A/HRC/40/17 9. Maltese laws on libel and slander had been improved through the Media and Defamation Act (2018). The Act strengthened the right to freedom of expression through the abolition of criminal libel, the introduction of the new civil tort of slander, and the regulation of web-based news and current affairs services. 10. In 2013, Malta had enacted the Protection of the Whistle-blower Act foreseeing extensive protection for whistle-blowers in employer-employee or employer-contractor relations. Journalistic freedoms and the protection of journalists’ sources were guaranteed by the Act. The Act provided extensive guarantees, including immunity from legal proceedings. Actions such as threats, intimidation and harassment were criminal offences under the Act. 11. Malta had made efforts to strengthen the rule of law, including through improved party financing legislation and the establishment of the Office of the Commissioner for Standards in Public Life and a parliamentary committee to scrutinize senior public appointees. 12. The constitutional reform in the justice sector in 2016 had significantly strengthened the independence and efficiency of the judiciary. The three pillars of the reform were transparency in the appointment of magistrates and judges, accountability of the judiciary, and improved working conditions for members of the judiciary. 13. Malta had continued to receive a significant number of first-time asylum applications and remained at the forefront of protecting the rights of asylum seekers and refugees. Malta had enacted legislation barring the detention of children while providing the necessary assistance to unaccompanied minors. Furthermore, it had provided for legal assistance to asylum seekers regardless of age. 14. In 2015, Malta had launched a strategy in line with the European Union Reception Conditions Directive, establishing a reception system based on three different stages of accommodation for asylum seekers and irregular migrants, namely initial reception centres, closed detention centres and open centres. The Human Rights and Integration Directorate of the Ministry for Social Dialogue, Consumer Affairs and Civil Liberties had been set up in 2015 to make progress, inter alia, in the integration and protection of the rights of minorities. 15. In 2017, Malta had set up the Council for Women’s Rights with the aim of strengthening the dialogue between the Government and civil society on gender equality and mainstreaming equality in all aspects of governmental processes. Malta had ratified the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence (the Istanbul Convention), which had been transposed into national legislation. The Government had also launched the Gender-based Violence and Domestic Violence Strategy with the aim of ensuring that legislation, policies and services comprehensively addressed the needs of victims. The Strategy and its corresponding action plan were a renewed call to members of society, particularly men and boys, to change their attitudes towards greater equality and gender stereotypes. 16. The Government was implementing two projects to strengthen multisectoral and multidisciplinary cooperation in dealing with violence against women and gender-based violence, to introduce training programmes and a manual of procedures for those in contact with potential victims and to address violence against migrant women, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, intersex and queer/questioning women and women with disabilities. 17. The employment rate of women had increased from 47 per cent in 2014 to 60 per cent in 2018, due to governmental efforts to combat gender stereotypes and empower women. The Government had also introduced greater transparency into employment contracts to address the gender pay gap and free childcare services to parents or guardians who were in employment or pursuing their education to help them achieve a better worklife balance. 18. The delegation reiterated the commitment of the Government to promote sexual and reproductive health and to protect the right of women to have control over and decide freely on matters related to their sexuality, and the timing, number and spacing of children, free from coercion, discrimination and violence. Notwithstanding that, abortion remained illegal. 3