PROMOTING GENDER EQUALITY IN RESEARCH Legal framework As of June 2021, no national laws promoting gender equality in research were adopted in Malta. However, the Maltese Parliament is at advanced stages of discussion of the Equality Bill, with approval expected in the second half of 2021. This Bill consolidates and strengthens the current equality legislation in Malta, ensuring equal protection against discrimination for all protected characteristics (gender, disability, race, sexual orientation, etc.) in all areas of life.
The national R&I funding programme, FUSION, is managed by the MCST. The funding rules were revised in 2017 to make the implementation of gender equality the decisive factor in cases where two or more research projects score the same in their evaluation. The specific provision states that “if two or more projects obtain the same mark following evaluation, then [the] MCST shall give priority to that project which provides the best consideration to the implementation of gender equality in the research project”.
Since 2016, the Malta College of Arts, Science and Technology (MCAST) has developed and implemented a number of cross-curricular programmes to expose students to a range of study units, both those traditionally attracting mainly women and those typically attracting men students. This is intended to improve gender balance in the pursuit of scientific studies and careers in Malta. The take-up of these programmes has been very limited, most likely because students prefer to focus on their own area of study rather than straddling two specialisations.
The national R&I funding programme, FUSION, is managed by the MCST. The funding rules were revised in 2017 to make the implementation of gender equality the decisive factor in cases where two or more research projects score the same in their evaluation. The specific provision states that “if two or more projects obtain the same mark following evaluation, then [the] MCST shall give priority to that project which provides the best consideration to the implementation of gender equality in the research project”.
The Gender Equality and Sexual Diversity Committee was set up in 1991 as part of the University of Malta. Initially, the main objective was to act as a focal point for gender issues. The Committee is appointed by the University Council and advises the Rector and the Council on issues of gender equality. It reports to the Council each year.
Data collection systems vary widely across EU Member States, as they draw on various sources. To improve the collection of administrative data on femicide, EIGE has been working to establish indicators that can harmonise data collection processes across Member States’ jurisdictions. EIGE has collected information from a wide variety of stakeholders through a questionnaire sent to official data providers and an online survey filled in by national experts.
Parental leave is granted to parents, usually after maternity and paternity leave, allowing mothers and fathers to take care of their young children without losing their jobs. Such a policy exists in all EU Member States and in Malta it is called Leave tal-Genituri. The policy design and eligibility rules vary across the EU and not all women and men in the EU are eligible for parental leave.
With 63.4 out of 100 points, Malta ranks 15th in the EU on the Gender Equality Index. Malta’s score is 4.5 points below the EU’s score. Since 2010, its score has increased by 9 points (+ 0.9 points since 2017). Making faster progress towards gender equality than most of the Member States, Malta has improved its position by four places since 2010.
With 62.5 out of 100 points, Malta ranks 15th in the EU on the Gender Equality Index. Its score is 4.9 points lower than the EU’s score. Between 2005 and 2017, Malta’s score increased by 6.5 points (+ 2.4 points since 2015). Malta is progressing towards gender equality. Its ranking is the same as in 2005. Malta’s scores are higher than the EU’s scores in all domains, except the time and power domains.
Between 39 % to 57 % of girls originating from FGM-practising countries who live in Malta are at risk of female genital mutilation. The European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE) highlights these findings ahead of the international day to eliminate female genital mutilation on 6 February. “It is hard to imagine and to accept that today some girls in the EU are still threatened by one of the most horrible forms of violence.
The recommendations were developed after an in-depth analysis of data collection from the police and justice sectors. They aim to improve administrative data collection on intimate partner violence to better inform policies and to help the Member States meet the monitoring requirements outlined in both Directive 2012/29/EU (the Victims’ Rights Directive) and the Istanbul Convention. Read more Data collection on intimate partner violence by the police and justice sectors - all EU countries Indicators on intimate partner violence and rape for the police and justice sectors EIGE's work on data collection on violence against women
This factsheet presents the results of the study ‘Estimation of girls at risk of female genital mutilation in the European Union — Belgium, Greece, France, Italy, Cyprus and Malta’ for Malta. The study was conducted in 2017-2018. It supports the EU institutions and EU Member States in providing more accurate information on female genital mutilation and its risks among girls in the European Union.
