that tackles the problem of underreporting of racist incidents by providing a safe, easy to use opportunity for victims or witnesses to communicate such incidents. Subsequently, we direct victims of race-related crime towards the right channels (e.g. police or equality body) so that appropriate action may be taken, and remedies accessed.
We aim to provide an accessible option for individuals wishing to report racist incidents, provide a clearer picture of the current state of such incidents in Malta, build an understanding of the data gap in the area, as well as provide clear information, guidance and support for individuals wishing to file formal reports.
Our objectives are:
We aim to provide an accessible option for individuals wishing to report racist incidents, provide a clearer picture of the current state of such incidents in Malta, build an understanding of the data gap in the area, as well as provide clear information, guidance and support for individuals wishing to file formal reports.
Our objectives are:
- To provide a system for individuals who have been victims of racism to be able to report such incidents
- To provide a feedback system through which individuals who have reported incidents of racism can receive information about their options as well as support in pushing forward formal complaints
- To effectively provide clear and concise information to victims of discrimination and hate crime of their rights and remedies available to them
- To develop a clearer picture of the state of racism and racist violence in Malta, providing an evidence base on such issues, helping narrow the information gap in the area and informing policy developments in the field
- To bridge the gaps between victims of discrimination and access to available remedies
background
A reporting system for racist incidents is internationally recognised as a crucial stage in challenging racism because it gives a voice and directed action to those suffering racial harassment or discrimination. The data collected in a reporting system allows the authorities to act upon individual incidents and establish policies to tackle wider trends. It also increases social cohesion and public awareness, which provides community support for those experiencing racism (D. Kohner, (2009), Towards a Reporting System for Racist Incidents in Nelson/Tasman: Diverse Communities Speak, Tasman District Council and Nelson City Council).
Research by International and National governmental and non-governmental organisations has consistently found that members of ethnic and religious groups, national minorities and migrants are faced with prejudice on an everyday basis. Shortfalls in national data collection methods also mean that a lot of these incidents remain unrecorded, leaving them unresolved and invisible. Through its EU-MIDIS report FRA found that between 57-74% of incidents of assault or threat suffered by members of minority or migrant groups in the EU were not reported to the police. The same report highlighted that 63% of Africans in Malta experience high levels of discrimination (amongst the highest levels in the EU, second only to Roma in the Czech Republic), and that 29% of African migrants in Malta fell victim to what they considered to be racially motivated crime. There is also a lack of awareness with regards to knowledge of any law against the discrimination of migrants and ethnic minorities, as well as appropriate organisations or equality bodies that are mandated to support victims of discrimination. According to the EU Midis II research, only 12% of respondents from Malta were aware of the existence of support services and only 9% knew about the equality body. Only 18% were aware of the existence of laws prohibiting discrimination (compared to 79% European average) with 40% responding that to their mind no such law existed.
A report by the National Commission for the Promotion of Equality (NCPE) found that 85% of interviewees belonging to a “minority ethnic group” did not report instances of racial or ethnic discrimination to the authorities because they believed that the situation would remain unchanged. A study carried out by the NCPE on racial discrimination in Malta also shows that 70% of the interviewees belonging to a minority ethnic group had no knowledge of the NCPE’s existence and role. While only 9% of African respondents to the EU-MIDIS II survey in Malta were aware of the NCPE. This in itself resulting in significant underreporting of racial discrimination.
The reluctance of victims to report instances of racist violence, harassment or discrimination to the relevant authorities is a matter of concern as it undermines the possibility of an investigation. The reasons for this lack of reporting stem from a general feeling of disempowerment among victims, resulting from perceived lack of action taken on behalf of the few instances that do get reported. This has caused a great deal of anxiety and uneasiness in the sense that persons felt that they were not being duly protected, further fuelling the distrust of the migrant community of the police.
Research by International and National governmental and non-governmental organisations has consistently found that members of ethnic and religious groups, national minorities and migrants are faced with prejudice on an everyday basis. Shortfalls in national data collection methods also mean that a lot of these incidents remain unrecorded, leaving them unresolved and invisible. Through its EU-MIDIS report FRA found that between 57-74% of incidents of assault or threat suffered by members of minority or migrant groups in the EU were not reported to the police. The same report highlighted that 63% of Africans in Malta experience high levels of discrimination (amongst the highest levels in the EU, second only to Roma in the Czech Republic), and that 29% of African migrants in Malta fell victim to what they considered to be racially motivated crime. There is also a lack of awareness with regards to knowledge of any law against the discrimination of migrants and ethnic minorities, as well as appropriate organisations or equality bodies that are mandated to support victims of discrimination. According to the EU Midis II research, only 12% of respondents from Malta were aware of the existence of support services and only 9% knew about the equality body. Only 18% were aware of the existence of laws prohibiting discrimination (compared to 79% European average) with 40% responding that to their mind no such law existed.
A report by the National Commission for the Promotion of Equality (NCPE) found that 85% of interviewees belonging to a “minority ethnic group” did not report instances of racial or ethnic discrimination to the authorities because they believed that the situation would remain unchanged. A study carried out by the NCPE on racial discrimination in Malta also shows that 70% of the interviewees belonging to a minority ethnic group had no knowledge of the NCPE’s existence and role. While only 9% of African respondents to the EU-MIDIS II survey in Malta were aware of the NCPE. This in itself resulting in significant underreporting of racial discrimination.
The reluctance of victims to report instances of racist violence, harassment or discrimination to the relevant authorities is a matter of concern as it undermines the possibility of an investigation. The reasons for this lack of reporting stem from a general feeling of disempowerment among victims, resulting from perceived lack of action taken on behalf of the few instances that do get reported. This has caused a great deal of anxiety and uneasiness in the sense that persons felt that they were not being duly protected, further fuelling the distrust of the migrant community of the police.