A/HRC/33/50/Add.1 Report of the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention on its follow-up visit to Malta** I. Introduction 1. The Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, established pursuant to former Commission on Human Rights resolution 1991/42, whose mandate was clarified by the Commission in its resolution 1997/50 and extended for a further three-year period by the Human Rights Council in its resolution 24/7 of 26 September 2013, conducted a follow-up country visit to Malta from 23 to 25 June 2015 at the invitation of its Government. The Working Group was represented by its Second Vice-Chair, Sètondji Roland Adjovi (Benin), and Mads Andenas (Norway), and supported by the Secretary of the Working Group, Miguel de la Lama, and a staff member from the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), Yiyao Zhang. 2. Throughout the follow-up visit and in all respects, the Working Group enjoyed the fullest cooperation of the Government of Malta and all authorities with whom it dealt. The Working Group would like to extend its gratitude and appreciation to the Government for its positive response to the request of the Working Group to carry out its follow-up visit and for its full cooperation before and during the visit. The Working Group would like to continue the constructive dialogue with the Government of Malta on the issues mentioned in the present report. 3. The Working Group was able to meet with and interview confidentially some persons deprived of liberty, without the presence of authorities, guards or witnesses, as required by its mandate. 4. The Working Group would like to thank the representatives of civil society organizations, particularly the Jesuit Refugee Service and Malta Catholic Action, for their support during the visit and for providing the Working Group with important information and assistance. Additionally, the Working Group wishes to thank colleagues at the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) for their valuable assistance. II. Programme of the follow-up visit 5. During its three-day visit, the Working Group met with various authorities from the executive, legislative and judicial branches of the State. The delegation had the honour to be received by the President of Malta; the Minister for Foreign Affairs; the Minister for Home Affairs and National Security; the Minister of Justice, Culture and Local Government; the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry for Home Affairs and National Security; magistrates of the Juvenile Court; and the Social Affairs Committee of the Parliament. The Working Group also met with representatives of the Armed Forces of Malta, the Malta Police Force, the Agency for the Welfare of Asylum Seekers, the Immigration Appeals Board, the Board of Visitors for Detained Persons, and the Board of Visitors of the Prisons. The delegation also met with the Ombudsman, the Commissioner for Children, and representatives from relevant United Nations agencies and civil society organizations. The Working Group is very grateful for the cooperation of all the authorities and interlocutors with whom it met during the visit. __________________ ** Circulated in the language of submission only. 4