Council of Europe launches its gender equality strategy
Minister for European Affairs and Equality Helena Dalli spoke of the need to introduce requirements for fair gender representation in leadership positions during the launch of the Council of Europe’s Gender Equality Strategy for the years 2018-2023.
She called for the necessary action to address the gender gap in decision-making. She noted that no country has ever managed to boost female representation at decision making levels without the use of quotas. This was not a matter of opinion on whether one favoured or disliked quotas but a matter of scientific evidence.
On violence, sexism and gender stereotypes, Minister Dalli hailed the #MeToo movement as a wakeup call for humanity to address a scourge that has been swept under the carpet for too long. She welcomed the fact that many women and girls are now speaking up about these issues, which is also a result of feminist activism. Dr Dalli referred to the Istanbul Convention as the most important instrument to address gender-based violence. The Minister recalled how Malta put the issue of violence against women and girls on the top list of priorities for the Presidency of the Council of the EU which led to the EU’s signature of the Istanbul Convention in June 2017. The Minister expressed hope that more Council of Europe Member States sign and ratify the Convention to ensure protection for women and girls across the board.
Minister Dalli also spoke about issues of intersectionality and the need for proper mainstreaming in policies aimed at strengthening gender equality, by taking into consideration the different backgrounds and realities women face. She noted how some migrant women and those from ethnic minorities can be prone to suffering higher levels of discrimination. Dr Dalli shared Malta’s efforts in addressing such discrimination with the recently launched integration strategy.
The conference was also attended by Malta’s Equality Commissioner, Renee Laiviera, who as member of the Gender Equality Commission of the Council of Europe moderated a panel on women in decision-making.