Equality Promotion Commissioner appointed

Prime Minister Eddie Fenech Adami yesterday presented the letters of appointment to Janet Mifsud as the first Commissioner for the Promotion of Equality and to Sina Bugeja, executive director of the National Commission for the Promotion of Equality for Men and Women.

The commission was established by Act 1 of 2003.

Dr Fenech Adami said that gender issue was, first and foremost an issue related to the dignity of the human person. "Equality of status, equality of rights and equality of opportunities reaffirm the country's commitment to respect the human person whether male or female.

"Secondly, this is an issue that benefits the development of our social fabric and, if handled carefully, enhances the family unit by facilitating its continuous development into a partnership based on the values that we all believe in.

"Thirdly, our human resources need to be developed to the full since our economic development depends on our ability to create opportunities for every single member of our society."

The commission's task is to identify, establish and update all policies directly or indirectly related to issues of equality between men and women and to identify the needs of persons who are disadvantaged by reasons of their sex and to take such steps for appropriate measures in order to cater for such needs.

It is also tasked to monitor the implementation of national policies with respect to the promotion of equality between men and women; to liaise between and ensure the necessary coordination between government departments and other agencies in the implementation of measures, services or initiatives proposed by the government or the commission and to keep direct contact with local and foreign bodies working in the field of equality issues.

Among other functions, the commission's brief is to work towards the elimination of discrimination and to ensure that the provisions of the law are being complied with.

It is also entrusted to investigate complaints of a more particular or individual character in order to determine whether the provisions of the law are being contravened and to provide assistance to persons suffering from discrimination.

The Department of Women in Society has now been absorbed within the national commission. Apart from Dr Mifsud and Ms Bugeja the commission is made up of Grace Attard, Miriam Camilleri, Fr Vanni Xuereb, Myriam Spiteri Debono, Winston J. Zahra and Mario Mallia.