Reaffirms its policy as expressed in its resolutions and recommendations over the past years, and urges the authorities to take action on outstanding issues, particularly past resolutions on:

• Legislation on the Rights of the Child;
  
• The establishing of the necessary protocol according to WHO directives regarding medical examination in alleged rape cases;
  
• Legislation on Non-Governmental Organisations.

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
NCW, aware that the issue of domestic violence needs to be addressed with urgency, because it causes harm to the family unit and society as well as the individuals concerned,

Urges Government to speed up legislation, and to incorporate new and more rigorous sections to deal with repeated punishable acts, not only by one partner to another, but also to children and closely related persons;

Recommends improved ways of supporting women victims through further training for the professional groups with whom they come into contact; this includes extensive training for persons in the criminal justice system, social welfare and health services;

Also recommends that the issues of gender equality and violence against women be emphasized in the education of professionals such as those in the teaching, medical, legal, social welfare and pastoral areas;

Also urges Government to provide support structures for victims of domestic violence who require mental health support but do not require hospitalisation.

CHILDREN'S HEALTH
NCW, mindful of the importance of the physical and mental health of children and young adults and aware of
n the marked increase of violence in the home where children are affected both physically and psychologically;
n the ever-younger age of drug addicts;
n the problem of child abuse,

Recommends:

a) that perpetrators be given adequate court sentences and treatment, and be removed from the victim's proximity;
b) that coping skills be taught to victims, and that centres be made available, where healing therapies can be offered and where victims can be followed up by professional personnel.

LEGISLATION ON TRAFFICKING OF WOMEN AND CHILDREN FOR SEXUAL EXPLOITATION
NCW notes with satisfaction the recent amendments to the Immigration Act and the Criminal Code, and Malta's signing of the Palermo Protocol;

Aware that the law has still to be enacted in Malta,

Urges Government to include in the law, in conformity with European legislation, a clear definition of trafficking in women and children for sexual exploitation, so that such trafficking will be eliminated in the Maltese Islands;

Recommends that police and crime prevention forces be trained to deal with international prostitution and abuse of children, and techniques to recognize victims and profiteers of such trafficking;

Recommends that clients of such prostitution be penalized;

Recommends that the rights of victims of white slavery be upheld, with regards to visas and statute, protection when testifying against criminals, support for return to country of origin, and access to the labour market;

And further recommends the strengthening of collaboration with crime prevention organisations at international level.

GENDER EQUALITY LEGISLATION
NCW notes with satisfaction the publication of the White Paper on Employment and Industrial Relations Act, which includes regulations on maternity, parental and urgent leave entitlement;

Aware that the signing of the Joint Assessment Paper by Malta and the EU Commission has committed all social partners to the implementation of gender equality legislation;

Urges Government to speed up Gender Equality Legislation.

WOMEN: EMPLOYMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP
NCW, aware that two important targets of the Government's industrial relations policy is to raise the female participation in the labour market and to fully utilise human resources;

Aware also that both the public and the private sector need to contribute to economic growth;

Notes with satisfaction the incentives in this year's budget, which encourage individuals to set up their own business or partnership in business;

And urges Government to further facilitate the access and participation of women in the labour market by:

• Setting up infrastructures to support working parents;
  
• Offering incentives to parents who work to reduce the burden of child care costs;
  
• Offering tax incentives and other rewards to employers in the private sector who introduce practices that encourage the participation of women in the labour market;
  
• Developing financial tools to assist women entrepreneurs;
  
• Widening access to vocational training system, particularly in areas not usually accessed by women.

MALTA'S EU ACCESSION PROCESS
NCW, aware of the crucial state in Malta's EU accession process;

Aware that the forthcoming chapters on the Environment, Agriculture and Food Safety are of particular concern to Malta;

Urges Government to ensure that impact assessment studies are carried out, so that the negotiation process can truly reflect the Maltese situation, economically and socially;

And recommends that Government ensure that the necessary infrastructure is in place for the implementation of the relevant directives;

Further urges Government to ensure that NGOs have access to EU information, technical and financial assistance, as outlined in the EU report on Civil Society and Social Dialogue of the Social Policy.

THE ENVIRONMENT
NCW, aware of the Environment Protection Act 2001 and that 2002 is the International Year of Ecotourism;

Also aware of the pressing environmental issues that Malta is facing and the financial costs involved in dealing with these problems;

Notes with satisfaction the forestation initiative of Government;

Urges Government to speed up the infrastructure for the separation of waste at source;

Recommends a hard-hitting and persistent campaign on the mass media to make the general public aware of the need to safeguard our islands from further environmental deprivations;

Also recommends that schools, scout and similar groups be encouraged to adopt local derelict areas and take responsibility for looking after them - thus harnessing voluntary help to government projects and cutting down costs.