A/HRC/12/7 Page 4 European Union nationals resident in the Maltese Islands who are registered and possess a Maltese identity card are eligible to vote. 8. In addition to the guarantees for fundamental rights in the constitution, the delegation said that freedom of expression in Malta is also guaranteed by the Press Act and the Broadcasting Act. In 2006 the penalty of imprisonment for criminal libel, which had not been used for more than 30 years, was abolished. Freedom of religion, assembly and association are guaranteed by the European Convention Act as well as by the Employment and Industrial Relations Act and the Volontary Organisations Act. 9. The Independence Constitution provides for the right of individual petition to courts with special constitutional jurisdiction, ensuring redress against actual or threatened violations of fundamental rights. In 1987, this judicial protection was strengthened when Malta ratified the right of individual petition to the European Court of Human Rights. Malta incorporated the European Convention on Human Rights and a number of its protocols in domestic law through the European Conventions Act. It has been a member of the Council of Europe since 1965 and the enforcement of fundamental human rights in Malta has been subject to its scrutiny and valuable guidance. Upon accession to the European Union in 2004, human rights protection in Malta was strengthened by the acceptance of the jurisdiction of Institutions of the European Union. 10. The delegation cited a number of human rights institutions established in Malta to safeguard, inter alia, gender equality, equality of opportunity for persons with disabilities and the rights of children. In response to questions, it said given the various institutions, Malta has not considered it necessary to have a distinct authority to monitor human rights. It added that effective judicial procedures were preferable to a human rights institution, but that the matter was under constant review. 11. Malta is also party to a number of international human rights treaties as well as regional instruments, including the European Social Charter; the European Convention for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment and its Protocols and the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings. 12. The delegation stressed that the Maltese Parliament abolished the death penalty for ordinary crimes in 1971, keeping it in force for certain crimes committed by member of the Armed Forces and in times of war. In March 2000, an amendment to the Armed Forces Act abolished the death penalty for all crimes. 13. The Government has, over the years, taken various legislative initiatives relating to human rights. In addition to legislation cited above, the Employment and Industrial Relations Act protects the rights of workers, trade unions and employers associations, as well as collective bargaining and acceptable conditions of work. The Data Protection Act ensures protection of the right to privacy. The Administrative Justice Act mandates observance of fundamental substantive and procedural principles of law in matters of administrative justice. The Marriage Act ensures, in line with fundamental human rights and the values of family based on marriage, a free choice in matters of marriage, while the Social Security Act and the Malta Council for Economic and Social Development Act ensure access to social protection. Malta believes that civil and political rights go hand in hand with social and economic rights, was fully committed to vigorous development of economic and social policy, and was constantly pursuing a progressive agenda on such policy.