A project aimed at increasing the number of women in decision-making positions was launched earlier today.

The two year project is being coordinated by the National Commission of the Promotion of Equality, NCPE. It has a budget of €600,000.

The project will include a mentoring programme and the compilation of a directory of Maltese and Gozitan professional women.

The mentoring programme aims to have professionals - preferably women holding high-level positions - to mentor women who aspire to hold decision-taking positions.

The NCPE did not exclude the possibility of mentors including local politicians and insisted that men would also be considered as possible mentors.

Addressing a conference of local stakeholders, Civil liberties Minister Helena Dalli said, “The under-representation of women on boards and at senior level is an issue that needs to be addressed immediately. This project is a serious step forward in tackling what has become an embarrassing problem.”

The minister was referring to a European Commission report which lambasted Malta for “a very low female presence in higher positions”. Maltese women represent just 3.5 per cent of board members of the largest publicly listed companies in Malta, the lowest share in the EU and a long way short of the EU average of 15.8 per cent.

NCPE Executive Director, Romina Bartolo said the directory of Maltese and Gozitan Professional Women was aimed at giving visibility to professional women in various sectors. The directory will include information on executives’ qualifications, experience and skills.