A newly set up organisation, Women in International Security (WIIS-Malta), will push for a fairer representation of women at decision-making levels where women can actually make a difference.

University lecturer and WIIS-Malta member Dr Clare Thake explained, with a smile, that WIIS is pronounced the same way as “wise”.

WIIS Malta is inspired by a number of UN Security Council and European Parliament resolutions, and seeks to promote Women in Peace and Security matters and, more generally, the inclusion of a gender perspective in politics.

Dr Thake pointed out that the gender perspective is not always taken into account in international security.

“Although the laws are in place, the concept behind the legislation is not always implemented in reality,” she said.

WIIS-Malta member Celine Cervi, a part-time lecturer on international relations at the University of Malta, said that the aim of the association is to promote women in peace and security while keeping gender equality mainstream and on the agenda.

WIIS-Malta issued its first press release that welcomed the recent decision taken by the Council of Europe’s Parliamentary Assembly to reject Malta’s – and other countries – list of solely male candidates for the post of judges in the European Court of Human Rights.

In its statement, the parliamentary assembly said, “The Assembly has decided not to proceed to the election of the judges in respect of Malta, Portugal and Slovakia during the April 2007 part-session. It has asked the governments of those three countries to present a new list of candidates.”

Dr Thake pointed out that if the issue was really about not finding women candidates who are Maltese, the government could have nominated a woman from another country.

“However, the government chose not to do so – is it possible that they did not find a woman, neither locally nor in another country, with the necessary qualifications?” she queried.

“I believe that at a point in time, pushing gender equality will not matter because it will be ingrained in everyone’s mentality. However, at the moment, we strongly believe that it needs to be pushed forward and that it is a principle that has to be applied,” she said.

Both Ms Cervi and Dr Thake said that quotas are important but are only useful to a certain extent.

“While quotas place women in certain positions, once they are given a job it is a matter of competence,” said Dr Thake.

Quotas give a chance to competent women who are not advancing enough, said Ms Cervi.

For example, Dr Ina Cremona who was recently nominated to the post of Judge of the Court of First Instance of the European Communities, is not given enough publicity locally. Many people do not know about her, said Dr Thake.

She pointed out that many women in their 40s and 30s who are competent and have experience could have been nominated judge. However, said Dr Thake, they have young children.

“Perhaps after their children have grown up they will apply,” she said.

However, many probably didn’t think they were eligible, she added.

Furthermore, there was no official reaction from female lawyers – it seems to be a non-issue.

Ms Cervi said gender equality has to be taken into consideration otherwise it will not be put on an international agenda.

Malta does not have a female MEP and none of the Maltese MEPs are on the EU gender committee, said Dr Thake.

“Equal representation and gender equality is not only a female issue. It did not cross the mind of the local MEPs to form part of this committee,” she explained.

Ms Cervi added that being on the committee would have given Malta access to information.

WIIS-Malta aims to sensitise people and young women, explained Dr Thake.

“We want to act as mentors and help young women understand that they can achieve whatever they want,” she said.