Valletta Cruise Port has signed a strategic memorandum of understanding with the Human Rights Directorate within the Office of the Prime Minister - Parliamentary Secretariat for Equality and Reforms to enhance efforts aimed at preventing human trafficking. This partnership, formalized to mark the European Day against Human Trafficking, reflects Valletta Cruise Port’s strong commitment to corporate social responsibility and its proactive role in safeguarding vulnerable individuals.
Through this agreement, Valletta Cruise Port becomes a key player in the implementation of the national strategy developed by the Human Rights Directorate within the Parliamentary Secretariat for Equality and Reforms, with key on-the-ground initiatives focused on early detection, employee training and victim support.
It was also agreed to jointly carry out an awareness campaign at the port terminal that will provide information on victim support services. Standard Operating Procedures will be developed for port workers on how to act in suspected cases of human trafficking in the interest of victims.
"As a key gateway to Malta, Valletta Cruise Port recognises its responsibility in supporting national efforts to prevent and combat human trafficking by enhancing security and vigilance within our terminals. This Memorandum of Understanding marks an important step in our continued commitment to social responsibility and inter-agency cooperation. By joining forces with the Human Rights Directorate, we are committing to strengthening our frontline capacity to identify and respond to signs of human trafficking, raising public awareness, and helping ensure that our port is not only a point of arrival — but also a point of protection," stated Stephen Xuereb, CEO of Valletta Cruise Port.
Parliamentary Secretary Rebecca Buttigieg explained that, "This agreement will see the exchange of information that will help identify travel patterns that may lead to increased risks of trafficking. This information will help strengthen the national response against the serious crime of human trafficking."
This initiative builds on similar arrangements already in place at Malta International Airport, positioning Malta’s key transport hubs at the forefront of the national anti-trafficking effort.
