AGM January 2007

Approved Resolutions 2007

The National Council of Women in Conference assembled at its Annual General Meeting held on Saturday 27 January 2007

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 2007 to increase investment in R&D
• Budget 2007 decision to implement a National Breast screening programme
• Extending family friendly measures through the public 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
• More Awareness of preventive health for all ages

Approved Resolutions 2007

1. Women and decent work for all

"Decent work" is a concept, introduced by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) in 1991. It has been defined as "the converging focus" of all the ILO's four strategic objectives:
the promotion of rights at work,
employment,
social protection, and
social dialogue.

The Decent Work Agenda is an important response to globalisation and it can make a major contribution to realising the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) as acknowledged by the United Nations. In September 2005, it was incorporated into the World Commission on the Social Dimension of Globalisation (CMDSM).

The Decent Work Agenda seeks not only to guarantee a minimum basis of rights but also to develop values and principles of action and governance which combine competitiveness with social justice.

This concept is at the heart of the European Social Agenda and of the EU’s efforts to promote its values. In May 2006, The Commission issued a communication on the EU contributing to the implementation of the decent work agenda in the world.

Whilst fully supporting the ILO declaration that Gender Equality and the empowerment of women are essential to overcome poverty (MDG3)

NCW recommends

That in line with other EU member states, the National Action Plan regarding the Decent Work Agenda should include

• Increased efforts in social dialogue and collective bargaining for gender equality including maternity protection

• The further development of indicators for the elimination of the gender pay gap by age, economic sector and level of education.

• Improved indicators to concretely address formal and informal employment for men and women

• Improving transparency of labour markets to ensure that regulations regarding employment of women are complied with.

• That adequate payment of insurance, social security contributions and a safe environment are given priority also in jobs that are considered difficult, dangerous or menial

2. Promoting the concept of Entrepreneurship for Women

Following the conclusions reached at its 2006 Annual Conference on: Equal Opportunities: the Agenda for the Maltese Female Entrepreneur

NCW recommends

• that the national curricula include entrepreneurship education at primary, secondary and tertiary levels, especially among females, and that measures be taken to increase the number of women graduates in ICT, scientific/technical disciplines
• an integrated approach, involving all stakeholders to contribute to the development of the concept of entrepreneurship in the Maltese society.
• easier access to ICT for women starting their own business to facilitate marketing, bringing the goods to the consumer through the proper channels of distribution, as ICT could also be a vehicle to have better marketing via the net or direct marketing
• European Structural Funds and other forms of EU funding to give priority to initiatives by women that invest in research and innovation leading to the fostering of entrepreneurial mindsets and entrepreneurial activities and encourage female participation
• more equity and quality in workplaces, giving more recognition to women’s work.
• encouraging flexible work arrangements and working from home both in the public and private sector

3. The family and demographic change

Demographic ageing is the result of fundamentally positive developments. Europeans are living longer and healthier lives. Life expectancy at birth has increased by an average of eight years since 1960. A recent projection estimated that children born today in the EU25 can expect to live, on average, to the age of 82 if they are girls and 76 if they are boys.
On the other hand, we are facing a declining fertility rate which will be at around. 1.5 children per woman by 2050.

To create the right conditions for Europe's demographic renewal, the EU recommends that

• more support to families and potential parents
• promoting greater equality between men and women
• making full use of Europe's human resources potential notably through active ageing
• boosting productivity and facilitate the adaptation of our economy to the changing needs of an ageing society
• The need to integrate migrants into our labour market and society
• And the need to safeguard sound public finances and the long-term sustainability of our social protection system

The family and parents

Families today, although varying in structure, still constitute an essential part of society. We are witnessing an increase in extramarital births, single parenthood, disruption of couples and late childbearing. Families today are not in an environment that is conducive to child-rearing.
Studies have revealed differences between the desirability to have children and current birth rates. In a recent study, the cost of child rearing, the dual work household and having children seen as an impediment to work were some of the reasons given.

NCW recommends

More effective policies to provide an environment that will enable families to have children at any age and address the needs of all types of families as families are becoming more fragile.

Children and Childhood

Addressing the needs of the family cannot exclude empowering children to take charge of their future.
NCW recommends
that the family, education systems, the State and the Church work together to provide an environment where children can grow .
Reviewing child protection measures that can sometimes have a negative impact on children if they do not address the entire family network, listening to the aspirations of all members of the family and offering them the opportunity to take decisions
Better integration of young people
Today's children and young people will have to take over from larger numbers of individuals in the previous generations. Their level of education and training is markedly higher.
However young people are becoming an undervalued resource. Young people are finding it hard to integrate in economic life. Young people are sometimes faced with discrimination on the grounds of their age and lack of occupational experience. The skills learnt at school are not always in line with the requirements of the knowledge society and the level of school failure is still a source of concern.
Young employed people may want to spend more time with their children and work more at another time in their life.

NCW recommends that to meet these significant challenges

• the education system needs to raise the level of initial training and to offer more flexible pathways in which young people would be more able to alternate education, work and work-linked training in order to meet the needs of the economy.
• new and more flexible organisation of working time to enable young people to spend more time with their children and work

A new place for the elderly people

The number of elderly people aged 65-79 will increase significantly after 2010. They will be more active and in better health if current trends continue. They will also be better off, having been more likely to build up a full pension. Elderly people are consuming more goods and services and want to participate more actively in social life.

NCW recommends

• Retirement schemes to promote more flexible bridges between work and retirement to retain older workers longer in the labour market.
• Transfer of knowledge to young workers and vice-versa that can offer possibilities to improve intergenerational relationships
• Flexible gradual retirement and a combination of wages and pensions and new forms of employment (part-time, temporary) are measures to be considered replacing a statutory retirement age
Finally NCW supports the initiative of setting up of The Family Alliance during the German Presidency which will work towards strengthening the most important institution in our society

4. Addressing gender equality from men’s perspective

The evolving process of gender equality is a democratic process that involves both men and women. Raising awareness of the ‘partnership’ concept in households where both parents work is becoming more widespread. However addressing gender equality from men’s perspective is essential as men have much to give and to gain from gender equality policies

In line with the developments in the Maltese society and the democratic principle of equality

NCW recommends that

• The National Curricula and Lifelong Learning initiatives include programmes with the aim of producing strategies and practical measures that address the contribution of both parents to family responsibilities

• Research in the perception, attitudes and behaviour of men regarding gender equality to be able to address the needs of women and men in the formulation of policies

• Current courses for couples preparing for marriage to include men’s perspective on gender equality in the home, at the workplace and in society at large

• Training for parents to create awareness of meaningful ‘relationships’ of gender equality as role models and the importance of their role in bringing up boys and girls as equal partners in their daily life.

• Address stereotyping and violence in the media with a view to enhance the ‘partnership’ concept between men and women

• Policies in the labour market regarding family-friendly measures are designed for and accessed by both men and women in the public and private sector


5. Greater involvement of all legal, educational, mental health, medical and welfare professionals in the issue of domestic violence against women

Domestic violence against women can only be effectively addressed at national level. Statistics show that the number of reported cases of domestic violence is on the increase, although this does not prove that cases of domestic violence are actually on the increase.

NCW recommends

• that given the key role of non-governmental organisations in preventing domestic violence against women, further support of human and financial resources are to be allocated.

• ongoing training of legal, police, educational, mental health, medical and welfare professionals whose task it is to identify violence at an early stage and provide adequate help to the people affected

• an integrated and comprehensive strategy through a multi-agency, multi-disciplinary approach and one that is rooted in early intervention

• data gathering systems to enable information on domestic violence to be analyzed and shared.

• that the Health Promotion, through mass media education campaigns, raises awareness of the extent and nature of crimes of violence against women.

• further research regarding domestic violence against men


6. Addressing low birth rates in Malta

The average number of children per woman (the current birth rate) is low, at 1.5 children for EU-25. Surveys have revealed the gap between the number of children that Europeans would like to have (2.3) and the number of children they actually have (1.5). Recent analysis of the fall in the birth rate emphasizes the impact of the rise in age at which women have their first child, reflecting the growing reluctance of couples to have children.
Surveys also show that in all EU countries, couples would like to have more children.
The low birth rate is the result of obstacles to private choices.

NCW recommends

• Studies be carried out to identify reasons for low birth rates in Malta
• that national policies address obstacles such as:
late access to employment
job instability
expensive housing
lack of incentives to enter the labour market
lack of balanced distribution of household and family tasks between men and women
all of which have a negative impact on the birth rate

7. Mental Health

Mental health has, for many years, suffered from social stigma and has always been a topic which was dusted under the carpet. Times have changed and we now realise the rights of these patients which need to be safeguarded and maintained to keep up with the times.

With this in mind, NCW:

 Urges government and other bodies§ to tackle this problem

 Encourages measures to remove the stigma on§ Mental Health Patients

 Urges studies on the research into what causes§ mental health problems and sustain preventive measures

8. Sexually Transmitted Diseases

Sexually transmitted diseases are, unfortunately, on the increase in most European countries. Their effects can be, in some cases, devastating and can lead to, for example, infertility in women and other problems related to the female reproductive system.

NCW, aware of the gradual rise of STDs in our population and of the dire effects this will have

Urges government to sustain educational and preventive measures regarding the spread of these diseases and to instil responsibilities on our people, both the elder generations and youths.

9. Obesity

NCW, concerned with the fact that the century is providing an environment conducive to obesity, is very anxious about the effect this will have on the health of future generations and on the toil this will have on our health system.

NCW:
Urges the government to continue its policy against obesity on all levels
Suggests at least 30 minutes of exercise daily in every school.
Urges the education on the detrimental effects of obesity such as heart disease, hypertension, strokes and cancers.

10. Vaccination against Cervical Cancer

NCW is aware that cervical cancer is one of the most common types of cancer affecting the general health and reproductive future of women and aware that a vaccine for its prevention in some cases is available.

NCW:
Urges government to provide free vaccination to all young girls ages between 12 and 16 years as is happening in UK and other countries.