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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: 25/03/2007
 
25 March 2007 (Date: 25/03/2007)

News and Views Sunday 25 March 2007

50th anniversary of the signing of the Treaties of Rome

On 21 November 2006, the European Economic and Social Committee decided to present a resolution on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Treaties of Rome. Under these Treaties, the EEC and the Euratom were established. The Economic and Social Committee, which was set up under the Treaties of Rome, has assumed, from the outset, a task which is of vital importance for ensuring solidarity, cohesion and consensus between the Member States, namely the task of bringing together representatives of employers, workers and many other organised social interest groups for joint consultations and for setting out their joint views.
By signing and ratifying the Treaties of Rome and subsequent European agreements, all the Member States have voluntarily opted to pursue the process of unification and integration. The common policies, freedom of movement for individuals, establishment of a large internal market without frontiers and the introduction of a single currency represent some of the key stages on the road towards the achievement of a level of general prosperity in Europe, even though difficulties remain. Now, Europe once again has to decide on a number of courses of action, all of which make it urgently necessary to issue a reaffirmation by providing the unification project with a new foundation, in order to equip the EU with the wherewithal to face the future.

ARCHBISHOP VISITS NCW HEADQUARTERS

On 10th March, H.E. Archbishop Paul Cremona visited NCW Centre. Members of NCW and Affiliated Organisations were invited to meet the Archbishop on this special occasion.
During the meeting, the Archbishop expressed his hope on gender equality saying that we should cast our hope in God that this change occurs. He added that in the book of Genesis one finds that God created everyone as equal but with different identities. He continued to say that in today’s modern world, man and woman ought to complement and support each other. Women only, he added, can experience the reality of giving birth to a child and emphasised that abortion goes against women’s own nature. Furthermore, the Archbishop showed his pleasure at the Council’s efforts to inform against women trafficking for sexual scopes and the Council’s work on an international level to help women who are deprived of their rights and dignity.
In her speech, Doreen Micallef, President of the NCW reminded that women are the fulcrum of the family. She added that NCW has stressed its position against abortion several times even in Parliament. NCW considers abortion as ending a life of a human being who does not have the chance to speak for him/herself.
All the members present were impressed by the Archbishop’s warm character and his willingness to listen to everyone’s opinions and comments.
Before leaving, the Archbishop was presented with a token and a donation and was asked to sign a parchment, together with the Council executive committee, to commemorate the occasion.

BICE MIZZI VASSALLO COMPETITION

Another successful BMV competition was held this month at the Manoel Theatre’s Sala Isouard. The coveted prize, a short summer course at the Lake District, was won by pianist Ms Christine Zerafa. In all, there were 6 finalists. Maria Elena Farrugia placed second and was presented with a season ticket for concerts organised by the Manoel Theatre Management Committee. The only violinist of the finalists, Jean-Noel Attard, took the third prize which consisted of books and CDs. The adjudicating panel was formed by Dr Martina Caruana, Mary Farrugia, Antoine Frendo, Cynthia Turner and Stefan Cassar. Mrs Joseph Sammut presented all participants with a certificate together with the three main prizes to the winners. Also present was French pianist Celimène Daudet who was so impressed by Ms Zerafa’s performance that she offered her a place for master classes at the Conservatoire de Toulon.


CONGRATULATIONS TO NEW CHILDREN’S COMMISSIONER

The President, executive committee and members of NCW would like to congratulate Mrs Carmen Zammit on her new appointment as Children’s Commissioner.

Courtesy visit to the Prime Minister
To commemorate World Women’s Day, the President and executive committee of NCW paid a courtesy visit on the Prime Minister, Dr. Laurence Gonzi. During this meeting, the president, Mrs Doreen Susanne Micallef, presented him with a copy of the resolutions put forward by the Council during its last AGM. The Council also submitted its work plans for the coming year and discussed various issues which effect women such as pensions, obstacles women face in returning to work and demographic changes in the Maltese family and their effects. Dr Gonzi said that he greatly appreciated the work being carried out by the Council and acknowledged the importance of an NGO such as NCW in matters concerning the civil society.

NCW works with NECC

NCW President, Mrs Doreen Susanne Micallef, joined a delegation from NECC on a study visit to Madrid on 5th and 6th March 2007. The group was taken to the Fabrica Nacional de Moneda y Timbre (FNMT), the National Mint.
During the visit the delegation met representatives from the National Organization of the Spanish visually impaired; representatives of the Chambers of Commerce; Officials from the Ministry of Work and Social Affairs and representatives of the National Institute for Consumers. The visit was very useful in highlighting the communication campaign needed and best practice codes.
In Malta on 15th March 2007, Marie Demicoli participated in a seminar for professionals and carers working with vulnerable groups entitled ”Together towards the Euro” organised by NECC. All presentations emphasized the importance of dissemination of information and the training of people to be effective in reaching out to vulnerable groups like elderly citizens, visually impaired, mentally challenged, illiterate/semi-literate, persons with learning disability, economically disadvantaged and socially marginalized.
NCW gives its contribution on the consumers subcommittee, which includes unions, pensioners and representatives of vulnerable groups.


SURVEY ON OBSTACLES FACING WOMEN AT THE WORK PLACE

This survey was carried out by NSO on behalf of NCW. The questionnaire covered a number of topics relating to women in the work-place, such as prospects and obstacles in being promoted, as well as opinions on the balance of men and women in local politics.
The survey showed, amongst other things, that married men were on the whole more interested in being promoted than married women but in the case of single persons, the percentages were reversed. Interest in being promoted at work increases with the level of education attained and decreases with years of experience in the current line of work and with age. Chances for promotion, especially in higher posts, were perceived to decrease with age. When it comes to the reason for wanting a promotion, a high percentage stated that their main interest was an increase in salary, although the percentage of men who selected this reason was greater. Women tend to seek more job satisfaction than men.
When asked if they thought that they would be getting a promotion in their current job at some point in the future, slightly more than half the men and women thought that this was likely, with the percentage for single persons being higher than that for married persons.
Women felt that long hours of work are an obstacle to them and that they felt that they lacked support from their partner and/or family. The majority of respondents felt that they have a considerable or high level of decision-making power in their job.
A majority of women, both single and married, said they thought that there should be a balance in parliament between men and women. Some said that men and women complement each other and that women have leadership skills. This latter statement was more common with the female respondents. Those who disagreed said they believed that men were more suitable in the field of politics. However, more respondents felt that there should be a balance between the number of men and women in local councils than in parliament. A large majority said that when voting in local council elections, they do not consider gender a determining factor since they felt that women were just as capable as men. Those who disagreed said that this is because men are more suitable for the post while the majority of those who would prefer a woman said that women are just as capable as men.

National Consultation Conference on ECVET

Last Friday, 16th March, 2007, the Ministry of Education, Youth and Employment organised a National Consultation Conference on the European Credit Transfer System for Vocational Education and Training. The objective of the planned ECVET is to create a European device which can be used on a voluntary basis and which will facilitate the transfer, validation and recognition of learning outcomes achieved by individuals, notably those who are mobile across borders, irrespective of whether their learning was obtained in a formal, non formal or informal context.
The National Council of Women was one of the various stakeholders invited to participate in this consultation exercise which was focussed on the development and implementation of the ECVET at the European, national and sectoral level. NCW has always expressed itself in favour of promoting lifelong learning and encourages the development of the ECVET in Malta.

PUBLIC HEARING AT EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT

The European Parliament Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality held a public hearing on ‘A regulatory framework for measures to reconcile family life and a period of studies for young women in the European Union’. This was held on Tuesday, 27th February. Mrs Grace Attard, NCW vice-president was asked to make a statement during this hearing in her role as member of the Employment, Social Affairs and Citizenship Section of EESC. The Chairperson of the hearing was Dr Anna Záborská while other speakers were Dr Vegard Skirbekk, Dr Marie Panayotopoulos-Cassiotou, Ms Claudia Menne, and Ms Claudette Abela Baldacchino.


Forthcoming Events

A Half Day of Recollection by SPIRITUAL DIRECTOR Mgr. Lawrence Gatt will be held at the NCW Centre, Mountbatten Street, Blata L-Bajda on Wednesday 4th April 2007, at 9.30a.m. This is followed by Mass at noon.

A VISIT to Ta’ Giezu Church, Valletta, on Saturday, 31st March 2007, at 9.30a.m. Father George Aquilina, OFM, a historian, will talk about the Church, convent, the Good Friday procession, the statues and the Miraculous Crucifix. We will later have lunch at De Robertis Restaurant, Castille Hotel, Valletta.
Price Lm4.00c.

A talk on Fosterering is organized by the Social Issues Committee. Mr. John Rolé, of International Foster Care Organisations, Lecturer at the UOM and Team Leader on Foster Care at Agenzja Appogg, will give a talk at NCW Centre on Thursday 26th April, 2007 at 18.00hrs

New Computer Awareness Course will start at the end of May, 2007. Sessions will be held once a week, morning or evening for the duration of 14 weeks. Course fee is Lm20, which covers course materials and tuition.

Computer ECDL Start Course
A 14-week course which covers four modules of ECDL, to start at the end of May, 2007. Sessions will be held once a week, morning or evening. Course fee is Lm20 which covers course material and tuition.

ECDL Upgrade Course
For those of you who have completed the ECDL Start Course and would like to learn the remaining three modules, this upgrade course will start at the end of May, 2007. Sessions will be held once a week, morning or evening. Course fee is Lm20, which covers course material and tuition.

For booking and further information for these activities/courses, contact the NCW Centre.

Tel: 21248881 / Fax: 21246982
Email: ncwmalta@camline.net.mt



 

 
 
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