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IT-TNAX-IL LEĠIŻLATURA P.L.

4990 Dokument imqiegħed fuq il-Mejda tal-Kamra tad-Deputati fis-Seduta Numru 264 tat-18 ta’ Mejju 2015 mill-iSpeaker, l-Onor Anġlu Farrugia.

_______________________________ Raymond Scicluna Skrivan tal-Kamra EP- Inter-Parliamentary committee meeting with national parliaments on 'Enpowering women and girls thorugh education' 5 March 2015 Brussels Hon Marlene Farrugia, MP Hon Giovana Debono, 1\fP '' . '

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RAPPORT LILL-ISPEAKER DWAR PARTECIPAZZJONI F'KONFERENZA/LAQGHA/ZJARA TA' NATURA PARLAMENTARI BARRA MINN MALTA 1.

TITLU TAL-KONFERENZA/LAQGMA: INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY: EMPOWERING WOMEN AND GIRLS TBROUGHEDUCATION 2.DATA: 5 TA' MARZU2015 3.

ISEM IL-MEMBRU/I Ll PPARTECIPAW: L-ONOR.

MARLENE FARRUGIA L-ONOR.

GIOVANADEBONO 4.

SUGGETT/I FUQ L-AGENDA: Agenda mehmuZa.

5.

KONKLUZJONIJIET TAL-LAQGMA, JEKK IKUN IL-KAZ: 6.


INTER VENT /I MAGHMUL/ A MILL-MEMBRU /I: F1-intervent taghha, l-Onorevo1i Giovanna DEBONO, tkellmet dwar 1-importanza li tigi eliminata d-disparita bejn is-sessi flMedukazzjoni u t-tabrig.

L-Onorevoli sat1qet fuq 1-importanza ta' ugwaljanza shi"ha bejn is-sessi, u insistiet li, kemm-il darba dawn id-diskrepanzi jibqghu jezistu, dan 1-ghan a!1hari se jibqa' rna jintlahaqx.
L-Onorevoli Debono qalet li, filwaqt li kien hernm 2vilupppi kbar sabiex 1-edukazzjoni tradizzjonali tinglnta liz-2ewg sessi b1a ebda diskriminazzjoni, u filwaqt li dan ghen sabiex tizdied il-pattecipazzjoni tan-nisa madwar 1-Unjoni, it-thabrik m'ghandux jicqaf fl-universitajiet.
I-Iija sostniet li n-nisa ghandhom jirCievu tabrig prattiku u edukattiv matul hajjithom kollha, filwaqt li sahqet fuq 1-importanza tat-tahr1g mill-gelid sabiex in-nisa jkollhom 1-opportunita li jiksbu hiliet godda wara li, gbal xi raguni jew ohra, ikunu bargu mid-dinja tax-xogt10l.
L-Onorevoli Ziedet tgl1id li n-nisa gtnndhom iZommu rwol importanti fis-socjeta matul haJJi thorn, u Jmghataw 1-opportunita li jiksbu 1-indipendenZ<~ filwaqt li jikkontribwixxu fil·harsien tal-familja u tas-socjeta sakenuu ihm possibbli.
L-Onorevoli Marlene FARRUGIA qalet li qieghdin nghi:ru fi zmien fejn iz-zaghZagh jghallmu lill-anzjani taglll10m u sahqet fuq 1-importanza tal-midja socjali u t-tahrig fil-qasarn tal-informatika, u elaborat dwar kif dan jista' jghin sabiex jingheleb icl-distakk bejn nisa li ghandhom access ghall-edukazzjoni u dawk li m'ghandhomx.

L-Onorevoli qalet ukollli d-differenza bejn is-sessi trid ukoll tigi indirizzata biex b'helcl< tassew tintlahaq 1-ugwaljanza.
Kemm il-bZonnijiet tan-nisa kif ukoll dawk tal-irgiel ghandhom jigu indirizzati b 1mod olisitku.

Hekk biss nistghu nghelbu d-differenzi u niZguraw li dawn 1-istess differenzi ma jin1pedux il-progress u ma jkcmux ta' ostaldu ghan-nisa fil-kisba tar realizzazzjoni personali u soCjali.

7.

DOKUMENTI IMPORTANT!

TAL-KONFERENZA/LAQGMA LI TMOSS Ll GMANDHOM IKUNU MEHMUZAJEKK IKUN IL-KAZ Rapport imhejji mir-Rappre2entant tai-Parlarnent ta' Malta ghall-Parlarnent Ewropew u 1-lstituzzjonijiet Ewropej.
/ 13/C'.J /:JDtf Data " " " Committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality lnterparliamentary Committee Meeting1 Thursday, 5 March 2015 from 09.00 to 12.30 European Parliament- Hemicycle -Brussels Chaired by: lratxe Garcia-Perez, Chair of the Committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality Co-Chair: Silvia Costa, Chair of the Committee on Culture and Education 08.15- 09.00 Registration of participants (Rue Wiertz entrance to ASP building entrance) 09.00 Opening by Dimitrios Papadimoulis, Vice President of the European Parliament 09.05 l<ey-note speech by Vera Jourova, European Commissioner for Justice, Consumers and Gender Equality 09.15 Video message by Hauwa Ibrahim, Sakharov Prize Laureate 2005 *** 09.20- 10.00 The importance of eliminating gender disparity in education and training Speakers: Eve Ensler, Playwright, author and activist, US Philippe Cori, Director of Brussels EU Office, UNICEF Anna Maria Corazza-Bildt, Member, Committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality, European Parliament 10.00 Debate *** 1 Organised in collaboration with the Directorate for Relations with National Parliaments and the Directorate for Democracy Support " " " " . '
10.20- 11.00 Challenges for equal access to continuous and quality education Speakers: llze Vi~~ele, Member of the Education, Culture and Science Committee, Parliament of Latvia Dulce Rebelo, President of Movimento Democratico das Mulheres, Portugal Agnieszka Kozlowska-Rajewicz, Member, Committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality, European Parliament, and former Polish Government Plenipotentiary for Equal Treatment in the Chancellery of the Prime Minister 11.10 Debate *** 11.30- 12.10 Moving towards the empowerment of women and girls through education in the European Union Speakers: Stanimira Hadjimitova, Director and Founder, Gender Project for Bulgaria Foundation, Bulgaria Irene Zeilinger, Executive Director and Self-defence teacher, Garance ASBL, Belgium Liliana Rodrigues, Rapporteur on "Empowering Girls through Education in the European Union", Committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality, European Parliament 12.10 Debate *** 12.30 Cocktail reception for Members of national Parliaments and of the European Parliament (Mezzanine Yehudi Menuhin, PHS, 2nd floor) BRUSSELS, 05 MARCH 2015 EMPOWERING WOMEN AND GIRLS THROUGH EDUCATION INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY 2015 KENNETH CURi\U REPRESENTATIVE OF THE PARLIAMENT OF MALTA TO TI-IE EUROPEAN PARLIAMEN'l' AND EUROPEAN INSTITUTIONS ,, " ,, " " " Empowering IVomen and Girls Throttgh Education EMPOWERING WOMEN AND GIRLS THROUGH EDUCATION INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S D,-\Y 2015 Mr Dimitrios PAPADIMOULIS, Vice-President of the European Parliament responsible for gender equality, opened the meeting by recalling the challenges faced in third countries, while referring to Europe's own disparity between women's academic performances and their subsequent career choices.
European Digital Girl of the Year 2014 Manon VAN HOOREBEKE spoke about the importance of technology in the future and, through her own experience - building a robot at the age of 8 - highlighted the importance of introducing children to technology at an early age.
Ms VCraJOUROVA, European Commissioner for Justice, Consumers and Gender Equality, spoke about the improvements in Europe on gender - through both legal and political efforts - and on work-life balance for both women and men, with legislation facilitating parental responsibilities.

Furthermore, she welcomed the fact that nowadays women are protected from violence and abuse.

Women arc highly educated today and more women work than ever before.
She stressed that moer must be done in terms of encouraging women to go for careers in science and digital technologies.

Nis JOUROV .A stated that willie much has been achieved, much still needs to be done to close the gender gap.

She revelaed how women participation in science and mathematics is still underrepresented, especially in science engineering and mathematics career paths.

1fcn outnumber women in these fields.

Twice as mat1y men as women work .in research and development in the EU.
\'\'omen represent less than 20% of engineering and computing professionals.

Science talents are essential for the European market and the ED's economic growth -women are a source of talent in these .fields which is not being exploited.

fv!s JOUROY.A excalimed that the woman is paid less while probably outperforming her male counterparts.

She stressed that the remaining gaps .in education, pay employment and decision-making must be closed, and that gender based violence must also be stopped.
SESSION 1: THE IMPORTANCE OF ELIMINATING GENDER DISPARITY IN EDUCATION AND TRAINING Mr Philippe COR!, Director of Bmssels Office, UNICEF, said education for girls is not a luxt11y but a fundamental right, adding that an educated mother is more likely to send her children to school.

fvfany barriers remain however .in achieving full access to education for women.

Learning abottt rights is an essential step .in securing rights.
Learning through rights means changing the environment, and not learning simply about rights in a solely academic way.

Learning .for rights sees children identifying rights and being advocates for them.

The quality of education is just as important as its access - better schools, better teaching techniques and more inclusive school are essential ingredients.

2 InternationallT7omen't Dqy 2015 Ms Eve ENSLER, Playwright, author and activist, said that sexual education is .itnportant for equality.
:r-.-fuch of what happens to women is a direct result of lack of sexual education - education about consent, about rights, about their own bodies and respect towards it.

Ms Anna Maria CORAZZA-BILDT, Member of the Committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality was not present.

Ms Marta MATRAI, Deputy of the Speaker, Committe on Legislation of the Hungarian National Assembly said eduction should give equal opportunity to everyone to grow and to flourish.
It shotlid give all the people the equal opportunity to develop themselves.

She added that the constitution clearly provided for equality between men and women, as well as for disadvatanged people.

lvlr NIA.T~-\I said women need tremendous support when establishing a family and seeking self development and education.

\\!omen having a child and seeking to attend university need substantial fmancial support.
Ms Irene KOKKINIDOU MAVRONIKOLA, from the Cypriot Committee on Human Rights and on Equal Opportunities for l\'Ien said that sterotypes exist evetywhere.

She said that it is important to ensure teachers and professors are trained properly, in order to combat inequality at an early stage in the education of children.
Ms Daniela AIUTO, from the European Parliament, said education is improving but after graduating many women still fmd it hard to find employment and when they do, this is not always proportionate to their level of education.
Ms Giovanna DEBONO, from the lvfaltese Kamra tad-Deputati, talked about the importance of elhninating gender disparity in education and training, stressing the importance of full gender equality and insisting that as long as disparities continue to exist the ulhntate goal will continue to be elusive.

Nis DEBONO said that great strides f01·ward have been made to ensure access to traditional education for both sexes which has enhanced female participation across the EU.
Nevertheless rl1e quest must not stop at universities.

\\!e cannot allow the academic qualifications obtained by women to fizzle out.

1\:Is DEBONO opined that women must receive education and training throughout their lifetime, and emphasized the importance of retraining and re-skilling, thus enabling women to acquire new skills following a hiatus from the working life for some reason or other.
She added that women should maintain a meaningful role in society throughout rl1eir life, and be given the opportunity to gain independence but also contribute to rl1c well-being of their familires and societies as long as possible.

Ms Vesna MARKOVIC, from the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia, said it was a great challenge to be here and to deal with education, the only way of empowering women and making sure they exercise their rights and ensru:e they are independent and take proper decisions.
She expressed concern on women who live in the countryside and who may not have the same awareness of their rights.

~fs ~1ARKOVIC said that banning discriminatory treatment- of which there are a lot of examples: social class, gender based, etc.

- should be a priority, and that it is important to fight against gender based violence and stereotypes.

Ms Michaela SOJDROVA, from the European Parliament, remarked that education which is veq important for people to lmow their rights.
She talked about financing education of indian children, especially indian girls, stressing that it is important to help children outside europe as well.

3 " " " " " " Empowering lf7omen and Gir!J Through Education SESSION II, CHALLENGES FOR EQUAL ACCESS TO CONTINUOUS AND QUALITY EDUCATION Ms Ilze VINKELE, [~.
{ember of the Education, Culture and Science Comtn.ittee, Parliament of Latvia, reminded everyone that nowadays the quality of education is attested not only by a diploma but also by the individual's ability to adapt to an ever-changing market.

Tbe economy in Latvia demands technology-directed education.

Powerful stereotypes about male and female roles still \\!omen in Latvia have permeate society and cannot be changed through legislation only.
comparatively higher education than men, but are still tmderrepresented in technology field job market.

Ms Dulce REBELO, President of Movimento Democnltico das Mulheres, Portugal, remarked how women have always fought for their rights and equality.

In 1974, with the introduction of democracy in Portugal, shifts in politics signalled the start of a long process and tearing down of barriers to gender equality both in education and at the work place.
_After tllls, girls could have access to the education system without obstacle and accordingly we saw more and more women in education.

In order to flourish in society, women need access to quality education and to the job market.

Nls REBELO said women have acquired education but asked: how is this benefitting them?

There are more women teachers, but the higher the level of education the fewer the number of women.

at the highest level of education men still dominate the teaching profession.
\V'omen also tend to prefer the social sciences and health care than scientific sciences.

Despite the excellent education and qualification achieved by women there is still a distortion as to the joh mj1xkets they are allowed to enter.

There are still obstacles to women seeking to take advantage of the education they have acquired.

An environment must be cerated where girls can tackle different areas of knowledge and thus widen their horizon on the job market.
Ms Agnieszka KOZLOWKSA-RAJEWICZ, Member, Committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality, European Parliament, and former Polish Government Plenipotentiary for Equal Treatment in the Chancellery of the Prime Nlinister, said pay gaps are quantitative factors in the fight towards gender equality.

She emphasised the in1portance which must be given to the right to maternity.
Nls KOZLO\VKS.A-RA]E\V1CZ added that women's presence in top jobs, as well as access to political positions, are related to cultural and societal stereotypes.

She also mentioned some figures with regard to pay gaps (17%) and pension gaps (39%) in Europe, which also shows that women receive less pension.

Ms KOZLOWKS.\-RA]E\V!CZ added that these gaps are underestimated, and the available figure does not allow for women who are not on the labour market, meaning the gap is in reality even wider.
Ms KOZLOWKSA-Rr\JEWICZ talked about the act of balancing family and professional life, exalting the right to work, but also the right to maternity.

She said that work ls a necessity of life which cannot be done away with, the main 11problem 11 is the right to maternity and one of the main reasons why feminists are working towards reconciling the two.
She opined that men can have both, and that for men having children does not affect their professional life, but for women those opportunities are reduced when they have children.

4 Intcrnationallf:7omen't Day 2015 In this regarded, she suggested a more equitable distribution of household duties.

Ms KOZLO\VKSA-RAJE'VV1CZ also stated that, despite being better educated than before, women still fmd it hard to enter the job market, especially in some fields.
She concluded that it is therefore not through formal but informal education that women can be empowered.

Finally, KOZLOWKSA-RA)E\JV1CZ said it is important that textbooks and educational aides do not enforce stereotypes.

Mr Gerard Philip CRAUGHWELL, from the Committee on Education and Social Protection of the Irish Seanad :Eirann said that career guidance teachers have an tlnportant role to play to steer boys and girls towards alternative subjects and non-traditional careers.
Parents must be fully informed of the opportunities and possibilities in the labour market Mr CRAUGHWELL also proposed an equality champion in every school to promote gender equality.

Ms Dunja SPOLJAR, from the Croatian Parliament's Committee on Gender Equality, said women are shown in the media as victims.

Tradition dictates that girls should always be teachers and men should always be pilots.

\Vomen means family, men professional career.


This stereotype is being eradicated in croatia by introducing a different image of women in te.-xtbooks and through reform in national currinUum airned to teach teachers about gender equality and avoid stereotypes and double standards.

Promoting gender equality in higher education is another important step being taken.

Gender quotas of 40% will be mandatory, following a change in the constitution.
Ms Elza PAIS, Committee on Constih1tional Affairs, Rights, Freedom and Guarantees from the Portuguese AJ"sembleia da &pUblica said gender stereotypes have slowed down the progress of both girls and boys.

She added that if women do not do well, men miss out as well.

Ms Annie SCHREIJER-PIERIK, from the European Parliament shared her own personal experience and said it is important that women support each other.
Ms Dorothee SCHLEGEL, from the Committee on Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth of the Gennan Bundestag said that the changes in gender stereotypes can be brought about by small steps in legislation.

Single sex education is actually beneficial in fighting stereotypes and ensuring good quality education, she added.

Ms Fotini V AKI, from the Greek Committee on Education, emphasised the education of the educators: teachers should be in a position to transfer a gender-balance mentality.
In Greek universities there has been progress .in gender sh1dles.

Nevertheless, gender discrimination in employment opporhmities is still rampant.

\Vomen are the flrst to get excluded or ftted, she said.

Ms Marlene FARRUGIA, from the 1vialtese I<amra tad-DeputafJ,~ said we are living in an age where the ymmg teach their elders.
She referred to the importance of social media and cyber education, and how connectivity can be crucial in bridging the gaps between women who have access to education and those who don't.

The differences between the sexes must also be addressed in order to attain ttue equality, namely by addressing the vulnerabilities of both men and women.

Only thus can those differences not end up hindering the progress and personal fulfilment of women in society.
Ms Mara CAROCCI, from the Committee on Culture, Science and Education of the Italian Camera dei Deputati saw progress in education but despite this, women seem to have been doing worse in sciences than boys, feel less confident and are more stressed.

She said it is important to flght against persisting stereotypes.
5 ,, " " " " " Empo;varing Jf7oman and Girls Through Bducation Ms Alma LM1A, from the Parlitm~ent of Kosovo, said most of the educated women are the female teachers who have been using textbooks compiled by men.

It is extremely significant for these teachers to be trained in eliminating discrimination based on sex.

Nis LA1vL-\.

said that girls are often portrayed as doing frivolous things as opposed to men who do the ('serious" work.
She insisted that education within the family is important but training teachers is crucial.

She also opined that there must be more money put into these issues, and that female educators should be involved in the drafting process of textbook as this may help eliminate some of these issues.

Ms Gordana COMIC, from the Serbian Parliament, said full and equal access to knowledge and education is still not available.
SESSION III' MOVING TOWARDS THE EMPOWERMENT OF WOMEN AND GIRLS THROUGH EDUCATION IN THE EUROPEAN UNION Ms Silvia COSTA, Chair of the CULT Committee said that in countries like i}!falta, Romania and Ireland there were more girls than boys at secondary school, and said that it is wonderful that there are more women than men in education but this hasn't helped with equal opportunities.

Europe must be ready to cooperate with third country and partnerships.
She appealed for more education for women and more protection from discrimination and more rights for women.

She also stressed the importance of education linked to children's rights, protection against violence but also to environment and other less obviously related areas.

Nis COSTA also spoke on the importance of dual education, providing not just knowledge but also skills and competences.
Ms Stanimira HADJIMITOVA, Director and Founder, Gender Project for Bulgaria Folmdation, said empowerment is about the ability to reach full potential.

Nis K-\DJEVIITOVA said empowennent must be placed at the centre of education, which must be reassessed and refocussed.

Education must be about life-long learning.

Teacher training is needed to achieve this.


She added that education is not only about literacy but about the global development within he process of globalisation - citizenship, leadership, self-confidence.

Education must be redefined so that formal education does not overshadow non-formal education.

School should be the best place for promotion of women rights and displacement of stereotypes.
She said introducing an education about sexual health would help overcome the religious opposition to this and called for the eradication of gender base violence.

Ms 1-L-\DJIMITOV}, referred to the gender gap in global technology and insisted on the importance women and girls having equal acces and control to science and technology.

Women must be at the centre of the science and technology revolution.

She also revealed that Roma women were identified as the most vulnerable group in European society.
Ms Irene ZEILINGER, Executive Director and Self-defence teacher, Garance, .ASBL, the socL11 change needed to attain is not possible solely with feminism.

\Ve must strive to develop women's autonomy.

Feminist Self-Defence is rooted in the tradition of critical popular education and aims to develop women's and girls' critical thinking, autonomy and solidarity.

It applies the principles of feminist pedagogy, and is concerned with the primary prevention of gender-based violence.

6 International Women',- Dt!


)l 2015 Ms Liliana RODRIGUES, Rapportetu: on "Empowering Girls through Education in the European Union", Committee on \\:'omen's Rights and Gender Equality, European Parliament, spoke on the involvement of different genders in public and private life.
She asserted that education in schools should start at an early age, revealing that the ftnal report will present the following objectives: to guarantee empowerment through education; to implement the Istanbul convention with respect to education designed to eliminate gender discrimination; to promote a school culture for gender equality; to supervise cryptically curricula; to ensure women are involved in decision taking; to improve women reaching top jobs; to improve economic independence of women.
Ms RODR1GUES also spoke on gender education for both boys and girls, highlighting the involvement of parents, teachers and local authorities and organisations.

The curriculum must not lead to more gender inequality.

The informal curriculum requires complementary activities alongside the main curriculum strengthening the idea of gender equality as well as the individual's self confidence.
She appealed for a move away from the gender stereotypes and involve women more in the scientific and technological fields.

Nis RODRIGUES also called for greater political involvement of women, to stimulate the spirit of leadership in young girls.

She also suggested that more men be involved in pre-school and primary education to battle current stereotypes.
The Rapporteur said ITC training is essential for young children to cope with cyber bullying and all types of violence .. An education council must be set up involving various teaching institutions to ensure that ITC is involved in education.

We must ensure there arc no more obstacles to the careers that women would like to embark on.

This will be advantageous to both men and women.


:i'vis RODRIGUES said the whole effort should be supported by research with special attention to tackle gender inequality, and appealed for a renewed effort in bringing new technologies closer to young women in schools.
Ms Maria del Carmen QUINTANILLA, from the Spanish Co11gmo de /o,- Dip11tados, wondered why women are not in decision making posts and are not involved in decision making and still hold high unemployment levels despite the education achievements.

Ms Catherine BEARDER, from the European Parliament, emphasised the importance of recongnizing that boys and girls learn differently and at different times, and that education appropriate for both genders must be made available.
Borness Floella BENJAMIN, from the UK House of Lords, noting the absence of people of colour, stated that cliversity must be embraced in education.

Women need to be given the opportunity to play their part in tl1e development of the world.

J\.fen need to realise that they have to play thcit part too.

She said it is important to wipe out the ignorance of inequality and sexual violence.

Through sex education young children can change their way of thinking when it comes to sex.
Ms Mary MORAN, from the Committee on Education and Social Protection of the Irish Seanad Bireann, said the irish education system places both boys and girls on an equal footing.

A more gender neutral approach must be adopted in education systems all over Europe.

She appealed to everyone to improve the presence of women in science and technology.

Ms Ljiljana MALUSIC, from the Serbian Parliament balanced education and equal opportunities to all.

spoke of the quality of education, well- 7 " '' '' . '
Empowering !f7omen and Girls Through Edttmtion INDEX BY NAME AIUT0,3 BEARDER,7 BENJAMIN, 7 CAROCCI, 5 COMIC, 6 CORAZZA-BILDT, 3 COR!, 2 COSTA,6 CRAUGHWELL, 5 DEBON0,3 ENSLER,3 FARRUGIA,5 HADJIMITOVA, 6 JOUROVA,2 KOKKINIDOU MAVRONIKOLA, 3 KOZLOWKSA-RAJEWICZ, 4, 5 LAMA, 6 MALUSIC, 7 MARKOVIC,3 MATRAI,3 MORAN, 7 PAIS, 5 PAPADIMOULIS, 2 QUINTANILLA, 7 REBEL0,4 RODRIGUES, 7 SCHLEGEL,5 SCHREIJER-PIERIK, 5 SOJDROVA,3 SPOLJAR, 5 YAK!, 5 VAN HOOREBEKE, 2 VINKELE,4 ZEILINGER, 6 8