Visitors to this year’s Malta International Food Festival will have the opportunity to experience the richness and diversity of African cultures through music, storytelling, languages, traditional crafts and cuisine as African communities take part in the festival’s Intercultural Area on 6 August. People interacting at the African stand. Picture from the year 2025 edition of Malta Food Festival. Photo AMAM The participation forms part of the festival’s intercultural programm

SERIES: EU Pact on Migration and Asylum After years of complex negotiations, the European Union has adopted the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum that entered in vigour on 12 June 2026. Representation of the 4 pillars (Source: European Commission Migration and Home Affairs) This landmark agreement is built on four fundamental pillars : The first pillar secures the EU’s external borders to manage arrivals effectively. All individuals crossing irregularly will undergo mandatory

Every generation inherits something. For many first-generation migrants, the greatest legacy may not be what we accumulate for ourselves, but the starting point we intentionally create for those who come after us. Not all journeys begin from the same starting line. Living and working alongside both migrant and local communities has reminded me that while talent, determination, and hard work matter immensely, the opportunities available at the beginning of life's journey often

SERIES: ANTI RACISM STRATEGY MALTA Action Plan 10: Monitoring and implementation Malta’s anti-racism strategy incorporates strong monitoring and accountability mechanisms, including regular reviews, annual reporting, and international oversight to ensure effective implementation and continuous improvement. CC Picture What is Action 10 about? To ensure that the goals set out in the National Action Plan Against Racism translate into tangible outcomes, the government has establi

Series: The Root Causes of Migration Belgian authorities are raising alarms over a surge in migrant smuggling along their coastline as traffickers shift operations away from northern France. Driven by intensified police patrols and tighter border security on the French side, smugglers are increasingly launching small boats from Belgian beaches to cross the English Channel to the UK. The numbers reflect a stark shift: while Belgium recorded only two attempted boat crossings i

SERIES: ANTI RACISM STRATEGY MALTA Action Plan 9: Research Malta’s anti-racism plan strengthens evidence-based policymaking by investing in research to better understand systemic racism, hate speech, racial profiling, and their wider social and economic impacts. CC Picture, source: Pexels.com What is Action 9 about? To address a systemic problem effectively, a society must first develop a deep understanding of its scope, root causes, and tangible impacts. Recognising that dat

Human trafficking remains a severe human rights violation that often operates invisibly within our communities. To bring this critical issue to light, the Foundation for Social Welfare Services (FSWS) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) hosted a Human Trafficking Public Awareness Day on the 26th of June 2026. What happens in the mind of a personnel trafficked? African Media Association Malta. All rights reserved Held directly in front of the Qawra Parish C

As the European Union enters a new phase in the implementation of its migration and asylum framework, an information session organised by UNHCR offered an important space for learning and clarification. Held on 24 June 2026, the session focused on the Pact on Migration and Asylum, which entered into application on 12 June 2026 across EU Member States. Picture of the session. Photo credit: @unhcrmalta, sourced from their Facebook. The event brought together organisations inter

Several weeks after the deaths of eleven people, several of whom are believed to have originated from Ethiopia and Somalia, their families continue to face a complex process to have their loved ones officially identified. Without DNA confirmation, some risk remaining anonymous even in death. Addolorata cemetery, Paola. Frank Vincentz, CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0 On 7 June, eleven migrants lost their lives at sea off Malta after their vessel s

They speak Maltese, celebrate village festas and cheer for Malta's national teams. Yet for some children growing up on the island, there is one thing they still do not have: a nationality. activists from Moviment Graffitti, Dance Beyong Borders and other groups presenting the "Ending Child Statelessness in Malta" white paper in Valletta on June 30th. Photo AMAM Michael was born in Malta nineteen years ago. He attended public and church schools, served as an abbati, played foo

Three recent events in the month of June in Malta serve as the starting point for a reflection on representation, belonging and the stories society chooses to tell. This podcast by Regine Nguini explores how migration is portrayed in public discourse through three recent developments: the racist attacks directed at former election candidate Omar Rababah; the latest shipwreck in the Mediterranean that claimed at least eleven lives, and the publication on social media of photo

SERIES: ANTI RACISM STRATEGY MALTA Action Plan 8: Intersectional issues Malta is addressing intersecting forms of discrimination by aligning anti-racism efforts with strategies on gender equality, LGBTIQ+ rights, youth and disability with the aim of better protecting vulnerable communities. CC Picture What is Action 8 about? Individuals and groups who experience racism often face it across multiple, intersecting grounds, compounds the discrimination they endure. To effective

Series: The Root Causes of Migration Behind the fall in asylum applications in Portugal lies a more complex reality: fewer people are applying for protection, but thousands are still waiting for an answer. For those seeking safety, the numbers tell only part of the story. According to the European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA), Portugal registered 1,763 new asylum applications in 2025, compared with 2,797 in 2024, which represents a drop of 37%. This decline follows a broad

SERIES: ANTI RACISM STRATEGY MALTA Action Plan 7: Specific forms of racism and intersectionality Malta’s anti-racism plan targets specific forms of discrimination by introducing tailored measures to combat anti-Muslim hatred, antisemitism, anti-Black racism, and other intersecting prejudices. CC Picture What is Action 7 about? To effectively combat discrimination, a society must acknowledge the unique ways it manifests against different communities. Action 7 adopts a targete

Refugee Week Malta 2026 came to a powerful and vibrant close with Spark Fest, a community gathering that brought people together through music, food, speeches, cultural sharing and collective reflection. Held on 21 June 2026, from 4pm to 11pm, at Ġnien il-Kunsill tal-Ewropa in Gżira, the event marked the closing celebration of a week dedicated to courage, belonging and solidarity. Picture of “Cultural Sharings” African Media Association Malta. All Rights Reserved Organised by

Human trafficking remains a severe human rights violation that often operates invisibly within communities. To bring this critical issue to light, the Foundation for Social Welfare Services and the International Organization for Migration are hosting a Human Trafficking Public Awareness Day. Information day poster of the event (Source: fondi.eu ) This vital gathering is scheduled to take place on the 26th of June, running from 5:30 PM to 8:30 PM directly in front of the Qawr

To honor people seeking sanctuary and celebrate the strength, resilience and contributions of displaced populations worldwide, the international community observes World Refugee Day annually on the 20th of June. This year, in a world increasingly shaped by displacement and division, Malta hosted two significant events - as part of Refugee Week Malta Festival - that created a space for reflection, dialogue and collective action. These gatherings organised by Dance Beyond Bord

Food is universal. It carries memories and traditions, and has a unique way of bringing people together across cultures and backgrounds. This spirit was beautifully represented at the Valletta Design Cluster, which transformed into a vibrant space of shared heritage for “Bridging Culture through Food”. Held on the 19th of June in the framework of Refugee week Malta 2026, the community cooking workshop celebrated culture, connection and the courage found in every journey. “C