On this page, you will find:
To find organisations working for LGBTQI+ rights, visit our Malta LGBTQI+ Resources page.
For Malta country of origin information (COI) experts, reports, commentaries, and relevant documents visit our Malta COI page.
Refugee protection
Click here to see the numbers and origins of refugees hosted by Malta.
The following sections contain information on the most important international treaties and agreements of which Malta is signatory, as well as national legislation relevant to the protection of refugees.
Since 1971 Malta has been both a party to the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees and to its 1967 Protocol. Malta, however, has not accepted the UN Statelessness Conventions.
Regionally, Bulgaria is a member of the European Union (EU). As such, it is subject to the EU framework on refugee protection, which is based upon the Schengen Borders Code (Regulation (EU) 2016/399), the Dubin Regulation (Regulation (EU) No 604/2013) and the Asylum Procedures Directive (Directive 2013/32/EU).
Malta’s refugee protection is based on the country’s Refugees Act of 2002, which transposed EU legislation and regulated the detention, reception and accommodation for asylum-seekers, refugees and other beneficiaries of protection.
In Malta, the Office of the Refugee Commissioner and the Refugee Appeals Board conduct refugee status determination. Also, the Agency for the Welfare of Asylum Seekers (AWAS) is the one tasked with managing reception centres.
Legal aid organisations
Website
Address: 149, Old Mint Street, Valletta VLT 1513, Malta
Tel: +356 20 10 62 95
Email: info@aditus.org.mt
Contact person: Neil Falzon
Email: neilfalzon@aditus.org.mt
Aditus was founded in 2011 by a group of young lawyers who made it their mission to monitor, report and act on human rights access in Malta. Their main activities include offering pro bono legal information and advice to refugees, both through community advocacy projects and aid to individual clients. For the latter, they make regular visits to detention facilities and welcome refugee clients at their offices. Additionally, they focus both on the laws and government of Malta and on addressing the EU institutions, the UN, the Council of Europe and other relevant agencies.
Website
Facebook
Address: 189 Old Bakery Street, Valletta, Malta
Tel: +356 2247 1500
Email: info.legalaidmalta@gov.mt
Governmental institution tasked with providing free legal assistance to low-income people who are unable to afford legal representation and access to the court system.
Tel: +356 2340 2801
Email: david.zammit@um.edu.mt
The Maltese Legal Clinic serves as a channel for subjects in society who lack access to justice by engaging the subjects in learning about their rights and remedies. Moreover, the Clinic serves as an exercise in social consciousness for the students who will eventually be practising lawyers within Maltese society, with the intention of using law as a tool for access to justice. The clinic can therefore be described as a laboratory since its ease of access and free legal services attract different people’s many legal needs. Law students offer legal consultation under the supervision of Dr David Zammit (Board member) and under the coordination of Dr Kurt Xerri.
Website
Address: The Dolphins, Triq Sir Ugo Mifsud, Ta’ Xbiex
Tel.: 22489400
Email: mtava@unhcr.org
The UNHCR Representation in Malta supports asylum-seekers with the asylum application procedures. They have also prepared a document with several institutions that provide different kinds of services, such as legal assistance, education, healthcare, among others, which can be found here.
Website
Address: 203/1, Vincenti Buildings, Triq, l-Ifran, Valletta
Tel: 80062149 (free) or 79708615
Email: info@wrf.org.mt
This Foundations provides free legal assistance to women and trafficking survivors.
Organisations providing other support to refugees
Website
Address: Dar l-Emigrant, Castille Place, Valletta VLT 01, Malta
Tel: +35621222644 or +35621240022 (fax)
Email: mecmalta@vol.net.mt
Facebook
Address: 124, Ursula Street, Valletta, Malta
Email: integrafoundation@gmail.com
Integra is a non-profit organisation based in Malta, operating independently of any political, economic or religious affiliation at a global level. The Foundation’s vision is that of supporting inclusive, non-discriminating and non-disabling societies, where all individuals have the right to human dignity, freedom, respect and social justice. Their mission is to facilitate space for marginalised individuals and groups to be listened to and to have an active and meaningful say in their lives and well-being on their own terms. They provide language learning services and also function as a drop-in centre.
Website
Facebook
Twitter
Address: Nr 1, Dar Sarria, Il-Furjana, Central Region, Malta
Tel: +356 21 44 27 51
Email: info@jrsmalta.org
Contact Person: Dr Katrine Camilleri
They provide free legal assistance and social work services including employment, healthcare and psychological support. Besides project-based work in advocacy, social work services and awareness raising, JRS Malta also offers pastoral care to detainees and continues to advocate for their rights.
Website
Facebook
Address: Suite 2, 195, Naxxar Road, San Gwann SGN 9029, Malta
Tel.: +35621372266Fax: +35621372266
Email: info@koping.org
Kopin has been providing social and educational services to asylum-seeking children and women since 2010. These services apply child rights and human rights-based approaches and aim at empowering their beneficiaries, who themselves are considered key agents for social change and advancement. Kopin has been providing voluntary services for women and children, including unaccompanied minors, who are residing at Dar il-Liedna, an Open Centre in Fgura which is managed by the Agency for the Welfare of Asylum Seekers (AWAS). These services range from cultural orientation to English language classes, to afterschool homework support, food handling courses, CV writing training as well as recreational activities.
The Malta Refugee Council is a network of Maltese non-governmental organisations working for the promotion of the fundamental human rights of persons in forced migration. The Council aims to advocate for legislation, policies and practices that are in accordance with Malta’s international obligations and best practices in the sector. It also seeks to foster an environment that is welcoming and inclusive of refugees.
Migrant Offshore Aid Station (MOAS) is an international humanitarian organisation founded in 2013 as an innovative and technology-driven search and rescue (SAR) organisation in response to the Mediterranean maritime migration phenomenon. In August 2014, MOAS became the first non-governmental SAR organisation in the Central Mediterranean, providing a model for civil society search and rescue. MOAS is now dedicated to providing humanitarian aid and services to the most vulnerable people around the world. Since its inception, MOAS has reached hundreds of thousands of people through its activities.
The association is committed to empowering migrant women to enable them to integrate within the society of the host country in order to attain their full potential. MWAM supports migrant, refugee and asylum-seeking women, who fall into extremely vulnerable groups, offers professional, organizational and even emotional advice for those in need, and promotes the personal empowerment of migrant, refugees and asylum-seeking women by achieving their integral development through the learning of new skills and knowledge that makes them aware and confident of their abilities.
Website
Facebook
Address: 12, Triq il-kaffis, SWQ 2361 Ta’ L-Ibrag, Malta
Tel +356 27034255
Email: info@ofd.org.mt
The Organisation for Friendship in Diversity (OFD) is a small youth-led NGO working with children and adults from local and migrant communities, to foster respect for diversity and promote social inclusion. Founded in early 2009, the objective of OFD’s members has been to help cultivate friendship amidst diversity through cultural understanding. As a forward-looking and enthusiastic team, OFD is constantly working to improve its methods and develop new ways to challenge social stereotypes that lead to discrimination.
Website
Tel: +356 2703 3536
Email: info@pfcmalta.org
The People for Change Foundation (PfC) is a Malta-based human rights think tank with a Maltese, European and global scope. PfC provides evidence-based, independent, practical and creative ideas on the protection, respect and promotion of human rights in Malta and across the European Union. Additionally, they provide advice to asylum seekers and their legal representatives, particularly those facing returns to Malta under the Dublin II system. They are also in a position to refer asylum seekers to other entities that may be better able to assist in particular cases; and provide an online reporting system for racist incidents in Malta: www.reportracism-malta.org. PfC did not want their address posted on the website but they can be contacted through phone or email.
Malta LGBTQI+ Resources
Find organisations working for refugee LGBTQI+ rights in Malta.
Malta COI
Find Malta Country of Origin information (COI) experts, reports, commentaries, and relevant documents.
We are always looking to expand the resources on our platform. If you know about relevant resources, or you are aware of organisations and/or individuals to include in our directories, please get in touch.
Last updated June 2023