Malta Launches National Consultation Manual on Children and Armed Conflict
On 17 March, the Government of Malta, through the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Tourism, and the Malta Foundation for the Wellbeing of Society, launched the manual National Consultation Process on Children and Armed Conflict.
The manual was developed through a structured consultation process led by the Malta Foundation for the Wellbeing of Society, in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Tourism, and with the support of Ms. Virginia Gamba, the United Nations Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, and her office.
The two-year consultative process, initiated in 2022, aimed to:
- Amplify the voices of conflict-affected children living in Malta;
- Engage stakeholders working directly and indirectly with these children and their families to assess national support systems;
- Understand the diverse experiences of armed conflict, including children’s journeys, integration challenges, and impacts on their health and well-being;
- Evaluate national institutional responses to supporting conflict-affected children of different age groups and national backgrounds;
- Inform and advocate for necessary policy changes to improve support for these children.
During the launch event, Ms. Virginia Gamba emphasised the importance of including children’s voices in policy and decision-making: “The inclusion of children’s voices is essential. It is not only a matter of rights but also a way to create inclusive solutions where all children feel heard and protected.” She also highlighted Prove It Matters, a global campaign launched in Geneva to urge governments to uphold the Convention on the Rights of the Child and take immediate steps to protect children’s fundamental rights. As part of this initiative, children worldwide are encouraged to create origami doves with messages of peace, which will be collected and displayed at the United Nations in New York in 2026.
Hon Ian Borg, Malta’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, reaffirmed Malta’s commitment to protecting children affected by armed conflict. “This handbook is more than a resource—it is a call to action. We hope it will serve as a guiding tool for governments, policymakers, and humanitarian actors in their efforts to support children fleeing conflicts,” he stated.
H. E. Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca, President of Eurochild and Chair of the Malta Foundation for the Wellbeing of Society, stressed that displaced children should never be forgotten: “As conflicts persist, we must listen to their stories of trauma, resilience, and hope.’’
H.E. concluded by stating that the manual is dedicated to Mohamed, a seven-year-old child who lost his family due to the war in Syria. This serves as a reminder of the urgent need to protect the rights and well-being of children affected by conflict worldwide, using all available tools at the national, international, and EU levels.
