Silvan Agius started his professional career in 2004 at the National Commission for the Promotion of Equality – Malta’s equality body – where he worked for 3 years. Subsequently, in 2007, he moved to Brussels to work for the European Region of the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association (ILGA-Europe) – first as a Policy & Programmes Officer leading on employment equality, the recognition of LGBTI families and equality for trans and intersex people; and subsequently as the Policy Director, leading the organisation’s policy efforts with European institutions, national governments and partner organisations. At the end of 2013, he joined the Ministry for Social Dialogue, Consumer Affairs and Civil Liberties as the Policy Coordinator (Human Rights) and has contributed to various legislative initiatives, such as the Civil Unions Act providing equal rights for same-sex and different-sex partners, the Constitution (Amendment) Act that included sexual orientation and gender identity in the Constitution’s non-discrimination article, an Act to ratify the Istanbul Convention tackling gender-based violence and domestic violence, and the development of a Bill entitled Gender Identity, Gender Expression & Sex Characteristics Act intended to recognise and protect trans and intersex people.
He co-authored the European Commission’s publication entitled Trans and Intersex People: Discrimination on the grounds of sex, gender identity and gender expression (2011), and is a Bureau Member of the European Committee for Social Cohesion, Human Dignity and Equality (CDDECS).