Overwhelming vote in favour of EU membership

The National Council of Women held its annual general meeting yesterday at the Victoria Hotel, Sliema. The president, Grace Attard, now in her fourth year in office highlighted the important role the Council has and its relevance in the crucial issues Malta is facing.

NCW carries the responsibility of informing and educating women on national current issues. The president said that women, who make up more than half the population, have to make their opinion known in the near future.

The imminence of the EU referendum called for a resolution to be approved by the Assembly, stating the Council's position on EU membership in the next enlargement. The resolution stating NCW's stand in favour of EU membership, was approved by an overwhelming vote in favour after a secret ballot was taken.

The general assembly also discussed and approved several other resolutions, dealing with gender-sensitive public budget; equal pay for work of equal value; conditions of work for contracted employees; promotion of equality for men and women in political life; nomination of women in the judiciary; early detection of domestic violence; non-molestation and occupational orders; promotion of mental well-being; breast cancer screening; re-establishing the value of natural birth; sexuality and the disabled; illiteracy; bullying and violence and educating parents. A detailed report of the AGM will be published in the NCW newsletter Il-Mara.

The executive committee for 2003 is made up of Grace Attard, president; Dr Mercedes Schembri Wismayer, Helga Ellul and Carmen Spiteri, vice-presidents; Doris Bingley, general secretary; Jean Killick, treasurer; M'Jane Spiteri, honorary president; Rita Camilleri, M'Rose Zahra, Marlene Calleja, Marie Demicoli, Marie Therese Cassola, Doreen Susan Micallef, Fleur Vella and Diane Xuereb, executive members.