National Council of Women
Approved Resolutions AGM 2002

REAFFIRMATION OF POLICY

The National Council of Women in conference assembled at its Annual General Meeting on Saturday, 26 January 2002,

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

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 provisions that reflect the severity of the offences not only by one partner to another, but also to closely related persons;

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

Also recommends that it includes mandatory therapy for perpetrators

Also recommends that the issues of gender equality and domestic violence 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

Recommends:

1. that perpetrators be given adequate court sentences and treatment, and be removed from the victim’s proximity;
2. that coping skills be taught to victims, and that centres be made available, where  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, a clear definition of trafficking in women and children for sexual exploitation, and to take immediate steps to prevent the proliferation of this abuse.

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 the dignity and rights of these individuals be upheld.

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:

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 strongly recommends that the infrastructure of these areas in particular be strengthened to reach international standards for the benefit of society.

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 in the mass media to make the general public aware of the need to safeguard our islands from further environmental degradation;

Also recommends that schools, youth organisations 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.