National Council of Women
Annual General Meeting 2003
Resolutions

Reaffirmation of Policy

The National Council of Women in conference assembled at its Annual General Meeting on Saturday 25 January 2003,
Notes with satisfaction the implementation by the authorities of a number of resolutions and recommendations of the past years, including among others:

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

1. Malta’s EU Membership in the 2004 Enlargement

The National Council of Women
Fully aware that the Maltese nation faces a crucial moment in its history in deciding whether or not to join the European Union in 2004;

Having informed itself through participation in the national consultation process, through discussions in international seminars with representatives of women’s organisations in member states and candidate countries and with EU officials, in particular on the Employment and Social Policy chapters of the acquis that most affect women and the family; and

Also aware of the responsibilities of membership that will have to be carried by all the Maltese citizens;

Affirms that Malta’s membership of the European Union in the next enlargement will be a positive contribution to the future political, economic and social development of the Maltese islands;

Strongly supports the Government’s commitment to EU membership for Malta in 2004

2. Gender Equality Legislation

A. Gender Sensitive Public Budgets

NCW, aware of the positive contribution that an increase of female participation could make to the micro and macroeconomic policies of the nation;

Calls on government to carry out gender analysis to evaluate the consequences of economic policies and social spending in terms of equality, in order to influence political decision-making and to recognise the economic value of work carried out by women in all sectors

Urges government to ensure that gender equality is made visible in all polices through Gender Impact Assessment and Gender Mainstreaming, and to develop tools and models for gender budgeting in public administration;

Recommends analysis of the impact of public expenditure on women, the impact of budget on the use of time and the impact of budget on work  carried out by women, thus recognising their economic value, and providing a model for the private sector.

B. Equal Pay for Equal Work and Work of Equal Value

NCW, aware of the inequality in the pay gap between men and women in Malta;

Aware that the Employment Relations Act (Clause 27 (1.2.3) entitles individuals to the right of equal pay for work of equal value in both public and private sectors;

Acknowledging that this discrimination is in large measure due to institutional practices rather than individual actions, precluding the issue of fault and instead taking proactive measures to address this system-wide problem;

Recommends that studies be carried out to remedy pay discrimination, by identifying and redressing the wage gap through a pay equity plan, providing a job evaluation system that compares jobs on criteria based on skills, effort, responsibility and working conditions.


3. Employment Relations Legislation

A. Conditions of Work for Contracted Employees    
                                                                                                             
NCW aware of the need to achieve non-discriminatory working conditions for non-Maltese nationals (particularly women) in the public sector;

Aware that there are still some specific gender issues that these contracts do not cater for, namely maternity leave, parental leave and the right to work reduced hours, thereby forcing these women to terminate their employment;

Calls on Government to enforce the relevant legislation

4. Nomination of Women in the Judiciary

NCW, aware of EU Gender Equality legislation aimed at incorporating balanced representation of women in all spheres thus bringing about de facto equality;

Calls on government to take the necessary steps to ensure that Malta sets targets for an increase in the number of women magistrates and  judges, leading to a more balanced representation of women and men in the judiciary; and

Also calls on government to appoint Maltese women as advocates in the European Court of Justice and to ensure that the International Court of Justice sets a new standard with respect to a balanced representation of women and men as judges.


5. Social Benefits and Social Security

NCW, aware of the need to increase the participation rate of women in the labour market,

Aware that the Employment Relations Act makes provision for career breaks for both men and women, enabling them to care for young children or elderly relatives;

Urges government to provide certain individuals with the choice to pay the national social security contribution for the period when they are on career break thus ensuring no
loss of benefits

Also urges government to commission a study on the reform in the social benefits system to make it financially viable for women whose spouses are on social benefits to go into paid work

6. Domestic Violence

NCW reminds Government that legislation regarding the rights and protection of the victims of violence is long overdue

Strongly recommends that the bill in question is passed through Parliament before the end of the current legislature


7. Health

A. Re-establishing the Value of Natural Birth

NCW, aware that pregnancy and childbirth are normal physiological processes, which only require the attention of the doctor when an abnormality is detected; and that these normal physiological processes are being extremely medicalised to the detriment of the woman and her baby;

Aware of the WHO Fortaleza Conference (1985) stating that induction of labour should not exceed 10% of all births, when in Malta it is 40%, and that Caesarian Section rates should not be more than 10% to15% when in Malta the rate now stands at 25% of births;

Urgently recommends that

B.  Promotion of Mental Well-Being

NCW, taking note of the Council of Europe conference on Promotion of Access to Social Rights and the subsequent Malta Declaration of 15 November 2002;

of the need of mental health promotion to reduce factors that damage mental well-being (such as bullying and social exclusion);

aware that the management of emotions and social relationships are one of the most important challenges that the human race faces;

calls on government to introduce mental-well-being programmes in schools to help children develop sound and positive mental health to improve their psychosocial competence, and to initiate a mental well-being campaign addressed to the general public.

C. Breast Cancer Screening

NCW, aware that most cancers can be cured if detected early, the various initiatives that have been taken to promote a healthy lifestyle to avoid certain cancers,

Aware of the high incidence of breast cancer in Malta, and of a number of screening methods for early detection of breast cancer and their limited benefit; and Aware that the implementation of a National Breast Cancer Screening Programme was not feasible in 2000;

Urges government to review this position, and recommends the immediate implementation of a national policy to provide services for all women at risk.

NCW also urges government to ensure that the new hospital is well equipped with adequate screening facilities.

 
8. Sexuality and the Disabled

NCW, recognising that persons with disability have a right to live their sexuality to the full,
 
Recommends that all entities - private, public and religious - that offer support of any kind related to human sexuality, are urged to include disabled persons as part of their mainstream clientele;
 
Also recommends the creation of a special body which can advise persons with disability on their sexuality, and further recommends  the creation of self-help/support groups to provide morally sound attitudes and skills on sexuality to persons with disability and their carers.

9. Education

A. Illiteracy

NCW, concerned by the high level of illiteracy among school children as well as adults (11% for men and 9% for women); and recognising that illiteracy and lack of numeracy have devastating consequences for society and for the economy, and that the lack of essential life-skills reduces severely the quality of life of the persons concerned;

Having noted the existing but fragmented programmes spearheaded by government agencies, with the support of publishers, schools and others to encourage reading habits;

Urges the authorities to recognise the crucial importance of widening participation in learning and of equipping the largest number of people with the foundations to improve their skills and employment prospects and to play a fuller part in the life of the community;

Recommends a strategy embracing early intervention, special help for those who continue to fail and specific programmes to change attitudes and values of children who are failing: specifically, grants to radio/TV stations to develop material which encourage listeners and viewers to read; family programmes to encourage parents to re-enter education, training and work; partnerships with voluntary organisations to develop basic literacy skills among socially excluded groups; and workplace programmes to develop basic skills among target groups of employees.

B. Bullying and Violence

NCW, concerned by the increasing number of incidents of bullying and violence inflicted on members of the teaching profession and heads of school;

Recognising that bullying and violence, whether physical or verbal are serious problems which should not be accepted as a normal part of school life and should be eliminated;

Having noted the various measures already being taken by the Ministry of Education and the Malta Union of Teachers to tackle the problem;

Recommends that funds be allocated by the Education Department for legal assistance and counselling for teachers who are victims of violence at school, as this is an occupational hazard and that adequate measures be taken

C. Education of Parents

NCW, aware of the rapid technological advances that have brought major changes affecting the family;

Aware of parents who lack parenting skills;

Aware of situations where the parents’ views are in conflict with those of the child who while legally under-age still has rights;

Aware of situations where the wishes of one parent are in conflict with those of the other parent and which can affect the interests of the child;

Calls on Government to formulate a policy and implement integrated programmes aimed at educating parents to be responsible guardians of human and social rights in order to safeguard and strengthen the family unit as the foundation of a society that promotes social justice.