REAFFIRMATION OF POLICY

The National Council of Women in conference assembled at its Annual General Meeting on 27 January 2001,

REAFFIRMS its policy as expressed in its various relevant resolutions and recommendations over the past years and especially those that are still outstanding,

RECALLING

i) legislation on Bioethics (1998)
ii) the setting up of a mental health education programme (2000)
iii) the setting up of professionally run residential facilities for juvenile offenders and

URGES Government to enact without further delay

i) the updating of the Industrial Law (CERA),
ii) and implement with urgency the laws on Domestic Violence.

1. WOMEN'S HEALTH ISSUES

a) Curative and Preventive measures

The National Council of Women,

AWARE that health issues should be given priority throughout a woman's life,

RECOMMENDS that morbidity of cancer cases be investigated thoroughly and appropriate treatment be given early;

ALSO RECOMMENDS that preventive measures, such as effective educational campaigns on breast care awareness and diagnostic services, be made available as early as possible for all women.

b) Fertility Services

The National Council of Women,

CONCERNED about the current infertility rate in Malta, and also aware of changes in lifestyle which may lead some women to delay starting a family until their late twenties;

CONCERNED that both factors are contributing to a marked reduction in the birth rate;

STRONGLY RECOMMENDS the availability of free services that treat infertility problems.

c) Medical Examination in alleged rape cases

The National Council of Women,

Having NOTED with concern the justified grievances of the Malta Union of Midwives and Nurses (MUMN) regarding the current procedures at the Gynaecology Ward, St Luke's Hospital during examinations carried out on victims of alleged rape;

Having NOTED also the MUMN claim that these procedures do not concur with the professional ethics and recommendations set out by WHO, and that they do not safeguard the dignity of the victims concerned but could psychologically aggravate the trauma and shock;

CONCERNED at the pressure sometimes put on the nurses and midwives at the ward to go against the legitimate instructions of their union when certain ethical practices are not observed;

URGES the Minister of Health to ensure that the necessary protocol according to WHO directives be established to safeguard the dignity and human rights of the victims, and the professional ethics of the nurses and midwives.

The National Council of Women further

RECOMMENDS the setting up of a Rape Crisis Centre, within the hospital setting run on 24 hour service where the victim may be examined on the lines of a set protocol and where a multi-disciplinary team can offer assistance to those concerned and which also continuity of Care

2. EUROPEAN UNION MEMBERSHIP

The National Council of Women,

NOTING the increasing interest and importance given by the general public to the issue of Malta's EU membership,

CONCERNED that the main political parties are locked in controversial arguments which do not always reflect an objective picture of the real issues,

URGES all parties to forego personal and partisan considerations, and reflect on what is the true interest of the country and the community as a whole, to ensure the overall improvement of the quality of life of the Maltese people without impinging on their moral and constitutional rights, while keeping in mind the economic and social consequences of globalisation;

and FURTHER URGES Government to ensure that the ordinary citizen is given an accurate account of Malta's position after finalisation of the negotiations with the European Union.

3. CHILDREN

a) Rights of the Child

The National Council of Women,

Having NOTED the increasing public awareness of the rights of the child,

CONCERNED that the drafting of the Children Act has been too protracted,

URGES Government to speed up the procedures towards its enactment,
and further urges that the rights of the child should be given preference to that of the parents according to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.

b) Decade for a culture of peace and non-violence for the children of the world (2001-2010)

The National Council of Women,
in support of the appeal of the Nobel Peace Prize Laureates to the UN proposing the International Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-violence for the Children of the World,(2001-2010)

AWARE that many children are suffering the effects and consequences of violence.
that is physical, psychological, socio-economic, environmental and political;
that the defences of peace are constructed in the minds of human beings from childhood,

URGES Government to take the necessary steps to ensure that the practice of peace and
non-violence is taught at all levels of society, particularly through the media and in educational institutions.

c) National Minimum Curriculum

The National Council of Women,

While NOTING with satisfaction the efforts of the Government to implement the National Minimum Curriculum,

MAINTAINS that more time should be allocated to discuss the implementation of the National Minimum Curriculum and more resources be made available for effective results to be achieved.

d) Children with Learning Difficulties

The National Council of Women,

AWARE of the need for complementary teachers to cater for children with learning difficulties at all levels of primary school,

URGES Government to ensure that this service be extended to all children with learning difficulties, and thus give equal opportunities to all.

4. LEGISLATION ON NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANISATIONS (NGOS)

The National Council of Women,

RECOGNISING that NGOs, through voluntary endeavour, have always played a major role in pioneering new policies and practices for the benefit of society;

AWARE that the year 2001 has been designated the International year of Voluntarism,

URGES Government to take measures to regulate NGOs to protect public interest, and

RECOMMENDS that NGOs take steps to regulate themselves collectively by establishing Codes of Ethics.

5. ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELDS (EMF) AND RADIO FREQUENCY (RF) AND PUBLIC HEALTH

The National Council of Women,

AWARE of the considerable scientific uncertainty regarding potential health risks of EMF and RF, as well as the high level of public apprehension on the issue,

RECOMMENDS that the Precautionary Principle be rigorously applied and a more
preventive and pro-active approach be adopted with regard to the telecommunications industry and the use of mobile phones.

6. REPRESENTATION OF WOMEN ON THE MALTA COUNCIL FOR ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT (MCESD)

The National Council of Women

NOTES with satisfaction the recent declaration that as from this year, the Malta Council for Economic and Social Development, as from this year will be enlarged to emphasise social aspects of development by the appointment on the Council of relevant representative bodies, including women representatives,
but is concerned that, while other categories are represented by an independent Commission and NGO, women will be represented solely by the Commission for the Advancement of Women, which is not an NGO and therefore

URGES the Minister for Social Policy to include as representative of women, the National Council of Women which has been recognised as an umbrella NGO since its foundation in 1964.