Role of women in sustainable development

Raising awareness of the benefits of gender equality is a key priority in Malta. The task of promoting equality between men and women is not an easy one. It requires a change in mentality and practical and innovative approaches to bring about real equality. Our country will be all the richer if women contribute together with men in making full use of their potential in the economic, social, cultural and environmental spheres.

The law to promote equality for men and women has provided the legal framework to eliminate discrimination on the basis of sex in a number of areas, including employment, education and vocational guidance, discriminatory advertising for employment and sexual harassment at the workplace among others.

The role of the Commission for Equality for Men and Women is to work towards the elimination of discrimination between men and women and to take measures to promote equality in all areas.

All sectors of society have a role to play to improve the quality of life in three key areas, namely (a) economic growth and equity, (b) social development, and (c) conserving natural resources and the environment. Their balance cannot be achieved without solving the prevailing problems of gender inequality and inequity.

By endorsing Agenda 21, Malta has committed itself and has also been mandated to promote sustainable development. Agenda 21 assigns major importance to the role of women in achieving sustainable development goals. Chapter 24 of Agenda 21, entitled Global Action for Women Towards Sustainable and Equitable Development, outlined strategies to achieve the full and equal participation of women in order to bring about sustainable development. Its aim is to strengthen the role of women in sustainable development.

Malta, together with other European countries, is adopting a number of measures in line with the EU Sustainable Development Strategy, including gender mainstreaming in social protection and social inclusion, gender equality in employment to promote stable and quality employment for all women and men who are capable of working. Policies are being developed to promote reconciliation of work and family life including the provision of childcare and dependent-care.

However, in Malta there are major gaps and emerging issues that need to be addressed. These include the need to integrate gender concerns and to mainstream gender issues into development policies. There is also the need to enhance women's participation in decision and policy making.

The government, the business community, non-governmental organisations and trade unions should promote gender equality. Towards this end there is the need to challenge and change negative and stereotypical attitudes and assumptions regarding female participation in decision making and policy making. In this regard it is imperative to sensitise members of these organisations to the need for equal opportunities for women and men and the positive benefits that women bring to the workplace.

With the setting up of the National Commission for Sustainable Development in 2002, in terms of the Environment Protection Act (2001), Malta took the first steps to develop a sustainable development strategy. One of the specific tasks of the commission is "to prepare a national strategy for sustainable development" which also includes gender perspective.

The National Commission for Sustainable Development will be launching a consultative process on a Sustainable Strategy for Malta during a one-day seminar to be held tomorrow at the Corinthia San Gorg, St Julians. The strategy will address the issue of gender equality and it is imperative that those who have this issue at heart, take part in the conference and therefore in the formulation of this strategy.

The conference is open to all and is free of charge. Participants are requested to fill in al application form which is available at www.mrae.gov.mt/ncsdform.asp. More information may be obtained on 2295 2126.

The consultative process is intended to lead to the drawing up of a sustainable development strategy over a period of five months and will consist of two national conferences and a series of community meetings aimed at fostering public participation in the process.

Ms Attard is a member of the National Commission for Sustainable Development focusing on the gender perspective.