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The National Council of Women Annual General Meeting “Towards a regeneration for the Future”
NCW Malta Annual General Meeting 2021 was held at The Palace Hotel Sliema on Thursday 22 July 2021 In her opening address, outgoing NCW President, Mary Gaerty, called on the Assembly to join her in a prayer for past members of NCW, for those who lost their life due to the Covid-19 and for the women whose lives were taken away due to femicide, which saw an increase during Covid-19.
Elimination of Violence against Women - 16 Days of Activism
Elimination of violence against women – 16 Days of Activism. You too can do something about it! The 25th of November is the kick off date for the annual international campaign of 16 days of activism against Gender Based Violence. It starts on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and runs till the 10th of December, Human Rights Day .
Human dignity should be respected at all times.
The National Council of Women would like to express its concern about the video posted online portraying men pelting a woman with eggs during a stag party. Human dignity should be respected at all times. As a society, we should condemn any type of abuse even if this is done by consent for financial gain.
OSCE/ODIHR anti-trafficking survey for survivors of trafficking in human beings
The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) has received numerous responses and has decided to extend the submission due date for the survey of survivors of human trafficking to Monday 26 August 2019.
NEW TASK FORCE AT EUROPOL TO TARGET THE MOST DANGEROUS CRIMINAL GROUPS INVOLVED IN HUMAN TRAFFICKING
On 2 July, the Joint Liaison Task Force Migrant Smuggling and Trafficking in Human Beings (JLT-MS) was launched at Europol. This new operational platform will allow liaison officers from all EU Member States to step up the fight against constantly adapting criminal networks.
Malta is EU country with highest rate of tertiary education graduates in employment
A report in the Independent states that Malta stood above the EU average in 2018 when it came to the employment rate of graduates aged 20-34 who had attained a tertiary level education within the previous three years,
European Commission
On 2 July 2019, Ursula von der Leyen was nominated by the European Council to the position of President of the European Commission; she will be the first women and the first German since Walter Hallstein
Equal opportunities and access to the labour market
1. Education, training and life-long learning Everyone has the right to quality and inclusive education, training and life-long learning in order to maintain and acquire skills that enable them to participate fully in society and manage successfully transitions in the labour market. 2. Gender equality Equality of treatment and opportunities between women and men must be ensured and fostered in all areas, including regarding participation in the labour market, terms and conditions of employment and career progression. Women and men have the right to equal pay for work of equal value.
The gender pay gap in the EU and the European Pillar of #SocialRights
1. The gender pay gap in the EU is 16.2%, that’s 16.2% higher than it should be! Gender equality is the second key principle of the European Pillar of #SocialRights for a reason 2. The European Pillar of #SocialRights supports the right to equal treatment and opportunities regarding employment, social protection, education, and access to goods and services available to the public. Something NCW Malta has supported since its creation!
Gender Equality in the Media Sector
This study was commissioned by the European Parliament’s Policy Department for Citizens' Rights and Constitutional Affairs at the request of the Committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality. It examines key elements of the European policy agenda pertaining to gender equality in the media sector. It also reviews existing research on women's representation within media content and the media workforce. The study provides analysis of actions to promote gender equality in the media at both EU and Member State levels. Finally, it presents case studies of gender equality in the media sector in four Member States: Austria, Malta, Sweden, and the UK.
Empowering women and girls in media and ICT
On the occasion of the International Women's Day, the Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality is holding an inter-parliamentary committee meeting on empowering women and girls in media and ICT. The meeting, which will bring together EU institutional representatives, members of EU national parliaments, experts and stakeholders, will take place on 08 March 2018. The presentation and debates will deal with the topics of women shaping media, empowering women and girls through digital inclusion and women’s movements and advancing equality in the digital age.
Digital healthcare / health insurance
In the view of the EESC, given the digital revolution in the field of health, it is vital to maintain and promote a health insurance system which serves the needs of everyone, and is solidarity-based, inclusive and non-discriminatory. Inclusion and fair access for all to good quality health services (digital or otherwise) and commitment to these are in fact prerequisites for universal health coverage.
Gender equality in European labour markets
In order to improve gender equality in labour markets, the EESC considers it necessary to draw up an integrated and ambitious European strategy to tackle systemic and structural obstacles and lead to adequate policies, measures and EU funding programmes for improving equality between women and men, thus fostering "more equal economic independence of women and men" . This would also contribute to the implementation of the European Pillar of Social Rights.
Services to the family
Developing services in private homes in order to achieve a better work-life balance Every family has a home and clothes to maintain, meals to prepare, children to care for, elderly parents or ill or disabled family members who need help. Women often have to work part-time in order to carry out these tasks, missing out on the career for which they have trained or on time they would use for training.
Women and girls digital gender gap
This study, commissioned by the European Parliament’s Policy Department for Citizens’ Rights and Constitutional Affairs at the request of the FEMM Committee, attempts to reveal the links between the different factors (access, skills, socio-economic and cultural), which prevent women from having equal access to digital technology. It then suggests ways of dealing with online and offline inequalities to the effect of closing the digital gender gap and improving women’s and girls’ digital inclusion and future technology-related career paths.
Plastics, human health and environmental impacts: The road ahead
Plastics have been with us for more than a century, and by now they’re everywhere, for good and for ill. Plastic containers and coatings help keep food fresh, but they can also leave behind neurotoxins such as BPA in the human body. PVC is used for everything from pipes and flooring to furniture and clothes, but it contains compounds called phthalates that have been implicated in male reproductive disorders. Studies have also shown that childhood exposure to environmental pollutants can have significant negative effects later in life, including reduced labor force participation and even earnings.
European Commission aims to significantly reduce the gender pay gap
The European Commission plans to use a series of measures aimed at significantly reducing the pay gap between men and women over the next five years. The average gender pay gap in the EU currently stands at 18%. To lower this rate, the Commission plans to raise awareness among employers, encourage initiatives to promote gender equality and support the development of tools to measure the gender pay gap.
NCW Annual General Meeting 2019
NCW Annual General Meeting 2019 The Annual General Meeting of the National Council of Women was held on Saturday 26th January 2019, at The Victoria Hotel, Sliema. President Mary Gaerty spoke about the work which the Council has embarked on during 2018. This included pensions, education, violence against women, work and entrepreneurship, work life balance and the challenges faced by women on a daily basis. She also highlighted the fact that the National Council of Women is looking ahead at the constant changes
Work-life Balance
Better work-life balance for EU citizens: Presidency reaches provisional agreement with the European Parliament
The National Council of Women supports the Act to provide protection for human embryos
NCW has always advocated for legislation of alternative IVF treatment not least because of the sensitivity and the consequences for both parents and society if it had to remain unregulated. NCW believes that IVF treatment should be for heterosexuals within a stable family environment The Council has always supported the protection of embryos as the first cell of a human life and, with the development of alternative treatment over the past years this has become possible successfully.
Women on Boards: Vice-President Viviane Reding meets with leaders of Europe's business schools and i
Today, EU Justice Commissioner Viviane Reding met with European Industry Associations, European Business Schools and Senior Executive Women to discuss progress being made on improving the gender balance in company boardrooms.
UfM adopts new project to support women’s empowerment in the Mediterranean
A project aimed at developing women’s empowerment in the Mediterranean through the development of effective field projects and the setting up of networks and platforms, was adopted by Senior Officials of the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) at a meeting held last month.
Date: 27/05/2007
 
27 May 2007 (Date: 27/05/2007)

News and Views 27 May 2007

NCW AT PATIENTS’ RIGHTS CHARTER PRESENTATION

In Europe, there is an ongoing discussion regarding patients that has created greater awareness for the need to establish a clear framework of common principles and standards for the protection of patients’ rights. The European Commission has opened a consultation process on Health Services and the new Health Strategy. In the spirit of contributing to the European debate on health and more specifically patients’ rights a European Patients’ Rights Day was held at the European Parliament on the 29th March 2007. The National Council of Women was represented by Christine Spiteri-Paris.

During the conference the final results of this monitoring process and a citizens’ report on patients’ rights were discussed and presented in the presence of civic organizations from some 30 European countries, international organizations, EU institutions and national government, the private sector, journalists and academics.

The conference aimed at establishing the European Patients’ Rights Day as an annual event. Apart from acting as a symbolic event and enforcing the European Patients’ Rights Charter, a European Patients’ Rights Day is to reassure one of the top of the list concerns of the European citizen which is their health. It also acts as a practical hands-on example of how being a member of the EU can be of benefit to each and every one of us. It is envisaged that the first Patients’ Rights Day is to be celebrated in 2008.

A manifesto on patients’ rights in Europe for the inclusion of a common Charter of Patients’ rights in the future community framework was also presented during the conference.


HUMAN RIGHS EDUCATION FOR ENHANING INTERCULTURAL DIALOGUE WITH YOUNG PEOPLE

Diane Xuereb participated in a Euro-Mediterranean training course for multipliers active in Human Rights Education with young people in South East Europe and in the Euro-Mediterranean co-operation context. This training course was organized by the Council of Europe in co-operation with the Anna Lindh Foundation at the European Youth Centre of Budapest between the 16th and 22nd of April. This course aimed to support and promote the development of human rights education and intercultural dialogue with young people and also to explore the situation and conditions for human rights education in the broader Euro-Mediterranean framework with a specific focus on South East Europe amongst other aims.

This course was conducted by trainers coming from Italy, Lebanon, Belgium and Turkey. A variety of workshops and practical exercises were organized by the trainers in order to elicit discussion and teamwork among the participants. Besides the non-formal educational activities, informative talks were also given by key speakers within the Council of Europe and the Anna Lindh Foundation.

This course was attended by about thirty participants from Malta, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Egypt, Lebanon, Syria, Palestine, Spain, Portugal, France, Italy, Greece, Macedonia, Albania, Montenegro, Lithuania, Rumania, Croatia, Sweden, Bosnia, Turkey, Hungary and London.




NCW PRESIDENT ELECTED ECICW VICE-PRESIDENT

The Spring meeting 2007 of the European Centre of the International Council of Women (ECICW) was this year hosted by NCW Monaco between 26th and 28th April.

On the first day, the delegates attended a seminar entitled ‘Violence in Marriage’. The panel members represented Monegasque authorities such as the police force and social workers who deal with cases of domestic violence.

The second day started with the opening of the General Assembly. Amongst other items during this session, representative countries presented changes which have occurred in their local legislation affecting women and their families. The delegates present also worked to produce a resolution dealing with domestic violence, based on the findings of the previous day’s seminar and on the situation of domestic violence in the delegates’ countries. The delegates present also attended working groups which discussed other resolutions which will be presented in the coming ECICW meetings.

On the last day the General assembly continued and amongst other things, the election of the new board of the ECICW took place. NCW general secretary Mrs Doris Bingley stepped down as vice-president during this session as her term in this position came to an end. However, NCW Malta still kept a vice-presidency post since the president, Mrs Doreen Micallef was elected as vice-president of the ECICW together with Mrs Eleni Adam of Greece and Mrs Cosima Schenk of Switzerland. Mrs Grace Wedekind of Great Britain is now the newly-elected president of ECICW. Mrs Brigitte LeGouis of France now occupies the post of General Secretary and the treasurer is Mrs Annelies Pierrot-Bults of the Netherlands. Our heartfelt congratulations go to all the elected members of the Board.

Other matters discussed during the General Assembly were the ICW General Assembly held in Kiev, a report by ECICW permanent representatives to the UN, Mrs Brigitte LeGouis on UNESCO, Mrs Cosima Schenk on ICW, a report on the Council of Europe by Mrs Brigitte LeGouis, another on EWL by Mrs Grace Wedekind, information of the RECON project by Mrs Laura Finne-Elonen, news from the European Union by Mrs Astrid Lulling and a report on the situation in Belarus by Mrs Tatiana Vanina.


OBSTACLES TO THE PARTICIPATION OF WOMEN IN DECISION-MAKING

Addressing the issue of women's participation in decision-making is one of the six priorities of the EU Roadmap for Gender Equality 2006-2010. All member states are obliged to take the necessary measures to implement the Roadmap.

NCW Vice-President Grace Attard, who worked on the project, stated that it is in this context that the NCW, in collaboration with the National Statistics Office, has conducted this study on ‘Obstacles to the Participation of Women in Decision-making’ (a UNESCO project). The Conference was held on Tuesday 22nd May at Le Meridien Phoenicia Hotel, Floriana, to present the findings and to identify obstacles for women in decision-making posts in political, economic and social sectors.

In her welcome address, NCW President Doreen Micallef, traced the initiatives of the NCW over the past 42 years and its work at European and International level and the changes brought about in Malta as a result of the Council’s recommendations and resolutions.

Mr Reno Camilleri NSO Acting Director, spoke about the role of NSO in producing statistics regarding gender equality not only because it is a core concept of NSO but also as a national institution to contribute to Malta’s achievement of the Lisbon goals.

Hon. Minister Louis Galea, Minister for Education, Youth and Employment highlighted the importance of ensuring that there are opportunities for women in decision-making posts at all levels. Minister Galea also stated that Government is committed to strengthening policies to achieve these objectives.

Ms Maureen O'Neill BA (Hons), EESC Expert and Researcher, gave her reactions and recommendations, emphasizing the importance of education, starting with the family, not only to change stereotyping but also as concrete measures to encourage gender equality behaviour at the earliest stages of life. Ms Maureen also gave examples of good practices in the UK, in particular in enterprises where the concepts of flexibility and diversity were introduced and which gave marked results in company profit.

Dr Joanna Drake, Head of the EU Commission Representation Malta, spoke about the need to find practical and effective solutions that deliver results. She stated that structural deficits need to be addressed across the board. She encouraged NCW not to lose sight of its goals in its strategies to bring about changes in government policies, trade unions, political parties and other institutions to ensure that opportunities for women in decision-making are a reality. Dr Drake also spoke about the EU policy that is treating gender equality as a global issue. She also encouraged the participants to make use of EU funds to address the issue of women in decision-making and other issues

Mr Etienne Caruana, National Statistics Office Manager, presented the results of the survey. Preliminary results clearly reveal that many women are not coming forward for top posts because of the difficulties in reconciling long hours of work and family responsibilities. The study also reveals that both women and men fail to see the relationship between a woman's life pattern and her gender and the negative impact on her career path choices.

In her concluding remarks, NCW President Doreen Micallef highlighted a number of observations of the findings. To women job satisfaction seems to play a more important role to them than it does to men. Does this mean that women will make better and more devoted workers at higher positions? Married women seem to perceive that their chances of attaining a promotion is much lower than if they were single. Is this their own perception or is it employer related? Child care/partner support are very important factors in determining whether women can move forward in their career. However gender does not seem to have a high level of importance in keeping them back from getting a promotion.

The findings revealed a great difference between women and men in participation in political parties, trade unions and NGOs. There seems to be a greater interest by women to join an NGO in the future than in political parties and trade unions. Women show that they would like females to be present in our political system both in parliament and in local councils as it is our right and because we are capable of doing it. So why is it that we actually do lack participation? Also gender is not an issue when voting for a person and this shows that if political parties were to present good female candidates, their probabilities of succeeding could be quite high.

Women without children: high percentage of them (70%) who don’t work. Child care can’t be the problem here. So is it partner support/family support very important to working women as attested by the support given by grandparents in child-care.Clearly the findings reveal that perceptions and actual facts are very different

Consequently, it is the perception of both men and women that needs to be addressed together with changes in current societal structures. NCW believes that gender equality in decision-making is a societal issue. Policies based on the concept of diversity of human resources (in this case, women) enrich society and therefore should not be underestimated.
NCW is convinced that this study is a timely opportunity to encourage an objective debate and to propose concrete measures, to address the issue and to pave the way for young women.

Publications of the study and a full report of the Conference will be available from NCW Centre in the next few weeks on request


FORTHCOMING EVENTS

LEJLA MALTIJA LETERARJA

The Education committee will be again encouraging its members and their friends to send their literary works which should be original to be included in the forthcoming Lejla Letterarja Maltija evening.
The date and venue will be announced at a later date.

THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE MALTESE CITIZEN

The aim of the discussion is to help our members and friends understand more the function of the EU and its parliament we would like to encourage real debate to give everyone the opportunity to discover what they really think and how EU laws and policies affect their lives.
Venue: National Council of Women Centre on
Date: Friday 22nd June
Time: 18.00hrs.

TALK ON CHILD ABUSE

The Social Issues Committtee within the National Council of Women will be organizing a talk on Child abuse. It will be held at NCW on Friday 1st June 2007 at 6.00pm. It is free of charge and everyone is invited. The speaker will be Inspector Louise Calleja.

COMPUTER AWARENESS/ECDL START/ECDL UPGRADE COURSES

Courses starting on the 18th June early booking is recommended as places are limited. Course Fee: Lm20. All courses are held at the National Council of Women Computer Technology Learning Centre at Blata L-Bajda once a week for duration of sixteen weeks for ECDL

ENGLISH BASIC SKILLS COURSES

A Short summer English Basic Skills Courses will be held at the centre during summer. Those interested kindly phone NCW Office.

For more information for events and courses kindly phone the National Council of Women on tel: 21248881/21246982 or email: ncwmalta@camline.net.mt.



 

 
 
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