The celebration of World Refugee Day, on Monday, finds Malta marking two particular milestones in its refugee protection experience. The first is the 40th anniversary since the country signed the 1951 Geneva Refugee Convention on June 17, 1971. The second is the 10th anniversary of the Office of the Refugee Commissioner, which was officially set up on June 18, 2001 following the enactment of the Refugees Act 2000.

Malta signed the Refugee Convention just seven years after it got its Independence from Britain. At the time, it limited its official commitment to catering for refugees from the European region, in practice meaning asylum seekers from behind the so-called Iron Curtain. It also made a number of reservations in the light of its peculiar circumstances and characteristics.

The country’s first major contribution to refugee protection was then behind the corner. In 1972/1973, Malta provided temporary shelter to about 360 Ugandan refugees who remained here until the UNHCR piloted their resettlement in other countries. The links with UNHCR continued to be forged, primarily through the Emigrants’ Commission. In fact, in 1987, the UNHCR had appointed the Emigrants’ Commission as its operational partner in Malta.

It was essentially through this partnership that the 900-strong Iraqi asylum seekers caseload of the 1992/1993, following the Gulf War, was managed. At the time, Malta had no international obligation to shoulder such cases. Nonetheless, to its credit, the island provided protection to all those who needed it and allowed them to remain here until, gradually, practically all of them were helped to find a new life elsewhere.

In spite of all this, in the 1990s, Malta was still without a refugee law. It did not have a national eligibility structure. The turning point came when Malta moved closer to becoming a member of the European Union. A Refugees Act was enacted in 2000 and an Office of the Refugee Commissioner was set up. Moreover, on December 13, 2001, Malta lifted its geographical limitation to the Refugee Convention, making the country responsible for all asylum seekers that come here, irrespective of their point of departure.

The tests that emerged from over the horizon were far from easy. The year 2002 saw the start of the phenomenon of boat people in the Mediterranean. The strain on Malta’s limited resource was becoming heavier and heavier.

Even if amid many controversies and occasionally painful situations, big strides have been made in this country’s efforts to meet international standards in the reception, sheltering and protection of such people according to their human rights and dignity. The mandatory administrative detention policy continues to be a bone of contention. However, it is evident the authorities’ reasons for keeping it do have their own weight.

The country’s stance over refugee protection was clear from the beginning. It fully recognised the need to shield people from persecution. It wanted to do all it could to give its proper share in international protection. However, it also had to energetically seek international solidarity when the load became too heavy for its tiny shoulders.

The progress Malta registered over the years in refugee protection in spite of many difficulties is evident. Of course, there is always room for upgrading, for instance regarding living conditions of immigrants and integrating opportunities. It is a pity that, nonetheless, a number of EU partners still have to effectively understand that Malta alone cannot offer durable solutions to all the people who end up here in search for international protection. It needs help.

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