National Commission for the

Promotion of Equality

12th Annual Conference

25th May 2016

Review of Work

Ms Renee Laiviera

Commissioner

NCPE

• An independent, government-funded body that

works for a society free from discrimination

• Chapter 456 outlines its remit in relation to

employment, access to vocational/professional

training as well as banks and financial

institutions

• This encompasses gender and family

responsibilities, gender identity, gender

expression and sex characteristics, age, sexual

orientation, religion/belief and race/ethnic origin

NCPE

Remit also established in the field of

gender and race/ethnic origin in the

access to and provision of goods and

services via two legal notices:

- Legal Notice 181 of 2008, Access to

Goods and Services and their Supply

(Equal Treatment) Regulations

- Legal Notice 85 of 2007, Equal Treatment

of Persons Order.

Statistical Review – Gender Equality

• Economical and political spheres: women

significantly underrepresented

• Employment: female participation is steadily on

the rise

• Political sphere: women’s participation is still very

low

• University education: the only area where men

are considerably underrepresented

• The EIGE Gender Equality Index in the form of a

score board shows the extent of gender

inequalities in a number of important domains

Employment

Statistical Review

Employment rates of working-age men and women

Statistical Review

Self-Employment

Total employed by professional status of women and men in 2015

Public Administration

Statistical Review

Women and men in salary scales (2014 and 2015)

Statistical Review

Politics – Local Government

Local Councils

Mayors, Deputy Mayors and Councillors in 2015

Statistical Review

Politics – National Government

Cabinet in 2015

Statistical Review

Judiciary

Bench of Judges Bench of Magistrates

Statistical Review

Education

University Graduates in 2014/5

MCAST Graduates in 2015

NCPE’s work in 2015 included:

• Investigations

• Policy review and recommendations

• Research

• Awareness-raising activities

• Media

• Gender Balance: Online Directory of Professional

Women and Mentoring Programme

• Training

• Monitoring media for discriminatory adverts

• Equality Mark

• Organisation of conferences

• Provision of information upon request

• Applying for EU funds

The Commissioner and

Commission Members in 2015

The Commissioner: Renee Laiviera

The Commission Members:

Claudine Borg

Prof. Mark Anthony Falzon

Mary Galea Debono

Mario Mallia

Oliver Scicluna

Lorraine Spiteri

Dr Vanni Xuereb

Investigations

• 35 complaints were lodged by 12

individuals

• 3 investigations initiated by the

Commission

Commission’s

Policy Recommendations

• 11 Commission meetings in 2015

• The Commission discussed and submitted policy

recommendations on a number of important issues:

- Establishment of a Human Rights and Equality

Commission

- Changes in the Criminal Code with regards to the

vilification of religion and pornography

• The Commission submitted its proposal for a

Cohabitation Act with a view to protect vulnerable

parties in a relationship

Policy Papers and Documents

Review of consultative documents published on a

national level:

• A Positive Parenting Policy for Malta

• Consultation on IVF Legislation

• Consultation on Mind D Gap – Together we can make a

difference

• White Paper on the setting up of a Human Rights and Equality

Commission

• White Paper on the Social Enterprise Act

• White Paper on effective recruitment and selection procedures

for people working with minors

• White Paper on school opening hours and traffic congestion

• White Paper on the Family Business Act

• Draft Pension Strategy - Strengthening the Pension System

• Draft Strategy for the Reception of Asylum Seekers and

Irregular Migrants

• Pre-budget 2016 consultation

Policy Papers and Documents

• Review of official documents and policy papers

including documents received from various

international entities:

- the EU Council Conclusions

- proposals for Directives

- requests for feedback from national and international

entities

• Regular feedback on the:

- proposed Directive on implementing the principle of equal

treatment between persons irrespective of religion or

belief, disability, age or sexual orientation outside the

area of employment;

- proposed Directive on improving the gender balance

among non-executive directors of companies listed on

stock exchanges and related measures

Gender Mainstreaming in the

Public Sector

• All government departments and public sector

organisations are required to prepare a brief

annual report on the measures and the

progress achieved in the sphere of gender

equality and mainstreaming (OPM Circular

15/2012)

• Assistance to public officials to complete the

annual report template attached to the Circular

• In 2015 NCPE received a total of 58 reports

that were compiled for the attention of the

office of the Permanent Secretary MSDC

Malta EU Council Presidency

Preparation for Malta Presidency of the Council of

the European Union (January - June 2017). NCPE:-

• Provided its expertise on gender equality to MSDC

particularly on the topic to be addressed by Malta in

relation to gender equality during the Presidency

• Provided contributions on violence against women

• Contributed towards the drafting of the Trio Presidency

Declaration on Gender Equality

• Liaised with relevant European institutions and

colleagues from the Trio Presidencies on matters

related to equality

Research

Research studies:

• Gender–Balanced Representation in Decision-Making:

explored possible measures which may increase the number

of women in senior and leadership positions

• Gender Quotas and Other Measures towards a gender-

balanced representation in Decision–Making: assessed

the feasibility to introduce gender quotas and other measures

• Equality Bodies’ Good Practices in the field of non-

discrimination: analysed 10 equality bodies from EU

member states

• Mapping Exercise: identified and explored working

processes utilised in the equality bodies of Austria, Northern

Ireland and Malta

Research

• Public Employee Perception Survey:

surveyed the level of knowledge and

awareness of equality and diversity

principles in the public service and

public sector

• Female Genital Mutilation in Malta: identified needs and

circumstances of migrant women affected by FGM, and

probed into the needs of healthcare providers. Leaflets for

healthcare professionals and migrant women were published

• Violence on Older Women and Men: analysed the

processes, factors and issues surrounding violence on older

women and men. A guide for professionals was published

• Violence, Harassment and Bullying in Schools:

developed an in-depth understanding of

how students experience multiple forms

of abuse within the educational settings

Gender Balance in Decision-Making

Online Directory of Professional Women

• By end of 2015 there were 214 professional

women registered in the online Directory

Gender Balance in Decision-Making

Mentoring Programme

• 30 mentors matched with 30 mentees

• 96 hours of one-to-one support

Campaign on Violence,

Harassment and Bullying

in Schools

Awareness-raising Activities

Campaign on Violence on

Older Women and Men

Awareness-Raising Activities

Campaign on

Violence Against Women

The 5 videos of the campaign registered 47,233 views and a

total of 634 likes, comments and shares on Facebook

Media

• Press Statements

• Articles and features

• Participation in TV

and radio shows

• Website

• Facebook

• Youtube

• E-newsletter

Discriminatory Advertising

Review of adverts on local

newspapers and online media

with the aim of preventing and

combating discriminatory

portrayals

NCPE intervened in

• 54 cases of discriminatory job adverts

• 34 cases on the basis of gender in relation to vacant

posts or to education and vocational training

• 17 on the basis of age in employment.

• 2 job adverts on the basis of both gender and age

• 1 on the basis of race in employment

Requests for Information

63 requests* for information made by entities on a

national and international level and by general public.

• 37 requests were related to gender equality

• 9 to race/ethnic origin

• 7 to age

• 3 to gender identity, gender expression and

sex characteristics

• 2 to sexual orientation

• 10 requests did not fall within NCPE’s remit

* Some requests covered more than one ground

Equality Mark

• Awarded to organisations that demonstrate a commitment

to foster gender equality

- at the workplace

- in their provision of goods and services

• A working environment that values gender equality is

assessed by looking at

- measures for reconciliation between work/life responsibilities

- opportunities for training

- initiatives promoting gender equality

- a zero tolerance policy to discrimination and

sexual harassment

• 9 organisations received the

certification and 17 organisations were

re-certified

Training

• 82 training sessions with a total of

1,300 participants

• Capacity building to NCPE staff

Training

• Topics covered included

- Role and remit of NCPE

- Malta’s equality legislation

- Defining equality and non-discrimination

- Gender and equality mainstreaming

- Tackling sexual harassment

- Challenging stereotypes

- Appreciating and managing diversity

- Tele-working

- Forms of violence

• Groups included students, teachers, school

children, shop stewards, employees and

management in the public and private sectors,

and local councils

Conferences

- Gender Pay Gap Conference

- NCPE’s 11th Annual Conference

- Gender Balance in Decision Making

- Developing a Culture of Rights through Capacity

Building

- Forms of Violence – a gender perspective

Resources in Library and

Documentation Centre

• Students and

researchers

use NCPE’s

library resources

• Books, periodicals and journals

• Mostly related to equality on all grounds

• Database of local newspaper articles related to

equality and all the grounds of discrimination

• Library database can now be accessed from

NCPE’s website

Contacting NCPE

4th Floor, Gattard House

National Road, Blata l- Bajda

equality@gov.mt

www.equality.gov.mt

25903850

NCPE’s Annual Reports can be accessed online

in Our Publications and Resources section

of the website