The Parliamentary Secretary for Reforms and Equality, Rebecca Buttigieg, together with the Principal Permanent Secretary Tony Sultana, launched guidelines on the principles of Equality and Gender Mainstreaming.
Parliamentary Secretary Buttigieg said that these guidelines are intended to concretely strengthen the principles of equality between the sexes so that they eventually become part of the culture of our society. She said that this is the next step in our country’s journey towards full equality. These guidelines identify sectors in which the government, individuals, businesses and organizations are being encouraged to take steps in their daily operations to remedy the discrepancies that are leading to unequal treatment between the sexes.
Parliamentary Secretary Buttigieg explained that these guidelines focus on how there should be participation and visibility for all genders in meetings, in events, in reports, in publication, in advertising and in public purchases. She added that the guidelines also require more sensitivity towards each gender in spoken and written language. “The choice of these sectors was made in a studied and considered way because they all shape the mentality, because they all have an impact on how society looks at the perspective and dimension of equality,” she concluded.
Meanwhile, the Head of Public Service Tony Sultana claimed that it is gratifying that the guidelines launched today were made after a wide consultation with a number of entities including the NSO, the NCPE, the Consultative Council for Rights of Women together with his Office where this testifies how diversity and different cultures even in the workplace lead to significant results.
“This is the Public Administration we are working for. Public Administration without barriers where everyone works in synergy. Committed that these guidelines will not remain only on paper but we will continue to use them in daily practice,” repeated Tony Sultana.
Public and private entities are being invited to implement these guidelines.
