National Council of Women of Malta - Promoting Equality of Opportunities

National Council of Women
Annual General Meeting 2004

Resolutions

Reaffirmation of Policy:

The National Council of Women in conference assembled at its Annual General Meeting on Saturday 31 January 2004

Notes with satisfaction the implementation by the authorities of a number of resolutions and recommendations of the past years including

EU membership
The setting up of the Family Court
The Commissioner for Children
Gender Equality Legislation
The setting up of the National Commission for the Promotion of Equality for Men and Women
Amendments to Civil Code regarding children conceived and born out of wedlock

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:

Preventive measures, including the setting up of a multi-disciplinary programme of early detection in addressing domestic violence.
National Breast Screening Programme for Women at high risk as recommended in the Report by the National Advisory Committee on Breast Screening (March 2000) and other services including palliative care.
The development of interdisciplinary protocols in cases of alleged rape.
Ensuring entitlement to benefits to female foreign workers on definite contracts.
Implementing measures addressing environmental issues, including incentives for initiatives of innovative and alternative use of sources of energy, disposing and separation of waste.
Enhancing programmes of sex education, in particular with regards to the increasing number of teenage pregnancies and the incidence of sexually transmitted diseases.
Legislation on Bioethics.
Re-establishing the value of natural birth.

1. Women in Decision- and Policy-Making

Equal representation of women and men in politics
recognising the conclusions of the Ministerial Conference on ‘Women in decision- and policy-making processes held in Syracuse on 12 September 2003
aware that

the Vienna Declaration on Human Rights (Article 18) clearly imposes the obligation to promote the full and equal participation of women in political, civil, economic, social and cultural life at the local, regional, national and international levels
the draft treaty establishing a constitution for Europe (text of 18 July 2003) clearly states that equality is one of the European values which have to be respected by the member states as well as by the accession countries to join the Union
the low representation of women among the observers from the accession countries in the European Parliament (14%) gives rise to the fear that women will be less well represented in the European Parliament in the new legislature (2004-2009)
Commonwealth Governments have agreed to provide resources and practical strategies to achieve the 30% target of women’s representation in Parliament (Plan of Action on Gender and Development, 1995 and its update 2002-2005 to make this goal a reality by 2005

Calls on

Government to encourage political parties to take measures to promote balanced participation of women in politics at National and European level.
political parties to agree on common policies for women candidates to make up at least 30% of their party lists in the European Elections, to initiate a gender sensitization of their party structure and to allow for the financing for the empowerment of women in politics (training, meeting, monitoring) and to ensure that their media strategies take gender balance into account.

2. Promoting the Family and Education of Parents

aware of

situations where parents behave with the best intentions but whose opinions are in conflict with the views of the majority within the community and where their actions, most often in situations based on religious convictions, will result in damage to the child
situations where parents’ views are in conflict with those of a child who while legally under-age still has rights
situations where the wishes of one parent conflict with those of the other parent and which can affect the interests of the child
that adoption of foreign children may give rise to serious problems which are not anticipated by the adoptive parents

Urges Government

to introduce or further enhance programmes and campaigns at national level aimed at educating parents to be responsible guardians of human values and human rights in order to safeguard and strengthen the family unit as the foundation of society
to introduce a law on fostering as soon as possible and
to update the law on adoption of children, in particular those from foreign countries

3. Women and the Media

Aware of the importance of recently agreed recommendations by the UN Commission on the Status of Women regarding the role of the media

recognising the significance of the media’s role in enabling women to contribute fully to decisions and policies that affect the life and shape of all our lives

aware of

the need to involve more women in all stages of decision-making
the need to increase women’s access to and participation in the media and information and communication technologies ICT
the lack of coverage of issues and events important to women and of little information regarding notable women and their achievements
the need to narrow the digital divide between men and women

deploring the degrading images that are too often devaluing the dignity of women, particularly in advertising

urges

Government and the media organisations to work together to ensure that the role of women and their contribution to society at all levels are given fuller recognition in the media
the media to develop a fuller understanding of the potential and actual contribution of women to society and to assist further in changing prejudiced and stereotyped images .

4. Media Influence on Children

Recognizing

that responsible parents, educators and many others are concerned about the quality of radio and television programmes that children and teenagers are listening to and watching.
that candid discussion on sensitive issues tend to portray family values as outdated and
the high amount of violence;

having noted that

children are watching an increasing number of television hours
various studies have established that television can be a powerful influence in developing value systems and shaping behaviour
much of today’s television programmes have strong and frequent elements of violence
studies about the effects of TV violence on children and teenagers have found that children become immune to the horror of violence, accept it as a way of solving problems and imitate the violence they see on television

reiterates

that the National Minimum Curriculum Board seriously revises the policy on Media Education in State, Private and Church schools
recommends that

the State, the Church and educational institutions develop programmes and campaigns designed to help parents protect their children from unsuitable radio and TV programmes
the Broadcasting Authority monitor more closely local radio and TV programmes during afternoon and early evening hours for content unsuitable to children and
encourage broadcastors to feature programmes that help children and teenagers learn to build friendships, resolve real-life disagreements amicably and develop their own imagination and abilities,

requests

radio and TV broadcastors to

provide more information to the public through violence ratings and other warnings about programmes
schedule more violence free family viewing hours

5. Protection, Promotion and Support of Breastfeeding

aware that

Breast milk is a priceless natural resource
Breastfeeding has many long lasting health advantages for mothers and babies
Human milk is the only nutrition necessary in the first six months of life and optimally should be continued for at least two years
Facilities providing maternity services and care for newborn babies play a critical role in the establishment of successful breastfeeding
Women returning to work should have the right and the possibility to continue breastfeeding during working hours

urges Government

To support and guarantee maternity rights:

by establishing a National multisectoral breastfeeding committee
by drafting legislation to support the Breastfeeding Policy for working women that entitles women to maternity leave and paid breastfeeding breaks during working hours
by shifting responsibility for payment from the employer to the State as a measure against discrimination in employment

urges National Health Authorities

To ratify and implement the relevant resolutions of WHO and ILO Maternity Protection Convention No 183 and Recommendation No 191.
to ensure clear and accurate advertising of milk for babies and children.

6. Food Safety and Security

A. Genetic Modification in Food Production

NCW, recognising that the proponents of Genetic Modification (GM) Technology are strongly promoting its use in food production and that the most significant proponents are powerful multinational companies with financial motives;
concerned that currently major decisions with long-term and worldwide implication on the use of GM technology and its products are being considered with insufficient public awareness and involvement
aware of the importance of all information - including what areas of knowledge are still insufficiently researched and understood - that should be considered, and analysed before widening the practical of GM technology relating to food production and the trade of GM food products
recalling that the Precautionary Principle states that if there are reasonable scientific grounds for believing that a new process or product may not be safe, it should not be introduced until there is convincing evidence that the risks are small and do not outweigh the benefits,

Calls on Government to

support The United Nations in implementing any bio-safety protocol agreement which includes the Precautionary Principle and mandatory labeling of all foods with GM ingredients

urges Government to

bring the issue of GM technology, particularly regarding its long-term public and environment safety and trade in GM food products into the public forum
to further ensure consumer rights.

B. Food additives:

aware that food additives continue to increase,
aware that indirect additives mostly found as components of packaging materials intended for food use and processing aids

Calls upon the Authorities to

ensure that food labeling standards are adequate, accurate and not misleading and
ensure consumer protection throughout the food chain
ensure that educational campaigns are organised to provide information, public awareness and involvement
ensure that EU directives are transposed to national legislation

C. Food Security

Aware that

access to an adequate supply of safe and nutritious food is the most basic of human needs
as development occurs, societies become more affluent and so nutritional and health issues change
the influence of food advertising directed at children gives cause of concern about increased risk of health problems.
overweight caused by consumption of unhealthy diet and lack of physical exercise has damaging consequences on the health of the individual

Recommends that

State, Private and Church schools provide for adequate and reliable nutrition information,
initiatives are taken to encourage the production of food and the retention of local customs which are compatible with good nutrition to outweigh inappropriate role models that may influence eating behaviour that can damage health
a national food and nutrition plan is developed using a multi-sectoral approach to improve diet and nutrition aimed at all sectors including industry, advertisers, schools and supermarkets to encourage change in dietary habits away from foods high in saturated fat, sugar and salt.

7. Sustainable Development

A. Women and Sustainable Development

Recognising that

the integrating of environmental, economic and social concerns in one policy framework on Sustainable Development (Earth Summit Rio 1992) by the UN Commission on Sustainable Development following Agenda 21 (1991 Miami Document)
Agenda 21, Chapter 24 outlines strategies to achieve the full and equal participation of women in order to bring about sustainable development (over 100 specific recommendations and references)
the European Council’s Conclusions (2002) which support the identification by the UN of the five priorities for the 2002 Johannesburg Summit: water, energy, health, agriculture and biodiversity

Urges Government to ensure
the incorporation of strategies in the Malta Sustainable Development Strategy 2004-2009 for the full participation of women in the following areas:

Women’s access to resources and services
Gender specific aspects of globalization and Trade
Women’s health, including environmental health in relation to biotechnology and chemicals
Gender mainstreaming of environmental and health policies and programmes
Identifying obstacles with a view to develop guidelines for the future.

B. Housing

Recognising access to adequate housing as a basic human need enshrined in the UN Declaration of Human Rights

aware of

current trends for residential development identified in the Topic Paper on Housing in the new Structure Plan (2002) MEPA
the need for measures to provide affordable housing to accommodate the sector of the Maltese population that is in need of housing
the need of improving control over land development as outlined in the above Structure Plan

urges Government

to conduct studies on housing policies in relation to current and emerging social needs that provide accurate and reliable information for developing sustainable policies that aim at the empowerment of citizens and the reduction of dependency on state provision
to introduce partnership schemes with the private sector, offering incentives for the provision of low cost housing

also recommends

education and basic life skills at Secondary School level in areas including:

the relationship between homelessness and social problems
land use constraints and affordability of large houses
lifelong learning and guidance as preventive measures to reduce the incidence of dependency on state assistance.

8. Empowerment of Persons with Disability
Recognising

the dignity, expectations and the right to participate in the social and economic life of the community,
National and European Legislation promoting equal opportunities and access to employment for people with disabilities
aware that 2003 marks the European Year of the Disabled

recommends that measures that empower persons with disability be taken in the following areas:

Education

the provision of better opportunities for access to learning through support to
participate in curriculum projects with their peers
proper training for facilitators with the aim of empowering persons with disability to integrate not only in the school environment but also in the social and economic life as an adult with access to the process of lifelong learning
addressing the issue of sexuality and disability in a holistic manner.

Health

That as far as possible patients with disability be consulted about treatment related to their health issues
That all national research should include the gender dimension

also recommends

That measures be taken for persons with severe eye impairment to exercise their right to secret vote by being allowed to take with them a trusted person.

22/01/2004