The Anti Poverty Forum (APF) Malta unites with all the NGOs who condemned the tragic death of Mamadou Kamara on June 30. APF Malta believes that irregular immigrants should be treated with full respect for their human rights and human dignity.

The dignity of a person entails that vulnerable people in detention centres should be provided with care, support and the treatment that they require. This aim can only be achieved if detention centre personnel are motivated and well trained.

Numerous questions regarding the country’s detention policy were raised due to the death of Mamadou Kamara.

This issue is not something new. The standards of the local detention centres still leave much to be desired and are a far cry from recognised ones.

The majority of irregular migrants are constantly living in squalid accommodation and have to endure long detention periods in inhumane conditions. It must be said that the irregular migrants are not the only ones suffering but so are the detention guards who work under difficult conditions.

APF Malta urges the Maltese authorities to align measures with the requirements of the European Convention on Human Rights by re-evaluating the law and practice relating to the detention of irregular immigrants, as well as that of asylum seekers.

Furthermore, we cannot overlook the unacceptable reality of racism and xenophobia in Malta. Public education in this area needs to be intensified.

The Maltese authorities need to strengthen efforts in ensuring respect for human rights. The Church needs to intensify its effort at the parish and national level to foster a spirit of acceptance, respect and love for others, irrespective of race and ethnicity. The media also has a role to play by ensuring that intolerant attitudes are not encouraged.

In the past years there has been a sustained effort by many NGOs to help immigrants integrate into Maltese society, through legal aid and social work.

What is urgently needed are measures to sustain these efforts in respecting the dignity and the well-being of this category of our society.

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