SKOP launches its Presidency Project “E4C - Educating for Change”

On 30 January, Malta’s National Platform of Development NGOs SKOP has launched its project “E4C – Educating for Change”, which is implemented in the frame of Malta’s EU Council Presidency and financed by the European Commission and the Ministry for Foreign Affairs.

In his opening speech for the conference, which was held at The Palace Hotel in Sliema, Minister for Foreign Affairs George Vella emphasised the government’s firm commitment to the UN’s Agenda 2030 and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The conference saw keynote speeches by Vincent Tournecuillert, International Coordinator of Terre des Hommes’s Destination Unknown Campaign about the rights of Children on the Move and other children affected by migration; by Dr Ahmed Bugri, CEO of the Foundation for Shelter and Support to Migrants, about climate refugees; and by Dr Simone Borg, Malta’s UN Ambassador for Climate Change, about the impact of the changing climate on our daily lives.

Panels about the topics “Migration and its Impact on Children” and “Climate Change and Migration” gave the floor to Pauline Miceli, Commissioner for Children, Dr Ruth Farrugia, Director General of the President’s Foundation for the Wellbeing of Society, Dr Stefano Moncada, Lecturer at the University of Malta, Claudia Taylor East, CEO of SOS Malta and Dr John Paul Cauchi, Coordinator of SKOP’s E4C project, besides the keynote speakers.

Lara Bezzina from The People for Change Foundation presented the preliminary findings of a research on the implementation of the SDGs in Malta, commissioned by SKOP. The conference was concluded by remarks of William Grech, Chairperson of SKOP, and Neville Aquilina, Director General at the MFA.

Many of the conference’s speakers stated their great concern about the political shift towards the far right and increased social and political populism, experienced in both Europe and the United States.

“The SDGs speak about ‘leaving no one behind’ whilst the EU, on Malta’s initiative, is now discussing the suspension of the non-refoulement principle at Europe’s borders”, said Vincent Tournecuillert of Terre des Hommes.

Dr Bugri of FSM Malta emphasised the devastating impact of climate change on people living in Sub-Saharan African countries, destroying the livelihoods of many of the smallholder farmers in the regions: “If young people [in Sub-Saharan Africa] do not have any opportunities, the only option left for them is to leave.”

Dr Farrugia from the PFWS emphasised that very often, children’s voices are not taken into account when discussing issues related to migrating children and youths.

Commission for Children Miceli reiterated her great concern about children being left stateless in Malta, which is not a signatory of the UN Conventions on Statelessness.

During the coming ten months of implementation, SKOP’s E4C project will continue to promote capacity building, development education and awareness raising about issues related to global social justice, human rights & children’s rights, and sustainable development.

More information about the SKOP and the E4C project can be found on www.skopmalta.org or on the Facebook page and Twitter account of “SKOP Malta”.