The energy sector has been deemed as ‘definitely not gender-neutral,’ as energy poverty continues to disproportionally affect women, Maltese MEP Josianne Cutajar said.

During an event is organised jointly by the European Parliament Office, the European Commission Representation, and the Female Entrepreneurs Malta (FEM) Community in Malta, several speakers talked about the need to seriously address the struggles women face, often more than men, with regards to the energy sector, as part of a campaign which has marked its fourth year.

Head of the European Parliament Liaison Office in Malta Dr Mario Sammut opened the event by saying that this initiative, in collaboration with the FEM community, is helping women who are ‘unseen’ from society.

He said that there are individuals who are struggling to meet their basic needs, and there needs to be way more awareness of what conditions many women have to face. Sammut mentioned that half of single women with children in Malta are struggling to pay energy bills.

While Sammut mentioned that the EU has passed gas and electricity directives which strive to protect vulnerable people from high energy prices, the directives do not take into consideration the gender.

“Women often suffer more as there is still a disparity in income between men and women,” Sammut said, also mentioning that while there is now a EU directive for equal work, equal pay, this took 60 years to come into effect.

Head of Communications of the European Commission Representation in Malta Mark Vella said that statistics show that the gender pay-gap reaches 13% between men and women, adding that women are more prone to economic deprivation, gender abuse, gender discrimination and violence.

Vella said that the most important contribution the EU Commission can make is the gender equality strategy, and that in any policy-making decision, one keeps in mind that there is a sector of society, referring to women, which is more deprived and more prone to the risk of impoverishment.

“Our aim as the EU is for women to not only survive, but to thrive, and given the necessary tools to be successful, and at the end, equal,” Vella said.

In a video message shown, MEP Josianne Cutajar said that to better combat the energy crisis, women must be given a seat at the table where decisions on energy laws are made.

She said that the energy sector is definitely not gender-neutral, as women have different access to resources and opportunities, and while they are more dependent on energy in the households than men, they are often more sustainable.

President of the FEM community Dana Carmont also spoke, thanking the audience for the donations, giving a reminder to celebrate every woman on the planet, along with their achievements and successes.

Heading the Anti-Poverty Network at Caritas Andre Bonello, who works closely with locals when it comes to fighting poverty, said that he cannot wish a happy Women’s Day to the late Bernice Cassar, Kim Borg, Pelin Kaya and Daphne Caruana Galizia, as they died because we did not tackle the greed of our authorities.

He also said that he cannot wish a happy Women’s Day to Isabella Sofia, whose late son Jean-Paul Sofia was killed under the debris of a construction collapse.

Bonello said that Caritas sees thousands of people fighting drug addictions every year. He condemned the authorities in Malta for debating a tentative to legalise prostitution, instead of doing a tentative to empower women.

“Are we giving adequate income to our citizens? To women? Women in Malta are becoming increasingly poor. Single women are increasing yearly and they are even poorer, older women are getting poorer,” Bonello said.

He referred to Kaya’s case, who “died because of an angry man who does not respect himself or his dignity.” Bonello continued that Cassar was killed by a man who does not respect himself.

Bonello asked if justice will be brought to Sofia’s mother, “or will we leave her fighting alone for her child?” He questioned if maternity leave is enough, and if the woman who is going on maternity leave will still be given opportunities to continue to compete with her colleagues.

“Politicians are far from the lives of ordinary people,” Bonello said, quoting a Ukrainian single mother struggling to provide for her son.

A ceremony of presenting handbags to Carmont, as well as to Representatives of the Shelters that support Women, was held.

Ms Rosette Zahra from Dar Merhba Bik, Ms Michaela Cauchi from Dar Hosea, Ms Rose Curmi and Ms Carmen Grixti from St.Jeane Antide Foundation, and Founder of the Soup Kitchen in Valletta Fr Marcellino Micallef addressed the audience on the work they do to support women who are undergoing difficult experiences such as financial difficulties, domestic violence, exploitation and prostition, providing them with meals and facilities daily.

Micallef appealed for volunteers to participate in helping the shelters, particularly mentioning that there is not one government school adopting the initiative of volunteering in the shelters.