The President’s Foundation for the Wellbeing of Society yesterday evening presented recommendations to the Parliamentary Standing Committees; Family Affairs and Social Affairs on themes that promote women’s wellbeing and those that hinder it.
The recommendations were published this month by the Foundation in a report entitled “Women’s Day Celebration 2015” following an event hosted by the Foundation in March to mark International Women’s Day. This was held in line with the Foundation’s aims of enhancing the wellbeing of society through meaningful engagement with individuals, families, and communities to promote a culture of solidarity, respect for the dignity of each person, peace and unity.
The report highlights the fact that despite improvements achieved both at an institutional and cultural level, in Malta and Gozo the struggles for gender equality continue. The NGOs and stakeholders who attended the Women’s Day event represented members of civil society, who work with and represent women. The proceedings of the workshops held during the event are drawn up in the report.
The recommendations include:
- A gender-inclusive, quality curriculum that eliminates career and family stereotypes to promote gender equality
- Ensuring that existing policies and measures that promote gender equality are effectively implemented, both in the private and public sector
- Holistic and sensitive training for the police force when dealing with cases of sexual and domestic abuses
- Screening for domestic violence to be added to all levels of health care, such as obstetric clinics
- Public campaigns to engage in discussion with civil society, discussing notions of masculinity, femininity, the gender binary, and gender equality.
- Themes that promote women’s wellbeing: education, a supportive and inclusive family environment, safe spaces for women, respect for women’s decisions, supporting social structures, dialogue with men.
- Themes that hinder women’s wellbeing: stigma, need to conform, discrimination, violence against women, the difficulty of achieving work and life balance.
The organisations present for the event included: Malta Confederation of Women’s Organisation, National Council of Women, Mothers Union of the Anglican Church, Business Professional Women Valletta, Gender Liberation, National Council of Women, Europa Donna Malta, Malta Association for Women in Business, Women’s Federation for World Peace, Youth for the Environment, Aġenzija Żgħażagħ, Alternattiva Demokratika, Nisa Laburisti, Victim Support Malta, Integra Foundation, Caritas, Malta Health Students Association, Mellieħa Local Council, YMCA, OFD, Migrant Women Association, Womanity.