Prime Minister LaWrence Gonzi welcomed a National Council of Women delegation for an exchange of views on the work the Council is carrying out and the priority areas that need to be addressed regarding women in society.

Dr Gonzi highlighted Government's commitment to ensure a higher participation rate of women in national and local decision-making levels. He also emphasised the importance of increasing the participation of women in the labour market at all levels. Dr Gonzi also spoke of the need for family-friendly measures including work organisation and child care facilities to safeguard the family.

NCW president Grace Attard spoke about the Council's role in ensuring both the social and economic aspects in its work for the advancement of women in all areas. She also stated that society needs to be informed to be in a position to make the right choices and to be able to make full use of the opportunities of EU membership. Informing and educating not only women but all sectors of society is of primary importance to the Council.

Addressing current and future challenges, the prime minister and NCW delegation discussed gender equality and how to increase the participation rate of women in the labour market according to the Lisbon strategy; creating work/life balance by implementing flexible working methods as teleworking; sharing of parental leave to be obligatory; provision of child care facilities; women and entrepreneurship; increasing the participation of women in the labour market; domestic violence; education; pensions; financial management within the household; working longer; and health issues of men and women and participatory democracy.

Besides Ms Attard, the NCW delegation included vice-president Doreen Micallef; general secretary Doris Bingley; legal adviser Dr Roselyn Borg; and executive committee members Fleur Vella, Gaby Pace, Mary Rose Zahra, Dr Mercedes Schembri Wismayer, Anne Marie Dimech and Marie Demicoli.