Human rights activists ‘bullied’ for standing up for the invisible

The Platform of Human Rights Organisations in Malta (PHROM) called for the protection of NGO staff members, administrators and volunteers who it said face regular abuse, harassment, bullying, threats and false accusations.

Marking the 2015 International Human Rights Day, PHROM chairperson Roberta Lepre urged the country to offer maximum protection to its human rights defenders.

This, she said, can be achieved through following and supporting their work, participating in their events, reading their publications and endorsing their statements and views, including through social media.

Lepre said activists “work for the human rights of their direct beneficiaries, but also for ours.”

The platform urged the country to “refrain from resorting to abusive language and threats, and instead to consider approaching its member organisations with valid queries about their work, their beneficiaries, the challenges they face and their views on how to improve Maltese society.”

PHROM said it is unacceptable that persons and their family members are put at risk or through unnecessary stress and anxiety for their legitimate defence of Malta’s vulnerable communities, for the valid questions they ask and for their expectation of a society based on rule of law and respect for core values and principles.

The platform’s 29 non-governmental organisations are active in several areas, striving to ensure that their beneficiaries do not face exclusion, violence, poverty, discrimination, harassment and other human rights.

“Let’s reach out and thank them for making Malta what it is today, and for urging a much better place for future generations,” Lepre added
She pointed out that as believers and promoters of the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights all organisations are at the forefront of standing up for the invisible, the ignored and the set-aside.

“In commemoration of 2015 International Human Rights Day, the Platform invites Malta to remember those NGO staff members, administrators, volunteers who passionately and selflessly aim to restore dignity and humanity to so many lives,” the statement said.

While noting that human rights NGOs provide basic, yet fundamental services, the platform said that organisations fill gaps where the State is “unable or unwilling to reach out,” including medical, financial, psychological, social, legal, administrative, spiritual and artistic services.

“It is also thanks to many of our Member Organisations that Malta can boast its high level of legal and administrative protection for children, women, the LGBTI community, persons with disabilities, persons with mental health problems, access to arts and culture, etc.”