On Tuesday 12 December, the Permanent Representative of the Sovereign Order of Malta to the African Union Commission Ambassador Michael P. Murphy, KM, was received in audience by His Eminence Cardinal Berhaneyesus Demerew Souraphiel, the Metropolitan Archeparch of Addis Ababa and President of the Episcopal Conference of Ethiopia.
His Eminence gave his blessing to the representation on its inauguration.
The Ambassador and Permanent Representative, had the honor of participating in the high-level conference marking the 25th anniversary of the Palermo Protocol at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome. Despite global efforts, human trafficking continues to expand, affecting an estimated 50 million people worldwide. Leaders of the Order of Malta, government officials, international organizations, and civil society gathered to strengthen coordinated action and improve implementation of existing legal standards to better protect victims and dismantle trafficking networks. H.E. the Grand Chancellor, Riccardo Paternò di Montecupo, and the Honorable Pam Bondi, Attorney General of the United States, delivered strong and well-received remarks, underscoring the urgency of renewed global commitment and concrete operational measures. Human trafficking is not only a crime — it is a direct assault on human dignity. Today’s discussions reinforced the need for collective, sustained, and decisive action to eradicate this global scourge.
Worldwide Surgical Missions, in conjunction with the Friends of the Order of Malta in Africa and the Permanent Representation of the Order of Malta to the African Union, is pleased to announce the successful completion of a fundraising event held on October 23 at 6:00 PM at a private residence in Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
At the G20 Interfaith Forum 2025 in Cape Town, Ambassador Michael P. Murphy, KM, representing the Permanent Mission of the Sovereign Order of Malta to the African Union, called for interfaith cooperation to be placed at the heart of Africa’s peace, health, and resilience strategies.
