On Women’s Day, the Directorate for Human Rights within the Ministry for Equality, Research, and Innovation held a business breakfast where various topics affecting women today in our country, were discussed by various stakeholders.
Topics discussed included employment and empowerment, women involved in the fields of science, technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) and domestic violence and gender-based violence.
In his speech for the occasion, Minister for Equality, Research, and Innovation Owen Bonnici stressed that this day should serve to not only celebrate the achievements that women have made over the years but moreover to recognize where shortcomings remain and where we still need to work harder.
Among other things, Minister Owen Bonnici mentioned the very important measures taken by the government in recent years, to facilitate women who, want to work. “Through these measures, we have seen a substantial increase in the number of women entering employment. Measures such as free childcare and club 3-16 have been indispensable for many women in our country, in order to achieve financial independence which in turn opens doors for them to achieve a better quality of life for themselves as well as their children”.
The minister also praised the increasing participation of women in the fields of STEM and said that the government will remain committed to further increasing the opportunities in these areas which are so important for our country. “Time and again, history has shown that women have given an important contribution in these areas, so we are determined not to allow any stereotypes to hold back one person or another from fulfilling their potential,” said Minister Bonnici.
The minister concluded by mentioning the valuable work being done to raise awareness about domestic violence and gender-based violence and stressed that these have no place in our country. He also mentioned the amendments proposed to the law regarding femicide and explained how they should also serve to further help bring about a change in the outdated patriarchal mentalities that remain in our country. He saluted the memory of Rita Ellul and reminded that Women’s Day will be worthless if we continue to have these kinds of tragedies that continue to victimize women just because they are women.
