The Office of the Commissioner for Children has for a number
of years been supporting third country nationals to access the rights of their
children including family reunification and residence permits.
On more than one occasion the Office was in contact with various
NGOs including the Maltese-Serbian Community regarding not only registration
and residency issues, but also assisting parents and families to access state
health and educational services in particular. The Office has acted as a
spokesperson and reference point, helping to put these families in touch with
the respective authorities to access their rights.
The Office has made and is making every effort to advocate for
children of third country nationals and their families on the basis of the
principle of the child’s best interests and a number of legally binding human
rights provisions in particular the United Nations Convention on the Rights of
the Child, which Malta ratified 29 years ago.
Presented with an increasing number of cases the Office has
repeatedly put forward its concerns to the relevant authorities and recommends
that all policies and practices affecting children should reflect their rights
and best interests.
The Office would also like to emphasise that the exposure
of these children in the media does not necessarily help their cause and may be
harmful to them.