Seven cases of human trafficking were investigated in Malta last year, an increase from three the year before, according to a report by the US State Department.
Before 2011, there were no reported cases of human trafficking but the report says Malta is considered to be a source and destination country for women and children subjected to sex trafficking.
Moreover, Malta is failing to meet minimum standards to eliminate such trafficking, despite making “significant efforts” to do so.
Released annually, the Trafficking in Persons report gives an overview of each country and makes specific recommendations.
Female sex trafficking victims found in Malta originated from China, Romania, Russia and Ukraine
The report says female sex trafficking victims found in Malta originated from China, Romania, Russia and Ukraine but women and children from Malta were also found subjected to sex trafficking within the country.
The US State Department has also raised concerns that the 5,000 irregular migrants from African countries, as well as the female Filipina domestic workers and Chinese working in massage parlours, may also be vulnerable to human trafficking.
In 2012, the Government identified four victims: two male labour trafficking victims from China, one female labour and sex trafficking victim from China, and one female sex trafficking victim who was internally trafficked.
This person was the first Maltese national identified as a trafficking victim for at least 10 years. No child victims were identified.
Two offenders were prosecuted, for both sex and labour trafficking, the report added.
In its report, the US State Department said although the Maltese Government had set out identification guidelines and started to coordinate intergovernmental agreements on referring victims to care, it lacked a “formal referral mechanism”.
This made it harder to ensure that trafficking victims were recognised and given care.
The report said the Maltese authorities, with US government assistance, have begun training police and judges working on trafficking cases. The Government also began developing a public awareness campaign, but it was not launched during the reporting period.
The US urged the Maltese Government to strengthen efforts to identify trafficking victims among vulnerable populations, particularly migrants, children, and women in prostitution.