Marie Therese Cuschieri is the newly elected chairperson of the Malta Confederation of Women’s organisations (MCWO). Cuschieri was unanimously elected by member organisations and took the reins from Lorraine Spiteri.
No doubt Cushcieri has her work cut out for her, with numerous women’s issues she wishes to address on a local and international level. I recently caught up Marie Therese, to learn more about her experience which led her to this position, and what she has in store for the Confederation.
As we meet in a café in Sliema, Cuschieri admits she is still getting her head around taking up such a high-profile role. “I am used to being at the forefront of organisations, but this is the first time I feel I can draw upon my personal, academic and professional experience to throw everything into this role and echo the women’s voices I hear to bring about much-needed change.”
Cuschieri holds a PhD from the prestigious Loughborough University in the UK and has an extensive background in gender equality and sports. She also has a Masters in Sports Organisation Management and a Diploma in gender and development from the University of Malta.
Professionally, she worked for many years within the management of the family business; her latest experience alongside her sister. “When I was young, it was exceptionally rare for women to head businesses; and when getting married, women were expected to stop working outside the home just to keep the house and take care of the children. For me, personally, this was never the case. I was always itching to get back to work after my boys grew up, and to continue to learn and grow” she adds.
Learn and grow is exactly what Dr Cuschieri did, locally and overseas, she held several important roles including the Director on the Executive Board of the Maltese Olympic Committee. In England, she was a member of the Strategic Board for athlete development of the Aquatic Sports Association (ASA). This is just a mere snapshot of the work Cuschieri has done to raise the profile of gender equality within sports.
On a personal level, Cuschieri made local headlines for winning a landmark legal women’s rights case.
“I was legally separated in 2013 and later divorced. Yet, when I appeared as Director of a company on a promise of sale agreement, the notary informed me that my personal marital status and ex-husband’s name had to be included in the contract. I felt really upset. Why should our past have to follow us around, and what about those women who really need to make a clean break?” The decision of the Constitutional Court was that the legal provision in the Notarial Act was discriminatory and undoubtedly gave rise to a violation of the applicant’s right to private life by “linking her indefinitely to a person who no longer formed part of her life”. Unfortunately, Cuschieri adds she is still working to include the outcome of her personal case into Maltese law to benefit all women.
When it comes to topics such as prostitution and abortion, Cuschieri is quick to explain the stance of the MWCO. “We are an umbrella organisation, so the MCWO opinion is not the opinion of one individual organisation. We meet, we share information, we discuss and adopt a position. However, we are also affiliated to the European Women’s Lobby (EWL) which brings together a large number of European organisations. EWL has a position on the various issues that affect women’s rights, including the promotion of the Equality model on prostitution.” As our time presses on, I quickly turn the conversation to abortion. MCWO members have also discussed this topic; however, unlike other subjects, a consensus could not be reached, so MCWO is unable to back one position above the other.
Having just started in the role, Cuschieri notes that a considerable level of awareness must be undertaken to raise the profile of the Confederation. Unfortunately, when it comes to women’s rights, she concludes, “Aside from the general inequality, I feel like there are so many important areas of concern: violence against women, trafficking of women and girls, surrogacy, prostitution, and so much more. If we intend to safeguard women’s rights, we need to do more; women should get more involved; organisations must join forces and work together. Enough talk, it’s time for action”.