"Strengthening Knowledge on Integration and Non-Discrimination": What The SKIN project revealed

Audience during the SKIN Conference at AX The Palace, Sliema Photo African Media. All rights reserved

“I am white. I never experienced racism.” said  Hon. Ms Rebecca Buttigieg Parliamentary Secretary for Reforms and Equality in her opening speech during a conference held on June 25.

A candid remark that underscored the need for active listening to those directly affected by racism and discrimination.

The closure event of the project SKIN ( Strengthening Knowledge on Integration and Non-Discrimination) brought various speakers highlighting the state of discrimination in Malta.

SKIN is a European project focusing on race and ethnic origin. The main aim was to identify the needs of and discrimination faced by vulnerable groups, namely people of African descent and Muslims.The project has encouraged the participation of racialised and migrant communities in decision-making spaces, ensuring that policies are informed by lived experiences.

 

Dr Neil Falzon the director of the aditus foundation led a very powerful quizz centred around the theme "Building bridges, not barriers" to emphasize the importance of collaboration and dialogue across communities.

Sensitive questions included:

"How would you feel if your children were in a relationship with a Muslim person?"

Among the 81 participants:

• 37% answered “Not a problem at all”

• 31% said they would feel “Very uncomfortable”

Open responses revealed contrasting opinions, such as :

“They’re human too”, “This religion can carry risks of gender inequality, especially for women” , “It’s a different culture; if I have a daughter, I know she won’t be valued by her husband or allowed to express herself”.

Speakers also shared striking statistics on discrimination based on ethnicity, religion, and gender. A particular emphasis was placed on online violence and the spread of hate speech across digital platforms.

These findings sparked reflection on persistent stereotypes, the role of media and social networks in amplifying prejudice, and the urgent need for media literacy and critical education.

During a panel discussion moderated by André Callus, responsible of Policy & Training at the NCPE (The National Commission for the Promotion of Equality), a particularly moving moment came from a woman of African heritage; Muslim and refugee in Malta, who shared her lived experience:

“This is something very important. It’s good to work together, but discrimination isn’t just an individual problem. I’m a Muslim African refugee as you can imagine, that combination comes with a lot of challenges. There are still policies that affect us. How do we train even government employers ? Many follow the rules, but what we’re taught as minorities is that we don’t have the right to complain.”

Various sessions explored various themes, such as “Shades of Identity”, which delved into the complexity of cultural belonging, and insights from recent focus groups, along with actionable recommendations for the future.

The discussion with the audience highlighted how necessary these conversations are in order to challenge dominant narratives and influence real change in practices.

The SKIN conference reaffirmed a core principle: integration is not a one-way process.

It requires institutional will, critical thinking, and above all, the meaningful participation of those most affected by exclusion.

As a media platform for migrant communities, African Media remains committed to amplifying these often-silenced voices and to ensuring that no one is left out of the conversation.