MCWO

Male involvement in eradicating violence against women

mcwo — Thu, 09 May 2013 09:13:01 +0000

The American Embassy in collaboration with the MCWO organised a talk by Mr Rus Funk of Mensworkinc, long time activist in the movement to end sexual and domestic violence. Rus Ervin Funk is the Executive Director of MensWork, an organization that focuses on projects, programs and activities to educate, engage and organize men to be a part of the solution to sexual and domestic violence. Policies encouraging male involvement in eradicating violence against women should be encouraged by involving males in their preventive efforts.

Please view the following powerpoint attachments:

MCWO condemns recent rape judgement

mcwo — Thu, 09 May 2013 08:58:43 +0000

The Malta Confederation of Women’s Organisations (MCWO) has condemned the court sentence given to three 17 year old boys for raping a 14 year old girl.

The three young men were placed under probation after admitting that they had raped a 14 year old girl in Mosta and held her against her will. Two of them were placed under probation for three years while the third was placed under probation for two years.

MCWO Responds to Gang Rape Sentence

mcwo — Thu, 09 May 2013 08:46:44 +0000

rThe Malta Confederation of Women’s Organisations (MCWO) notes with disbelief the sentence given to three 17 year old boys for raping a 14 year old girl.

The three young men were placed under probation, two of them for three years, the third for two years. The three admitted that they had raped a 14 year old girl and held her against her will.

Incredibly, the report states that both the prosecution and the defence agreed that what had happened was an act of foolishness by three young men who thought their deed to be some achievement.

MCWO can understand that the role of the defence is to act on behalf of the accused. However, the role of the prosecution is to see that laws are not broken neither against the victim nor against society in general; and if they are, the accused are made to shoulder their responsibilities. It is indeed astonishing that both the prosecution and the defence agreed that raping a 14 year old was an act of foolishness.

How can we give such negative messages to members of our society, be they men or women, but more so men?

All violence, not least violence against women, is an act of free will. Those boys committed a crime on a 14 year old girl because they wanted to. Admittedly, their youth and clean records entitle them to a second chance. But not to the extent of playing down what they did as “an act of foolishness”. That, to say the least, is degrading, humiliating and horribly insensitive to the victim and to society in general.

No mention was made of the state of mental, physical, and psychological health of the raped girl. How is the victim going to be compensated for such an assault? Will she ever be able to lead a normal life and enjoy a healthy relationship with another man? What about her trust in the justice system?

MCWO is in duty bound to make its voice heard in order to continue to highlight the ugliness and non-acceptability of violence against women for the good of us all.

Changes to the Constitution – Third edition of the Forum tal-President

mcwo — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 15:48:16 +0000

On the 25th April, 2013 Ms. Renee Laiviera attended the third edition of the Forum tal-President re changes to the Constitution on behalf of the Malta Confederation of Women’s Organisations.

Facilitator, journalist, 4 panellists were all male. During discussion time, Ms. Laiviera stood up to highlight the fact that only one panellist referred to the need for changes to include a higher participation of women and emphasised that the Konvenzjoni Kostituzzjonali should address the democratic deficit existing at present and include the need for participation of women in all sectors.

Ms.Laiviera was followed by Prof Ray Mangion who suggested that the next President should be a woman and Carmelo Abela MP who remarked on the male composition of the panel.

Ms. Laiviera later talked to Dr Franco Debono and highlighted this issue. He said he had already included in his plans the need for more women in the political sphere. Ms. Laiviera drew Dr. Franco Debono’s attention to the need for more women in the overall decision-making process. He promised to take this into consideration.

Why do women matter in politics?

mcwo — Sun, 17 Mar 2013 22:58:41 +0000

MCWO Activity – Why do women matter in politics?

mcwo — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 18:12:13 +0000

The following is the updated programme in relation to the 1st March activity for women candidates.

1^st March 2013 – Dar L-Ewropa, 254, St Paul’s Street – Valletta (2.30 to 4.00 pm)

Programme

2.30 – 2.35 - Introduction and welcome by MCWO chair – Ms Renee Laiviera2.35 – 3.05 -Factors that impact on the low participation rate of women in politics in Malta – Dr Hermann Schiavone

3.05 – 3.20 - Discussion

3.20 – 3.35 - Why women matter in politics – Ms Anna Borg

3.35 - 4.00 - Discussion

Participation of EWL members in the UN Commission on the Status of Women 2013

mcwo — Sun, 17 Feb 2013 11:19:05 +0000

The fifty-seventh session of the Commission on the Status of Women will take place at United Nations Headquarters in New York from 4 to 15 March 2013.

Priority theme of CSW: Elimination and prevention of all forms of violence against women and girls.

Review theme: The equal sharing of responsibilities between women and men, including caregiving in the context of HIV/AIDS (agreed conclusions from the fifty-third session).

The EWL will be present and organize a side event on “Violence against women and prostitution: protecting women’s rights in Europe and worldwide” on Wednesday 06.03.2013 at 18h15, in the chapel of the Church Center for the UN.

Please send us the names, email addresses & date of presence of EWL members attending CSW before 18.02.2013 to pape@womenlobby.org. Please also indicate whether they are part of the national delegation.

Consultation : assessment of the implementation of the Directive 2006/54/EC by the European Commission – gender neutral job classification and evaluation systems

The Commission is drafting a Report to the European Parliament and the Council in 2013 on the application of this Directive.

In preparation of the report the Commission consulted the European social partners in July 2012 asking to provide their assessment of the transposition and application of Directive 2006/54/EC, in particular in relation to the application of the equal pay

provisions of the Directive.

We are now seeking your views specifically on the enclosed draft Guidance on gender neutral job classification and evaluation systems which is intended to form an annex to the report on Directive 2006/54/EC. The guidance is addressed to social partners, employers, employees and Member States. It aims to assist all the relevant stakeholders in implementing the principle of equal remuneration for equal work or work of equal value and ensuring that this principle is applied to all aspects of pay. The objective of this guidance is to help eliminate sex discrimination whenever pay structures are based on job classification and evaluation systems.

We would particularly appreciate your views and suggestions on how the guidance could be further refined to reflect the specificities of the determination of pay through the process of the negotiation of collective agreements by social partners and to address the particular issues arising in that context. We would be grateful for your reply by 20 February 2013 at the latest.

Call for contribution/recommendations for Next Issue of European Women’s Voice on Women in Decision-Making (deadline: 13.03.2013)

We are pleased to share with you that our next issue of the European Women’s Voice will be on women in decision-making, a key priority for the EWL since its foundation. With the EC proposal for a directive on Women on Boards, the European Parliament elections coming up in 2014, ongoing debates on quotas or parity in many Member States, this is also the perfect time to provide through the European Women’s Voice an in-depth understanding of the issues at stake both in terms of political and economic decision-making.

We have already had a brainstorming at the EWL secretariat about the content of this new European Women’s Voice, but we would like to have your suggestions. The aim of the European Women’s Voice is to provide an in depth analysis on a specific issue.

We would welcome proposals from you (please note that we of course do not expect you to send suggestions for all the examples below, this list aims at telling you what we are looking for specifically J) in the following aspects:

- in-depth article about an issue linked to women in decision-making (e.g. implementation of quotas legislation in your country). Please send us at this stage a short abstract of 10 lines. Feel free to contact your members who are expert on this issue to ask them to send us a short abstract.

- Contacts of academics who could write a good article on women in decision-making (either political and/or economic); we are for example looking for an academic who would write a good article on quotas on women on boards.

- Names and contacts of women leaders we could interview on women’s leadership: the idea is to have a crossed interview of a woman trade union leader, woman head of a social economy company/NGO and a woman CEO from the business sector.

- Send us interesting academic articles/research on this issue.

- Nice visuals or slogans from your campaigns on women in decision-making, including on mentoring (to illustrate).

- Examples of actions NGOs can do on women in decision-making (we will have an activist toolkit page).

Deadline to send your contribution/recommendation: Wednesday 13 March

We thank you in advance for your contribution, thanks to you, we will have a great European Women’s Voice for the next EWL General Assembly!

EWL

mcwo — Sun, 17 Feb 2013 09:25:52 +0000

Read the latest EWL newsflash here :

http://womenlobby.org/spip.php?page=courrier&id_courrier=247

One Billion Rising Malta

mcwo — Sun, 10 Feb 2013 17:42:02 +0000

https://www.facebook.com/events/515937365093295/?fref=ts

JOIN US ON 14-02-13 TO MOVE THE EARTH AT ST.ANNE’S SQUARE, SLIEMA AT 10.00am FOR AN HOUR OF DANCE. A revolutionary campaign to end violence against women and girls.

MCWO is joining in this ‘one Billion and Rising’ Event to manifest women’s empowerment in their struggle to combat violence against women in the home, at work and on the streets.

Herman Van Rompuy is RISING. Can we rely on the future EU budget to ensure appropriate funding for work to end violence against women and girls?

Smart budgeting tip of the day: 1 Euro invested in prevention of violence against women can save 87 Euros in total costs of that violence.

Click here for Van Rompuy’s video.

11 days left to join EWL’s European Political Mentoring Network for Women of Ethnic Minorities/Foreign Origin

mcwo — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 15:49:11 +0000

Interested in running for the European Parliament Elections in May 2014? Not sure yet about running but convinced you would like to play an active role in the campaign? You have till the 11 February 2013 to express interest to join the EWL’s European Political Mentoring Network for women of foreign origin or ethnic minority background!

Starting February 2013 until the European Elections in May 2014, the European Women’s Lobby will coordinate a Political Mentoring Network connecting 8 to 12 women Members of the European Parliament from different political parties and countries with 8 to 12 women of foreign origin or ethnic minority background who are interested in running for the European Parliament Elections or play an actve role in the EP campaign in May 2014.

What can you get out of being a mentee in this Network?

The aim is to provide you with a practical insight into European affairs, to help you to meet new people and to expand your political network, and to give you the tools to compete and to get a good position on the list of your political party for the next European Elections.

Who are the mentors?

Mentors are current women MEPs willing to share their advice and experience with you from different political parties and countries.

What are the conditions to join the Network as a mentee?

Mentees in EWL’s European Political Mentoring Network are:

Women with migrant background or from an ethnic minority living in the European Union;
Already involved in politics at local, regional and/or national level;
Eligible and interested in running for the next European Elections in June 2014;
Committed to women’s rights.
Have at least a good understanding of English as this will be the language used in capacity-building sessions (you might be able to use a different language with your mentor)

Please note that we will also consider applications of women interested in being part of a campaign team and/or are unsure about running themselves for the upcoming European Elections. Your mentor will be there to support you in your decision to run or not based on what you have learned through your partnership.

How can I join?

If you fulfill the conditions , you can create your personal profile till the 11th of February 2013 on our database here. You will be asked to attach a short CV in English as well as a completed application form availablehere. If you are shortlisted, we will contact you for a personal interview to learn more about your motivation and expectations. Then, we will start the process of matching your profile with those of participating MEPs to find your “mentor soulmate”.

Your travel, accommodation and subsistence costs will be covered by the EWL during your stays in Brussels, Strasbourg and/or the home country of the MEP (based on an agreement). Nevertheless, neither the mentees, nor the mentors are paid for their participation in the Network. This is a voluntary commitment that needs your full engagement but will for sure bring you far more than money!

Download the flyer and learn more about the EWL’s Political Mentoring Network here.

If you’re experiencing problem registering in the data-base, please send us your filled application form and CV in English to: bach@womenlobby.org

Deadline to present your application: 11 February 2013!

More information: bach@womenlobby.org

Amandine Bach (Ms.)

Policy Officer and Project Coordinator / Chargée de politiques et coordinatrice de projets