Seventy years ago, women in Malta achieved the right to vote. Seventy years ago, Agatha Barbara was elected the first woman in the Maltese Parliament.

Sixty years ago, Agatha Barbara became the first Maltese female Cabinet minister.

It took us another 43 years for a second Maltese female minister to be appointed.

Thirty years ago, Agatha Barbara reached the end of her term as the first female President of Malta.

It took the country 32 more years for a second Maltese woman to be appointed Head of State.

The year 2017 commemorates a number of significant historical milestones for the participation of women in public and political life. This year should serve as a reality check.

However, after 70 years since the introduction of universal suffrage in this country, female representation in the Maltese Parliament still stands at only 13 per cent.

This is far below the gender parity our society deserves. If this rate of progress is maintained, it will take us another 269 years to achieve gender parity at the highest policymaking and decision-taking institution in our country.

It will take us another 269 years to achieve gender parity at the highest policymaking and decision-taking institution in our country.

We cannot afford to remain complacent. This state of affairs dictates effective positive action as a transitory measure to achieve gender equality and equity.

There is a dire need to change outdated and unjust attitudes and to create a environment conducive to women feeling empowered to participate in public and political life.

Our political parties must be proactively involved to ensure the right attitude, environment and opportunities for more women to reach the higher echelons of party structures.

We cannot wait 269 years for gender parity to be achieved in this country

We need an overhaul of our parliamentary system whereby we ensure that the right balance between family life and public life is struck.

We need a family-friendly Parliament, with the necessary facilities to match.

Furthermore, our educational system needs to be further enhanced to nurture both girls and boys in democratic participation.

Our politicians have a responsibility to be a shining light for our young women and men to be encouraged to aspire to serve our nation.

On the occasion of my third year in office, and during the months preceding the general elections, I feel in duty bound to reiterate my Women’s Day appeals.

I urge our political leaders to take this important opportunity to ensure, through positive action, that the next legislature will be a significant milestone to reach true and effective equality for Maltese society.

Achieving a much higher rate of female participation in the political life of this country will ensure that Maltese society will be justly represented.

The setting up of The Network of Young Women Leaders gives me hope for the future. I am sure these young, courageous women embracing different political allegiances who came together to stand up for themselves and others will, together with many other young women joining them in the future and with the genuine support of emancipated men, raise the necessary awareness in our society to ensure a sustainable, equal gender representation.

We must do more to challenge the attitudes that perpetuate gender discrimination and stereotyping and hinder parity and equity.

I sincerely believe this can only be achieved if women are present, in sizeable numbers, across policymaking and decision-taking positions.

We cannot wait 269 years for gender parity to be achieved in this country. We must affirm our international commitment to achieve gender equality as declared in Sustainable Development Goal 5 of the United Nations Agenda 2030.

Time is running out on us. Hence we must act now.

We must endeavour as a nation to ensure that, one day soon enough, it will be second nature for every woman and girl to know that her aspirations to be of service in political and public life can indeed become a reality.

In conclusion, we must remember that gender equality is not just a woman’s right, but most importantly, it is an intrinsic fundamental human right that is key to a healthy democracy.