Embarrassingly persistent female deficit

The lack of women at decision-making levels in this country has become an issue of major concern since Malta's entry into the European Union. As one of the handful of female public officers originally involved in the EU accession process, I still remember how embarrassed I used to feel when EU officials used to query the lack of other female public officers in the Maltese delegations.

So when Edward Scicluna, MEP, and Marlene Mizzi, MEP candidate, both speakers at a public dialogue, expressed their own concern and discomfort, I could not but empathise. So did most of those present at this event on the topic of Women In Public Life, organised some days ago by the Malta European Parliament Office in collaboration with the National Council of Women.

The same old arguments for and against positive action and quotas were rehashed with no concrete results. But this time around, some diehards like Ms Mizzi reluctantly conceded that if the only way forward is through the adoption of quotas, then let it happen. If the attainment of gender equality necessitates the introduction of positive action and quotas in other EU countries, Malta cannot possibly aspire to reach such a goal in the near future without similar measures.

This reluctance would probably have been less diffidently conceded if the participants had been reminded that in 2010 Malta ranked 89 out of 134 world countries in the Equality Index World Economic Forum. This ranking shows Malta falling back two places since the last previous reporting exercise. One wonders if those favouring non-interference in the development process would have continued to press for "progress" to be allowed to happen undisturbed.

Nor can one help asking what the commission for the promotion of equality has to say regarding this sad development. Undoubtedly, considerable amounts of EU funds have been invested in research and training to further equality since Malta's accession. But the results leave much to be desired.

The lack of women in decisionmaking positions is still looked upon solely from a gender perspective. Understandable when one considers that the more than 50 per cent female population is represented by nine per cent at the national Parliament and no representation at all at the European Parliament. However, the bottom line of this situation is a democratic deficit that needs urgent attention. Malta cannot continue to give such a negative image of democratic deficiency in its decision-making structures.

Why is this happening? In this context another seminar held some weeks ago by the Department of Public Policy on Gender and Public Policy comes to mind. Elizabeth Meehan of Queen's University, Belfast, as the main speaker, gave an overview of progress made in reaching gender equality at EU level in response to initiatives to bring about balanced participation in all EU structures. The results showed different levels of progress but advancement was definitely registered.

Asked for her opinion on the regressive developments in Malta in the context of declared efforts made to mainstream gender in government work according to EU recommendations, Prof. Meehan replied that there is a lot of government reporting to the EU institutions "but not enough learning" at the ground level. Spot on, Prof.!