************************************************************** The material posted here was provided to the Division for the Advancement of Women by the Government in response to a note verbale. It is being made available in electronic format in the form received. In cases where it was not possible at this time to reproduce charts and tables supplied, these can be obtained by contacting the Division for the Advancement of Women directly. ************************************************************** Programme for Action 1997 - 2000 on Equality between Women and Men Objectives, Strategies, Goals, Implementation (Draft) Malta September 1996 The Government of Malta has prepared the Programme for Action 1997 2000, as part of the implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action. This report is a synthesised version of the original one which had been written in the Maltese language, and includes: - the policy objectives - the goals for the achievement of these objectives - the strategies The original report identifies the people and institutions to be consulted, and explains in detail the action which has to be undertaken for the effective implementation of the Programme forAction. Foreword The Platform for Action adopted by the UN Fourth World Conference on Women, stipulated in Chapter V, section A, paragraph 297, that by the end of 1996, all governments, in consultation with relevant institutions and NGOs, should develop a Plan of Action for the imnlementation of the Beijing Platform for Action. The Maltese Government is comniitted to promoting gender equality in all areas and levels of Maltese society. After the Beijing World Conference on Women in 1995, the Maltese Government prepared a Programme for Action 1997 - 2000, covering the Malta's priorities. The Programme for Action 1997 - 2000 is divided into 5 sections: - The main objectives to be reached; - The desired goals; - The identification of the actors involved in the consultation process; - The strategies on how the goals may be achieved; - The concrete action for the implementation of the Programme for Action and for its monitoring and evaluation. The Programme for Action 1997 - 2000 will continue to build on previous achievements. It is also based on reports prepared by the national machinery, mainly, The National Report on Women in Malta and Gender Trends in Malta- a Statistical Prof le. The Government is currently consulting with government departments, institutions and NGOs on the Programme for Action 1997 - 2000, before its final adoption. Main Objectives - The mainstreaming of gender equality in all sectors of Maltese society. - The increase in the representation of women in decision-making. - The reconciliation of family, work and civic responsibilities. - The elimination of violence against women. - Assisting women to overcome social problems. - Legislative reforms. - Equal access to education and training. - The improvement in women's health. - Co-operation with International Organisations - The implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the Programme for Action 1997 - 2000. Objective No.1 The mainstreaming of gender equality in all sectors of Maltese Goals - Awareness-raising on gender equality. - The integration of a gender perspective in all government policies, laws and projects. - The promotion of equality in all other areas of Maltese society. Strategies The Strengthening of the National Machinezy - The transfer of the women's affairs department to the portfolio of the Prime Minister from that of the Minister for Social Development. - The strengthening of the national machinery by means of an adequate budget, and by means of adequate personnel, trained in gender equality. - The raising of awareness on gender equality, through seminars, public debates, publicity campaigns, publication, etc. - Increased co-operation between the women's national machinery and the various ministries, government departments and parastatal bodies, to facilitate the inclusion of the perspective of gender equality, in all policies, laws, programmes and projects - The strengthening of the structure of focal points on gender equality, in every department and parastatal corporation. Gender Impact Assessment - Consultation, from the outset, between ministries and the national machinery, on policies, laws and projects concerning their impact on women. - The preparation of a Gender Impact Assessment for every policy, legislation and proiect. Monitoring and Evaluation - The monitoring of the effects of policies and legislation, on women an.d m.en. - The analysis and publication of the results of th‰ monit"ring of policies, legislation and projects. - The collection of statistics on the situation of women and men, and the analysis of these statistics. - The publication of reports on the situation of women and men. Information, for women and the general public, on initiatives concerning gender equality. Education and Training on Gender Equality - An increase in training programmes on gender equality for: senior civil service officials, politicians, teachers, students, social workers, counsellors, engaged couples, married couples, media professionals. Co-ordination with the Media - Closer collaboration with media professionals to combat sex stereotyping, for a more realistic and positive portrayal of the role of women in Maltese society. - Training programmes on gender issues for media professionals. Objective No. 2 The increase in the representation of women in decision-making Goals - A more effective voice for women in Maltese society. - A balanced representation of women and men in decision-making: - more women in Parliament; more women on Local Councils; - more women on public boards and committees; - more women on government delegations; - more women in high positions in the Civil Service; - more women in top positions in the judiciary; - more women in the highest structures of political parties; - more women in management; - more women in the highest structures of trade unions; - more women in the highest academic and administrative grades at University; - more women in high positions in the areas of education, economy, employment and health. Strategies Monitoring the representation of }wnzen in high positions - gathering of information on the representation of women in all areas of decisionmaking. - publication of this information. Publicity campaigns -Campaig;ning on the need of the participation of both women and men in politics. - Co-ordination with politicians and political parties so as to increase awareness on the need of female participation at decision-making. - Encouragement of women to participate in political and public life. - Training women in leadership and political skills Targets for the representation of women - The formulation of targets on the representation of women on public boards and comrnittees. on Local Councils~ in government delegations. etc. Nominations Services - The expansion of the Directory of Maltese Women which contains information on the qualifications, skills and experience of hundreds of Maltese women. - The upgrading of the nominations service concerning women. Objective No. 3 The reconciliation of family, work and civic responsibilities Goals - Access to equal opportunities in employment. - The elimination of all discrimination against working women, especially married women. - The introduction of the concept of equal pay for work of equal value. - The reconciliation of work, family and civic responsibilities. - The promotion of a culture in favour of the family. - The recognition of the new role of men in the family, most especially in the upbringing of children. Strategies Legislation - Legislative changes to create equal conditions for women and men employees and to eliminate sexual discrimination. - The ratification and implementation of international conventions dealing with equal opportunities in employment. The promotion of a family-friendly culture - Awareness-raising programmes on the role of women and men in the family. - The introduction of educational programmes in schools (primary level to tertiary level), on gender equality. - Pre-marriage courses that include a perspective on equality between women and men. Family Support - The raising of awareness among trade unions and employers to make them more sensitive towards the need and the benefits of gender equality. - The encouragement of employers to introduce further measures that benefit the family and that help employees create a balance between their family duties and their worl; and civic responsibilities. Objective No. 4 The Elimination of violence against women Goals - The promotion of a culture that does not tolerate any form of violence against women - domestic violence (physical and emotional), sexual abuse, sexual harassment and rape. - The reduction of violence against women. Strategies Education on gender equality - Educational programmes on gender equality for children and adolescents in schools. - Educational programmes for engaged couples, on gender equality and on problems of violence. - Training in assertiveness skills for young girls to enable them to build self-esteem and to teach them not to tolerate abuse and violence. Preventive and Action Against Violence - Educational programmes and training in life-skills, aimed at victims of violence. - Therapy programmes for perpetrators, to enable them to control their anger. Training of professionals - The training of professionals who come into contact with victims of abuse Strengthening of Legislation - Amendments to laws to provide more protection for victims of violence. - Introduction of legal provisions on sexual harassment. Improvement of Support Services - The strengthening of services, such as: the support of social workers and psychologists, more shelters for victims of domestic violence - The development of therapy services for perpetrators. - The development of social assistance and therapeutic services for victims of sexual abuse and of rape Objective No.5 Assisting women to overcome probles Goals - To reduce the growth of poverty among women in difficult situations. - To provide adequate financial and personalised assistance for single parents. - To counter problems related to drugs, alcohol and gambling. Strategies Social Benefits - An increase in the current social benefits for single parent families. Personalised Aid - The implementation of programmes, already in the pipeline, on personal skills and parenting skills, aimed at single mothers. - Training programmes for single parents to enable them to join the labour market. - Social support, in the form of social workers and psychologists, for single parents. - Initiatives to help single parents reconcile their work and family responsibilities. - The prevention of drug abuse, alcohol nbuse and excessive gambling - The implementation of educational preventive programmes on the abuse of drugs, alcohol and gambling. These programmes will be aimed at children and adolescents in schools. - The collection of statistics on women suffering from drug and alcohol abuse. - Increase in support services for women who are victims of drug and alcohol abuse. Objective No. 6 Legislative Reforms Goals - To strengthen the principle of equality between women and men through legislation and the ratification of international conventions on equality. - To identify and remove any discriminatory provisions that may still exist in a few laws. - To change existing legislation, or to introduce new legislation, to ensure equal opportunities between the sexes. - To strengthen legislation against any form of violence and sexual abuse. - To strengthen the Family Law through new judicial structures. Strategies Elimination of Discrimination - Amendments to laws that may still contain discriminatory provisions. Reinforcing Gender Equality - Changes in legislation to reinforce the principle of equality and to increase protection against domestic violence, sexual abuse and sexual harassment. - The analysis of new legislation to ensure the embodiment of the principle of gender equality. - The ratification and implementation of international conventions on gender equality. Reinforcing the Family Law - Amendments to legal provisions in the Civil Code regulating inheritance. - The creation of adequate judicial structures to implement more effectively the amendments that have already been made to the Family Law. Objective No. 7 Equal Access to Education and Training Goals - Equal access to education at every level, for both women and men. - Equal access to technical and technological education and training. - The increase of women studying non-traditional subjects. Strategies The National Minimum Curriculum - The revision of the National Minimum Curriculum, to ensure equal access to equal opportunities in education and training. - Increased importance to life-skills education, particularly on aspects of responsible behaviour, family relationships, human relationships, preparation for marriage, preparation for employment and for civic and social duties. Training on Equality for Teachers - Gender training for kindergarten assistants and teachers, both at the initial training stages and in refresher courses. - The inclusion of a gender perspective in the subject training of teachers. - Programmes on gender awareness for teachers responsible for Guidance and Counselling. Education of Parents, on Gender Equality - Programmes for parents. on parenting skills which also include education on gender equality. - Educational programmes for parents, on career choices for their children, free of sex bias. Objective No. 8 Improvement in Women's Health Goals - Adequate importance given to all aspects of women's health. - Adequate consideration given to women in the elaboration of strategies for the priorities outlined in the document lIealth Vision 2000 (Malta). - Accessible statistics on women's health. - Access to comprehensive information on issues that concern women's health. - Access, for both women and men, to comprehensive information on responsible parenthood. - The decrease in the rate of infection and mortality, caused by breast cancer, as outlined in the document lIealth Vision 2000. - Increased awareness on women's mental and emotional health, through all the stages of life. - The promotion of health and safety in the work place~ with special reference to pregnant women and new mothers. - The balance between work and family responsibilities. Strategies The importance of women 's health - The increase in the representation of women in health decision-making. - Specific attention given to aspects of women's health, in every policy or project. - The training of all health professionals, on issues related to women's health. Access to information - Educational programmes aimed at women and men, on issues connected to women's health and on responsible behaviour. - Education on gender issues, responsible behaviour, reproductive health and responsible parenthood, for young girls and boys, in schools. - Information programmes on women's health, gender issues, responsible relations and responsible parenthood, that are accessible to women as well as to men Breast cancer - Full co-operation between the national machinery and health authorities, on the formulation of strategies concerning breast cancer. - Support by the national machinery, for women's organisations and other voluntary groups, in their fight against breast cancer. Mental and Emotional Health - Support and counselling programmes for women suffering from stress, depression and anxiety. - The raising of awareness among health professionals, on the connections between women's mental stress and social and economic circumstances. - The continuation of the elaboration and implementation of strategies that permit both women and men to reach a healthy balance between their work and family responsibilities . - Educational programmes for children, young people and adults on gender roles and sex stereotyping in Maltese society. Health and Safety in the Work-place - Further regulations on the protection of women's health in the work-place. - The total protection of the health of pregnant workers and new mothers. Objective No. 9 Co-operation with international organisations Goals - The effective implementation of international conventions that promote the advancement of women and which have been ratified by the government of Malta. - The implementation of the Platform for Action adopted at the World Conference in Beijing (1995) and the Plan of Action on Women and Development of the Commonwealth Secretariat, approved in Malta in 1995. - An increase in the participation of Maltese women as decision-makers at theinternational level. Strategies - Increasing the participation of women in international fora.- The support of international initiatives which promote gender equality.- The implementation of programmes for action on gender equality, adopted byinternational organisations.- Increasing the number of women on government delegations.