Migrant detention and xenophobic attitudes remained blots on Malta’s otherwise positive human rights record last year, according to a human rights monitor.

The People for Change Foundation said Malta took “major steps” towards strengthening respect for equality and safeguarding human rights.

The assessment is found in The Malta Human Rights Report for 2014 penned by Christine Cassar and Jean-Pierre Gauci.

The emphasis on gay rights was considered a key development as Malta introduced constitutional protection for non-discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity, enacted the Civil Union Bill and kick-started the process to introduce a law on gender identity.

Other noteworthy developments included the Prime Minister’s commitment to end detention for child migrants, broadening anti-discrimination provisions and proposals for a human rights act.

However, other issues such as the detention policy for immigrants and the conditions they are kept in had to be addressed.

The integration of migrants in the community was still problematic as were the “attitudes and perceptions” of Maltese towards immigrants.

“Racism and intolerance continued to impact ethnic minorities’ lives with many instances of racism and discrimination going unreported,” the authors said.