The National Council of Women has, throughout the year, focused on addressing the issue of women in decision-making positions and on carrying out several initiatives to address the issue. The first initiative was an NCW/NSO research to identify the obstacles, followed by a conference to publicize the survey findings.

Based on recommendations of the Conference, NCW drew up a programme of interactive sessions, especially for women interested in local and national politics. The aim was to attract and encourage women to take up decision-making positions, whether in political, or other spheres.

Certificates were presented at the NCW Centre at Blata l-Bajda, when Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi spoke words of encouragement to the participants, fully aware of the obstacles women face in creating a work/life balance.

The NCW submitted a number of recommendations to the Prime Minister, urging the government, political parties, local councils and civil society organizations to take action on various aspects of the subject, such as the formulation of a national policy to more effectively address equality in decision-making and its implementation; initiatives to bring about a cultural change that facilitates the entry of women in decision-making in economic, social and particularly in political positions at local and national level and to ensure that positive action is taken in the field of equal treatment of men and women, as stated in EU directives.