Home The Council Membership Views & Publications InfoWomen Links Photo Gallery Contact Us
Left Banner Right Banner
 
UN Women
The United Nations General Assembly unanimously decided to establish UN Women, the UN Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women.
Self-employed workers to gain maternity and pension benefits under new EU law
Self-employed workers and their partners will enjoy better social protection – including the right to maternity leave for the first time – under new legislation endorsed by EU governments today.
More women in top jobs key to economic growth, says EU report
Only one in 10 board members of Europe's biggest listed companies is a woman and all central bank governors in the EU are male.
Tackling the gender pay gap – Frequently Asked Questions
Why do we need to tackle the gender pay gap? At 18% across Europe, the gender pay gap remains intolerably high and stubborn. Equal pay for equal work is one of the European Union’s founding principles.
EU Commission Statement for Women's Day 2010
Ahead of International Women's Day, the European Commission strengthened and deepened its commitment to equality between women and men with a Women's Charter.
Vice-President Viviane Reding, EU Commissioner for Justice, Fundamental Rights and Citizenship - Gen
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.
Kunsill Nazzjonali tan-Nisa - Messagg ghal Jum il-Mara 2010
L-OMMIJIET LI JAHDMU M'GHANDHOMX IKUNU PENALIZZATI Il-Kunsill Nazzjonali tan-Nisa jsejjah lill-membri parlamentari ewropej kollha biex jivvutaw favor l-estensjoni tal-leave tal-maternita' u tal-leave ghall-genituri li se tkun ipprezentata fil-Parlament Ewropew fl-24 u l-25 ta' Marzu wara li fl-ahhar ta' Dicembru il-vot ma ittehidx konsegwenza ta' kontroversja bejn il-gruppi politici
Longer parental leave and incentives for fathers
Longer parental leave and incentives for fathers agreed by EU ministersEuropean Commission, Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities Parents will have the right to longer parental leave, under new rules agreed by EU ministers today.
Neqirdu il-pjaga tal-Vjolenza Domestika – Kulhadd ghandu sehem x’jaghti
Il-Vjolenza domestika sew psikologika, emozzjonali jew fizika tmur kontra d-dritt fundamental tal-bniedem ghall-hajja u dritt ta’ sikurezza b’mod partikolari fil-familja, l-ambjent l-aktar essenzjali ghall-hajja decenti.
Responding to Domestic Violence: Making a difference
(International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women – 25 November 2009) Domestic violence by men against women, whether physical or psychological, is one of the gravest violations of human rights: the right to life and to physical and psychological integrity. Its consequences are devastating resulting in mental as well as physical and psychological problems. It is widespread at all levels of society. Reluctance to report is still high as a result of fear, humiliation, worries about family breakup, holding on to the conviction of solving the problems and not least lack of financial independence.
4th Congress of the Small States of Europe
4th CONGRESS OF THE SMALL STATES OF EUROPE The Role of Gender Equality in the Small States of Europe The National Council of Women of Malta hosted the 4th UNESCO Congress for Women Organisations from the Eight Small States of Europe from the 24 to 27 September 2009 at The Palace Hotel, Sliema.
SMEs: A favourable business environment: supporting enterprise and job creation
'Think Small First': A Small Business Act for Europe At a time when there is a global financial and economic crisis, it is companies, in particular SMEs that are the most sensitive and at the same time the most important elements in terms of job creation and recovery capacity. SMEs are a crucial part of our economy and a major source of employment, entrepreneurial skills and innovation
MEUSAC Employment, Social Policy and Health Sectoral Committee Meeting 22 April 2009
National Council of Women recommendations Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Council Directive 92/85/EEC on the introduction of measures to encourage improvements in the safety and health at work of pregnant workers and workers who have recently given birth or are breastfeeding COM(2008) 637 final – 2008/0193 (COD)
Future Skills for Future Jobs
Anticipating labour market and skills needs The need to address Labour Market Skills Issues at European level Europe, potentially, faces a major skills problem in the near future. Over 20 million new jobs are expected to be created between 2006 and 2020. Another 85 million jobs will be available to replace people who retire or leave the labour market for other reasons.
Breast Screening – a lifeline for women
The National Council of Women welcomes the long awaited breast screening programme that the Council has been pushing for in line with WHO requirements for many years


Dear Colleagues and friends,

I hope you all have had a peaceful Easter. March and indeed April have been very intensive months during which several activities were organised , and I must say, carried out successfully to mark International Women’s Day. The Public Dialogue on Women in Public Life - a Changing Scenario, the All Women’s Art Exhibition at San Anton Palace and the Musico –Literary Evening at Sala Isouard, Manoel Theatre attracted large audiences. The EP NCW Public Dialogue on Women in Public Life in a Changing Scenario at Ewropa House was an event that brought together different stakeholders and which indeed served to raise gender equality issues that need to be urgently addressed (see Public Dialogue)

NCW officials were invited to participate in a number of conferences and seminars by political parties, organisations and radio and TV programmes where we had the opportunity to create more awareness of the Council’s policies regarding gender equality in a number of areas.

The global challenges that we are facing as a result of the economic recession weigh heavily on women in many ways as they are often in vulnerable situations due to precarious jobs. Women have an important role to play in the economy and therefore we have to make sure that barriers to women's participation in the labour market are reduced so that Maltese women's rate of employment will no longer be at the bottom of the EU member states list.

However we will not be discouraged. As member of the European Economic and Social Committee, I have submitted NCW proposals and recommendations on the EU 2020 Strategy from a gender perspective to the EU Commission and to MEUSAC members as part of the consultation process.

In my work in the EESC, I have been studying the Health and Safety Directive on Maternity leave together with my colleagues from other EU member States. This Directive, as you may be aware, will once again before the EU Parliament in May after it has failed to be adopted twice already in December and March. All stakeholders are studying this directive to reach consensus on ensuring a balance between costs and benefits, so that Malta will be in a better position to reach the economic growth and employment targets that our government has set.

The Commission Roadmap for Equality 2006-2010 and the Follow-up Strategy for the next five years, which will also be integrated in the EU 2020 Strategy, has also been under discussion in the EESC; where once again I participated in its preparation with my recommendations as member of the study group; in fact it was approved at the March Plenary. We are also working with the International Labour Organisation (ILO) on the global effects of the recession on Women, a subject that we discussed in the Geneve Headquarters very recently.

As you can see in this issue of our newsletter we are also very present in the local media, through press releases on current issues. (See NCW website). Women need to be informed of developments that are taking place so that they can be in a better position to take action whatever their age and status. As we look ahead, we call on NCW members and friends, indeed on all women to be actively involved to ensure that as Malta emerges from the recession women will be able to contribute to and to benefit from a positive outcome of economic growth

Grace Attard

NCW President
 
Developed by Alert Communications