AD determined to make gender equality a priority for government

Alternattiva Demokratika, the Green Party, said it was ready to implement a gender policy strategy if elected to government, in a bid to introduce laws that will further close the gender gap and improve family life and work balance for mothers and fathers.

AD chairperson Michael Briguglio said a much larger investment was needed in the introduction of family-friendly measures which would enable both women and men to participate in both private and public life.

"These include the provision of universal free childcare, the extension of after school services, measures such as flexitime, job sharing and telework and leave for working parents when their children are sick.

"We believe that maternity leave should be extended to 20 weeks while the father should be entitled to two weeks of parental leave, a proposal that was shot down by the government. We also need a clear mechanism to ensure that women are effectively represented on Government and company boards."

Briguglio said such a strategy would require both a financial and human investment, but the experience of other countries had shown that in the medium and long term, it pays to invest.

"We note with satisfaction that some of our proposals have now been adopted by both PL and PN although it remains to be seen whether they will actually follow up their electoral slogans. This shows that AD is the party with a progressive vision and that its proposals are very often way ahead of those of the big parties represented in parliament. In parliament AD will be in a position to ensure that such policies adequately formulated are implemented."

Angele Deguara, AD spokesperson on social policy and civil rights, said AD had been always been on the forefront where gender equality policy is concerned. "We have been consistent and clear about this principle, making concrete proposals not only on the eve of the election. We believe that the principle of gender equality should be mainstreamed in every aspect of social policy. It is essential that equality policy be given national priority if we are to achieve tangible results."

Deguara said Malta needed a clear gender policy strategy modelled on countries which managed to achieve positive results in this area.

"Such a gender equality strategy needs to target every aspect of life and every level and sphere of government.  The National Commission for the Promotion of Equality (NCPE) needs to be strengthened significantly in terms of both financial and human resources and given greater legal powers to act against discrimination and propose changes in legislation as necessary.

"Anti-discrimination legislation should be effectively enforced; discrimination cases reported in the press and harsher penalties should be meted out to those who do not abide by the law".