Why are women always demanding more rights?

Malta Confederation of Women’s Orgainisations (MCWO) member Renee Laiviera introduces the Convention as a step above EU directives, as while the EU directives deal mainly with employment issues, the convention deals with all sectors of society – education, family law, stereotyping, prostitution, social benefits etc. and is thus a more far-reaching tool reaching women all over the world.

The CEDAW defines discrimination against women as: “Any distinction, exclusion or restriction made on the basis of sex which has the effect or purpose if impairing or nullifying the recognition, enjoyment or exercise by women, irrespective of their marital status, on a basis of equality of men and women, of human rights and fundamental freedoms in political and social, cultural, civil or any other field.”

Malta ratified the convention in 1993 but hasn’t yet ratified the Optional Protocol consisting of two procedures, communications and inquiry, which will allow Maltese women to put their cases forward to the CEDAW committee.

Observations of the CEDAW committee on the reports filed by both government and NGOs in 2010 revealed shortcomings in Malta’s fight for gender equality. Recommendations include incorporating provisions of the convention into domestic law and to accede to the optional protocol that would strengthen the application of the convention by the judiciary and assist it in understanding discrimination against women.

Other recommendations include changes in policy to remove stereotyping roles of women, and encouraging a balance of household responsibilities between men and women, improvement of child-care facilities.

Claudette Abela Baldacchino, deputy mayor of Qrendi, gave an overview of female participation in local government. Though official statistics are not available some statistics she compiled herself reveal 357 men participating in local councils compared to only 87 women.

Between 1993 and 2002 female participation showed a gradual upward trend, however after 2002 figures begin to drop again.

“This is a situation that merits further analysis, however it is clear that there remains a large gender imbalance in the make up of most local councils.”

Abela Baldacchino believes that the potential for women councillors to influence policy that affect other women is essential to influence key policy decisions.

“If we do not start from the level closest to the citizens we are never going to make it”

During the council reform of 2008 priorities were established that need to be adopted to enhance the community. Gender equality and increasing women’s participation however was not tackled.

Anna Borg discussed women’s participation in the workforce. Women in the workforce is not only socially desirable but economically so.

According to a Swedish study (2009) countries with higher GDP have more women in politics and higher female employment rate.

“Malta does not fare well in female participation rate of the labour market. Out of 56% of the population in active employment 73.5% are male while only 37.5% are female. This despite the larger numbers of female students graduating from university and the better grades achieved by females.”

Over the last 10 years female participation in the workforce rose by a pathetic 0.4% despite a large investment being put into education. The Lisbon gap in 2007 shows Malta as having huge negative index.

Borg identifies cultural barriers as one of the main reasons for such poor female participation as family responsibilities are still primarily borne by the woman.

Only 23.08% of first time mothers have returned to the working world 6 months after giving birth according to a recent study conducted in 2008.

CEDAW recommends ensuring that both men and women share child rearing responsibilities, education of children, encouragement more men to take parental leave

There is concern with quality childcare facilities and after school programmes as schools finish so early. CEDAW urge government to improve availability, affordability and quality of childcare facilities for 0-3 and for school-aged children in order to facilitate re-entry of women into the labour market

Dr Charmaine Cristiano Grech addressed the legal implications of discrimination of against women.

“Although on paper there we are in line with the laws, however in reality there is a discrepancy and until these are reconciled Maltese women will live in a state of limbo”

The constitution prohibits discrimination of various matters including sex.

Rights to marriage are open to any person, except in circumstances that may be detrimental to society like, for example marriage of relatives.

Divorce is not permitted under Maltese law, though divorce granted in other countries must be respected by Maltese law.

Administration of property, family surname, maintenance of spouse and parental authority are all covered by Maltese law, however due to changing family models some areas remain unresolved. These including women’s rights to pensions in the event where a woman has stayed at home to raise the children and then gets separated from her husband.

The committee expresses recommends the introduction of divorce laws, the same rights regarding the administration of property and equal rights to initiate divorce proceedings as well as a review of the current legal system governing marriage and family relations with a view to extending existing legal provisions to couples living in de facto unions.