Quotas to boost the number of female MPs and ensure gender balance would not run counter to the constitution, equal rights advocates have pointed out.

The principle that special measures can be implemented to achieve equality was enshrined in the constitution, said Renee Laiviera, Commissioner for the Promotion of Equality.

The constitution lays down that: “Nothing in the provisions of this article [protection from discrimination] shall apply to any law or anything done under the authority of a law, or to any procedure or arrangement, in so far as such law, thing done, procedure or arrangement provides for the taking of special measures aimed at accelerating de facto equality between men and women, and in so far only as such measures, taking into account the social fabric of Malta, are shown to be reasonably justifiable.”

About 118 countries used some type of gender quota for elected office, largely with positive results, Ms Laiviera noted.

READ: PM backs gender quotas for parliament

In her opinion, quotas enhance democracy by addressing a democratic deficit, since the under-representation of one sex, currently women, effectively means that women are not fully included in democratic processes.

Lorraine Spiteri.

Lorraine Spiteri, who chairs the Malta Confederation of Women’s Organisations, pointed out that the constitution mentioned special measures to redress inequalities between women and men.

She believes Parliament should be a true reflection of the population it represents.

“At the moment, we have a democratic deficit. Women and men have different backgrounds and experiences and should contribute in all discussions. Malta still scores below the European and global average.

READ: Are gender quotas a problem or a solution?

“So, unless this strategic decision is taken urgently, we have to wait for probably another 100 years to reach gender equality,” Ms Spiteri said.

Although sometimes controversial, quotas were seen as the most effective mechanism for including voices excluded from political processes, which were largely designed on a patriarchal and traditional framework where men were expected to be more committed to their career and women to family and home, she said.

“There are a number of reasons why women are not represented in Parliament, and it is not because people do not choose to vote for women but simply because there are not enough female candidates...

“Most of these factors are invisible, and quotas will help break this glass ceiling,” Ms Spiteri noted, adding that quotas were a temporary measure to improve democracy and prepare a level playing field.

Earlier this year, the government promised to introduce a quota mechanism for the general election and is expected to start talks with the Opposition once the Nationalist Party leadership contest is concluded.

The quota system being proposed by the NCPE would see political parties alternate between female and male candidates in the electoral lists for local councils, national Parliament and European Parliament elections.

The system could be introduced over a number of years, starting off with at least 30 per cent representation of each gender and increasing to 40 per cent and 50 per cent in the following elections.

“Research indicates that the greatest challenge lies in the political parties’ failure to recruit female candidates.

“This is closely linked to obstacles ranging from the political socialisation of women, which relegates them to certain roles, to the demands of domestic and parenting obligations,” Ms Laiviera noted.

This called for a conscious effort by political parties to break gender stereotypes and to promote balanced and equal female participation in the party structures as well as more family-friendly arrangements and support structures within parties and Parliament.

Ms Spiteri also noted that quotas on their own would not work effectively. Quotas had to be accompanied by a change in culture, which could also be brought about by educational as well as media campaigns.