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UfM adopts new project to support women’s empowerment in the Mediterranean
A project aimed at developing women’s empowerment in the Mediterranean through the development of effective field projects and the setting up of networks and platforms, was adopted by Senior Officials of the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) at a meeting held last month.
European Commission gives guidance to Europe's insurance industry to ensure non-discrimination betwe
Brussels, 22 December 2011 – The European Commission has adopted guidelines to help the insurance industry implement unisex pricing, after the Court of Justice of the European Union ruled that different premiums for men and women constitute sex discrimination.
Prevention is key to ending violence against women, says UN Human Rights chief Navi Pillay
[UN, New York, 5 July 2011] Prevention of violence against women was the focus of a discussion on women’s human rights held last month at the UN in Geneva in the framework of the 17th session of the UN Human Rights Council.
Commonwealth People’s Forum provides crucial interface between governments and civil society
Perth, Western Australia hosted the Commonwealth People’s Forum (CPF) from 25th to 27th October 2011 in the run up of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) from 28 to 30th October 2011. These meetings are held every two years.
Female mentors to help woman entrepreneurs to get started
Brussels, 15 November 2011. A new European network of mentors to promote female entrepreneurship through the sharing of know-how and experience has been launched today by the European Commission. Women only account for 34.4% of the self-employed in Europe.
SCOOP: Socio-economic Sciences: Communicating Outcomes Oriented to Policy
SCOOP: Socio-economic Sciences: Communicating Outcomes Oriented to Policy is supported by the European Union under the Socio-economic Sciences and Humanities 7th Framework Programme for Research. Project duration: October 2009 - September 2012.
Council of Europe Convention on the Protection of victims of gender-based and domestic violence
Brussels, 16/06/2011 (Agence Europe) - The Council of Europe has created a convention to protect the victims of gender-based and domestic violence. It was presented in a press conference at the European Parliament on 15 June with José Manuel Bota, chair of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, Rashida Manjoo, UN Special Rapporteur on Violence against Women and Eva-Britt Svensson, chair of the EP women's rights and gender equality committee.
Brussels, 30/05/2011 (Agence Europe)
In adopting the report by Rodi Kratsa-Tsagaropoulou (EPP, Greece) on women and business leadership on 25 May, the European Parliament (EP) women's rights/equal opportunities committee calls on the Commission to prepare “a road map setting specific, measurable, appropriate and realistic targets, with a timetable, for the achievement of balanced representation”.
Youth on the Move – starting on the journey through life
For many young people in Europe, the final years of school and the transition from education into work present major challenges. The economic crisis has only increased the obstacles they face in obtaining the skills and qualifications needed to secure a satisfying job and a secure place in society.
First European Equal Pay Day highlights EU earnings gap
Women in the European Union earn on average 17.5% less than men during their lifetimes. This stark figure will be highlighted tomorrow during the first EU-wide Equal Pay Day. This day – 5 March – marks the extra number of days in 2011 that women must work to match the amount of money earned by men in 2010. The European Commission is committed to closing the gender pay gap and published an overall strategy for gender equality in September 2010 (see IP/10/1149 and MEMO/10/430). This year’s Equal Pay Day, which aims to raise awareness of the pay gap, comes ahead of International Women's Day on 8 March.
Statement by the EWL on the adoption of a new Pact for Gender Equality (2011-2020)
[Brussels, 16 March 2011] The EWL has issued a Statement in the aftermath of the Council of the EU’s adoption last week of a new Pact for Gender Equality 2011-2020. While welcoming the renewed commitment of the Member States to the fulfilment of the EU Treaty ambitions in relation to equality between women and men, the EWL regrets that no binding concrete measures, including targets, are foreseen in the Pact, except the renewed commitment to the Barcelona childcare objectives.
UN Women
The United Nations General Assembly unanimously decided to establish UN Women, the UN Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women.
Self-employed workers to gain maternity and pension benefits under new EU law
Self-employed workers and their partners will enjoy better social protection – including the right to maternity leave for the first time – under new legislation endorsed by EU governments today.
More women in top jobs key to economic growth, says EU report
Only one in 10 board members of Europe's biggest listed companies is a woman and all central bank governors in the EU are male.
Tackling the gender pay gap – Frequently Asked Questions
Why do we need to tackle the gender pay gap? At 18% across Europe, the gender pay gap remains intolerably high and stubborn. Equal pay for equal work is one of the European Union’s founding principles.
Longer parental leave and incentives for fathers
Longer parental leave and incentives for fathers agreed by EU ministersEuropean Commission, Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities Parents will have the right to longer parental leave, under new rules agreed by EU ministers today.

Women In Decision-Making Course
October – December 2007
Presentation


Goals

The National Council of Women believes that achieving the goal of equal participation of women and men in decision-making will provide a balance that more accurately reflects the composition of society and is needed in order to strengthen democracy and promote its proper functioning.

NCW further believes that women's equal participation in decision-making is not only a demand for simple justice or democracy but can also be seen as a necessary condition for women's interests to be taken into account.

Aims and Objectives

With this primary aim in mind and to attract and encourage local women to pursue decision-making positions, whether political or in other spheres, the National Council of Women, has organized an intensive course focused on Women in Decision Making. This course was held twice a week over a period of nine weeks at NCW premises in Blata l-Bajda. During this course participants from all walks of life were exposed to a wide perspective of the current situation and what it entails to be a woman in a decision making position.

Programme Content

The course covered a broad spectrum of the skills that are required by anyone who aspires for decision making posts, starting from personal and social development, problem solving and decision making, conflict management to presentation skills, public speaking, networking techniques and handling the media. Decision-making in politics and the political scenario be it local, national and European, were also given prominence.

This course was more than anything else interactive, involving sharing of ideas as well as practical exercises, and was purposefully enriched by the knowledge and expertise of chosen personalities and facilitators who conducted the various sessions of the course programme.


Participants highly rated the topics covered during the programme, the knowledge of the presenters, their method of presentation, the course content and the handouts distributed during the course.

It is worth pointing out that, a team feeling was created from the beginning of the course and this was nourished until the end. This team feeling fostered respect, facilitated learning and enabled the sharing of ideas and opinions through acceptance of diversity.

Comments by Participants

The participants reported that they enjoyed the course overall and found it very informative since they obtained useful tips on managing one’s image, explored presentation techniques and current networking options. Attendees got a glimpse of ‘the behind the scenes’ in local politics that served to enrich their understanding of the local, national and European political scenario. The participants also felt that this course serves as a good stepping-stone for those interested to join politics and those who aspire for decision-making positions.

Recommendations – the next step

The National Council of Women has, since its establishment in 1964, been active in promoting women in decision-making, in particular in the political sphere. In view of the imminent forthcoming General Elections, the Council therefore recommends to

Government,

Political parties,

Local Councils

Civil Society organisations

and other parties as required

that further positive action is taken in the field of equal treatment of men and women, as stated in EU directives

the formulation of a national policy for a strategy and its implementation

to bring about a cultural change that facilitates the entry of women in decision -making in economic, social and particularly in political positions at local and national level

to further strengthen family-friendly measures that address women’s needs in particular, in political and management structures, which facilitate women’s access to political decision-making roles,

that in the spirit of democracy and equality of opportunity, in the planning the use of time is not built on men’s norms

that in the forthcoming general elections, names of candidates on ballot sheets will be listed in alternate male/female order, whilst retaining alphabetical order

that a University of Malta Diploma Course (or further) be set up to professionally prepare both men and women for political decision-making posts


Grace Attard, NCW Vice-President, EESC member
 
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