The Annual General Meeting of the National Council of Women was held on Saturday 27 January 2018, at The Victoria Hotel, Sliema. NCW President Mary Gaerty spoke about the work which the Council has carried out over 2017, which has included: pensions, education for entrepreneurship, violence against women and the challenges faced by women on a daily basis.
Mary Gaerty stressed the need to address poverty and the means to overcome it through education, knowledge about financial independence and financial capability. She also referred to other important areas that the Council is working on including harassment at the workplace, equal pay for equal work, prostitution, pro-life initiatives and not least NCW's stand against abortion.
She also spoke about NCWs position on the Consultative Council for Women's Rights which Hon Helena Dalli, Minister for Equality and Civil Dialogue and European Affairs has recently launched to ensure a holistic approach to women's social, economic and political rights. She highlighted the involvement of the NCW through its three-year project, providing a full programme for women of all ages to start their own business. NCW is also contributing to the President's EmPOWERment Foundation targeting the promotion of Women in Leadership.
She stated that the Council has been closely following crucial current and future social and economic developments in a number of areas at National and EU level. The 2018 AGM resolutions will form the basis of the policies of NCW, in line with these developments for a sustainable future.
The General Assembly discussed and approved a number of resolutions, including those submitted by the affiliated organisations. The Role of Women in the Sustainable Development Goals from a Maltese perspective was one of the key areas of the AGM providing International and European policies to be adapted to the Maltese situation: eliminating the obstacles to the participation of women, on equal terms with men, in the political social, economic and cultural life of their countries.
The AGM also addressed issues concerning different forms of harassment at different levels of the workplace and the importance of improving the status of Vocational Education and training to meet the future needs of Industry.
Other areas addressed were euthanasia, abortion and prostitution. The importance of extending Personal and Social Education beyond Secondary School level was also debated. With regards to women's health the AGM focused on the importance of ensuring informed consent to meet the holistic needs of women undergoing Gynaecological Surgery
Catherine Tabone, Executive Director Valletta 2018 Foundation was guest speaker at the AGM and gave a presentation about the many cultural and artistic activities, which are being organized during this year.
The newly elected Executive Committee Members for 2018 are President Mary Gaerty, Hon. General Secretary Doris Bingley, Vice Presidents: Grace Attard, Amy Camilleri Zahra, Diane Xuereb, Hon. Treasurer Therese Cassola, Members: Nadyanne Mangion, Doris Caruana, Ritianne Ellul, Tamara Gauci, Mandy Mifsud, Gertrude Abela, Lara Gail Dougall, Josette Barbara Cardona, Dr Fransina Abela, Rebecca Wellman and Dr Claudine Zarb, NCW Legal Advisor.