National Council of Women of Malta - Promoting Equality of Opportunities

Approved Resolutions 2006

National Council of Women
Annual General Meeting
January 2006

The National Council of Women in Conference assembled at its Annual General Meeting held on Saturday 28 January 2006

Notes with satisfaction measures taken by Government and relevant authorities in implementing a number of NCW recommendations and resolutions of the past years including

Measures taken by the NCPE regarding equality at the workplace ad portrayal of women in the media
Further measures for the implementation of gender equality policy and sexual harassment policy at the workplace
Incentives in Budget 2006 to increase investment in R&D
Legislation on domestic violence
The publication of the White Paper on the Voluntary Sector

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

Setting up the necessary mechanism to implement the Principle of Equal Pay For Work of Equal Value according to the EIRA
Measures to provide childcare facilities for the 5-14 age group
Further measures for equal representation of men and women in decision-making posts
Legislation on Bioethics
More Awareness of preventive health for all ages
To further develop interdisciplinary protocols in case of alleged rape as defined by WHO

Resolutions for Approval

1. European Year of Equal Opportunities for All (2007)

Mainstreaming Diversity

Background

The European Commission’s Communication on the Social Agenda for the Period 2005-2010 emphasised the importance of promoting equal opportunities for all in order to achieve a more cohesive society.

It announced the Commission’s intention to develop a new framework strategy on non-discrimination and equal opportunities for all. One of the major initiatives announced is to propose that 2007 be designated European Year of Equal Opportunities for All. The global objective of the Year is to raise awareness of the benefits of a just, cohesive society where there is equality of opportunity for all. This will require tackling barriers o participation in society and promoting a climate in which Europe’s diversity is seen as a source of social and cultural vitality.

NCW, fully supporting the initiative that 2007 be designated European Year of Equal Opportunities for All

Aware
that although there have been significant legislative changes at European and National level in the anti-discrimination field, further action is required to ensure more consistent implementation of equal opportunities and non-discrimination.

Aware
That there are social and economic arguments in favour of ensuring equal opportunities for all individuals

Recommends

that the discrimination on each ground – gender, race or ethnic origin, religion or belief, disability, age and sexual orientation should be prohibited in the areas of employment, training, education, social protection, social advantages and access to goods and services

Also recommends

That plans for the European Year of Equal Opportunities to highlight areas that can be overlooked such as young people, including children who experience age discrimination, individuals who experience multiple discrimination on several grounds and inhabitants who are affected by discrimination because of lack of access to required services
That NGOs, as well as representatives of minority groups, and relevant organisations representing them are involved in all stages and at all levels of implementation and that in planning, implementing and monitoring, there is adequate communication with NGOs
That a balance of equality of opportunities is ensured so that all individuals and not only groups are represented
That both horizontal and vertical discrimination are addressed that will make equal opportunities realistic as such measures will provide for ‘different’ opportunities
that attention be paid to the allocation of financial resources and that further legislation and proper structures to sustain initiatives in the long term are in place.
That gender mainstreaming which contributes to the development of tools and mechanisms to integrate the gender dimension is included at every stage of regional and cohesion policy

2. Integrating Young people in Society and Working Life

Background

At the Spring European Council of 22 -23 March, the EU Heads of State and Government adopted a ‘European Youth Pact. Four principal issues were identified: the vulnerability of young people; the need to develop solidarity across generations, in an ageing society; the need to equip young people through their education and training; the need for better coherence across all policy areas that concern young people.

In response to the Spring Council Conclusions, the European Commission adopted a package of guidelines including Broad Economic Policy Guidelines and the Employment Guidelines with the aim to co-ordinate the employment policies of the member states. In the latter guidelines specific reference is made to the Youth Social Pact.

NCW aware

of the importance that the Employment Guidelines give to the need to build employment pathways for young people.
that young people are more at risk of unemployment and if at work of low income employment

stresses the need

for more effective initiatives for the reduction of youth unemployment – minimum of 50% in the period 2006-2010
to reduce the number of early school leavers, increase access to initial vocational, secondary and higher education including apprenticeships and entrepreneurship training
to speed up the development of frameworks to support the transparency of qualifications, their effective recognition and their validation of non-formal and informal learning
to devise schemes for knowledge transfer so that older workers' skills and wide experience over many years can be passed on in such a way that younger people are happy to take "old" knowledge on board and make it a part of their "new" body of knowledge, both for their own benefit and the benefit of their company
to improve measures to promote the social inclusion of young people, in particular to combat the problem of young people who are not in education, training, employment or registered as unemployed
set targets to reduce the gender gap as regards vocational and technological training and wage differences at the time of recruitment
promote the importance of foreign language competence in improving education and employment opportunities as well as mobility of young people
foster young entrepreneurship by providing financial and technical support and providing the necessary measures for these initiatives at tertiary education level to encourage transferring and establishing of an enterprise

Active Participation in Society

NCW aware
of the importance of the active participation and autonomy of young people not only in the labour market but in society at large and the contribution to the personal development of young people and the skills, values and attitudes that young people gain, and to their sense of initiative and their social integration

Recommends

The recognition of youth work activities including their contribution to voluntary work in a wide range of areas at different levels, that also make it possible for social welfare services to make them less costly
That greater consideration is given to young people in disadvantaged situations who do not have access to high quality education, leisure facilities and access to information especially regarding opportunities.

Also calls on

The recognition of youth work activities including their contribution to voluntary work in a wide range of areas at different levels, that also make it possible for social welfare services to make them less costly
That greater consideration is given to young people in disadvantaged situations who do not have access to high quality education, leisure facilities and access to information especially regarding opportunities.

3. Towards better integration of immigrants in society

Background
The European Council of 4 and 5 November 2004 adopted the second multi-annual programme for the creation of a common area of Freedom, Security and Justice in the European Union – the Hague Programmed: strengthening freedom, security and Justice in the European Union (Council OJ C 53 of 3.3.2005)

The European Council invited the European Commission to draw up an action plan in which the proposals of Hague programme were to be translated into concrete actions. On 10 May 2005, the European Commission published a communication entitled The Hague Programmed: Ten Priorities for the next five years – The partnership for European renewal in the field of Freedom, Security and Justice. It sets out strategic objectives for the next five years and includes a timetable for the adoption of a package of policies and legislative initiatives in these areas.

Freedom
Respect for fundamental rights and civil liberties is one of the pillars of European integration and a principal objective of the Union. The creation of a common area of Freedom, Security and Justice requires full respect for the dimension of freedom comprising among other key instruments the European Convention for the protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union and the Geneva Convention relating to the Status of Refugees.

The Hague Programme states that the European Council welcomed the extension of the mandate of the European Monitoring Centre on Racism and Xenophobia towards a Fundamental Rights Agency, to protect and promote fundamental Rights. The Agency was established at the end of June 2005.

Integration
The integration of migrants is vital to the social cohesion within Member States. Otherwise there is the risk of social exclusion and alienation of these migrants and their children and grandchildren who are born and raised within the EU.

NCW recommends

That the transposition and implementation of existing asylum-related instruments in particular temporary protection and minimum standards for reception conditions are consistent with the obligations stemming from international conventions on human rights and the 1951 Geneva Convention

Whilst NCW fully supports the draft Constitutional Treaty that sets the limits for common legislation in particular the right of member states to ‘determine volumes of admission’

NCW calls on

Government and MEPs representing Malta at EU to use their influence and powers to ensure that the Community method of coordination will improve

The fight against the black economy and illegal employment
Border control and the fight against trafficking in human beings
Integration policies
That an adequate budget for integration polices in the 2007-2013 financial perspectives

NCW also recommends an integration programme that includes

Initial welcome: information and advice and teaching of language and customs
Integration into the labour market with equal treatment
Access to education without discrimination
Integration in cities avoiding impoverished segregationist urban ghettoes
Access to health care and other public services with equal treatment
A national educational campaign to foster tolerance and acceptance of diversity
That NGOs take initiatives at community level to promote tolerance and acceptance of diver

4. Childcare Provision

NCW aware of the need

to remove the obstacles so that both parents have the choice to be active in the labour market.
Of accessible and affordable day-care facilities for children and others such as the elderly or dependent persons with disability in need of care are to be made available
Also aware that a number of mothers are unable to enter the labour market or retain their job or opt for part-time work because of the lack of accessible childcare facilities for older children. Parents are often constrained to leave children between 5 and 14 at home on their own after school hours and during holidays.

Recommends

the implementation of after school programmes on the school premises providing a holistic and creative learning environment for this age group. The services of retired individuals and others who have expertise in educational fields and traditional skills can be utilized in line with the policy of active elderly
to provide extra-curricular activities in a number of areas including drama and sports among others
offer assistance with homework and new methods to foster a love for reading, creative writing etc
develop creativity of children in areas including art, music and thinking skills among others

5. Preparation for Partnership in marriage

NCW notes the need for better preparation courses for couples presenting a fundamental attitude of ‘partnership’ preparation that would cater for the work-life balance needs of today

NCW recommends

that Lifelong Learning Education includes units that address aspects of ‘partnership’

also recommends

the setting up of an agency, making use of expertise of relevant NGOs to organize schemes of preparation for partnership courses, in modules for couples to choose from, according to their needs.

6. Promoting local agricultural products

Aware
of the increase in the importation and sale of foreign grown vegetables and fruit
that are being sold instead of those locally grown in particular potatoes, tomatoes, carrots and garlic
aware also of the rules of free trade

NCW recommends

An effective marketing and promotion policy and its implementation of local agricultural products
innovative structures such as farmers co-operatives, together with the co-ordination of other stakeholders for the production, marketing and promotion of agricultural products

7. Women and Work

NCW notes that a high percentage of all Maltese women still do not officially participate in the labour market, giving them the lowest participation rate in the EU.
acknowledges the personal, as well as economic and social benefits, of a higher participation rate, including the multiplier effect of more women at risk in that every 100 women who work would generate an additional 15 jobs in the economy;
recognises that there is the need for work-life balance for both parents to be able to foster family values and achieve financial autonomy

NCW recommends that

proposals submitted in the National Action Plan are implemented.
Government considers incentives, through lower social security contributions or taxation measures, to encourage more flexible work arrangements for both parents and
the Malta Council for Social and Economic Development recommends to Government measures and incentives to facilitate flexibility at the workplace and that these recommendations be further extended in other working sectors across the island

8. Children at Risk

NCW notes that,

in today’s modern society, much is said about the many opportunities open to all, but insufficient thought is given to the risks to which many children are exposed;
is concerned at the increasing physical and moral risks to which children of different ages are being exposed;
is aware that these risks range from physical abuse (such as domestic violence) through moral dangers (such as access to inappropriate material on the Internet) to denial of their basic human rights, and can occur within the family unit and outside it;
recognises that the threats to children affect children in all social classes;

NCW recommends that

further research on the trends that give rise to such risks is carried out in order to address these issues with appropriate measures
more trained support staff, including social workers and psychologists to assist both children at risk and their parents;
that existing official and voluntary structures assisting unmarried mothers and families in distress are assessed and upgraded to give professional service in order to minimize the negative effects on children
that child poverty, resulting in health and education issues, all forms of violence, abuse and neglect which impact severely on a child’s future be given priority
more effective measures focusing on the health of children and young people and healthy lifestyles, in particular to combat obesity are given priority (more than 14million children in Europe are overweight, including 3 million obese with the number increasing by 400,000 each year)