[12.11.2007] - NWG Meeting in Malta

Journalist Award 2007 jury member Malcolm Naudi (left) with winner Victor Vella

As part of the Stop Discrimination Campaign campaign, the second NWG meeting inthis year was held at the Corinthia San Gorg hotel, St Julian on Monday 12th November. Many people from different organisations, who have contributed in the campaign throughout the year, have been invited to join. The meeting began at 9 in the morning just after a small coffee break and an introduction to who was present in the venue. 

The meeting included a presentation which looked back on the pan-European and national events that had taken place throughout the whole year. The presentation lasted for around one and a half hours and also featured a series of audio clips that showed a number of adverts, that have been implementes as part of the campaign. Also, included, the camaign of EYEO. Especially the 6 adverts against discrimination were a highlight. The participants were asked for their opinion.

Malcolm Naudi, on behalf of the jury of the Journalist Award 2007, gave his speech about the Journalist award and how the jury made the decision about the national winner. He mentioned that many journalists sent in their work and have each contributed their work in the best way possible, but always one journalist is crowned as the winner and the price went to Mr Victor Vella who was awarded a bunch of tulips and a framed certificate signed by Commissioner Vladimir Spidla.

[28.-29.09.2007] - European Job days in Malta

European Job Days

The Employment and Training Corporation and the European Employment Service (Eures) in Malta held the European Job Days, in line with similar events organised in over 200 cities across Europe. The purpose of the event is to promote workers' mobility across Europe. Many of the visitors made a stop at the stand of the Stop Discrimination Campaign. Here they got information and promotion material. The EURES website carries on average over 1.2 million job vacancies, with 250,000 CVs and over 10,000 employers registered.

Full details are available at eures.europa.eu or on www.euresmalta.com

Anyone wishing to know more about employment opportunities in a European country should contact the Eures Office of the ETC on 8007 6505 or by e-mail at eures.etc@gov.mt.

[30.08.2007] - EU Journalist Award Ceremony in Malta

Thursday the 30th of September the Maltese winner of the Journalist Award 2006 Julia Farrugia was honoured by Dr. Joanna Drake, Head of Representation of the European Commission in Malta and the Jury. The jury consists of Pippa Zammit Cutajar, Laura Mifsud Bonicci, Janet Mallia, Malcolm Naudi, Godwin Scerri and Stanley Borg. The Award Ceremony took place in the Le Meridien/St. Julian’s. Julia Farrugia’s article “Till Death Do Us Part” was published in the newspaper Illum and deals with the topic of transsexuality. The jury selected her article to be the Maltese winner as she opened a proverbial door for this topic in the media. Now it is published in the book with the other European winning articles. Dr. Joanna Drake and Mr Godwin Scerri were holding speeches to thank Julia and all participants of the Journalists Award. Furthermore they pointed out that combating discrimination should be part of everyday life and that everybody is asked to do so.

For more information on the Journalist Award 2007, please click here.

[25.07.2007] - Malta teachers take on Roman Catholic homophobia

Malta's Union of Teachers is threatening to publish the details of four attempts to oust gay and lesbian teachers from Roman Catholic school posts, unless the government launches an independent inquiry into sexual orientation discrimination.

According to the union, Church schools were under pressure from parents to fire the teachers, leading to four interventions in the past five years.

Students even scrawled insults on one teacher's chalkboard, according to John Bencini, President of the union.

"As long as these teachers do not try to influence students with their beliefs or lifestyles, their sexuality is a private matter," said Mr Bencini, speaking to Malta Today.

"We have to ensure that the employment of these teachers is safeguarded."

In 2004, Malta banned discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation after the Malta Gay Rights Movement lobbied for the measure to be included in an Employment Relations Act.

Malta is one of the most socially conservative countries in the EU.

98% of the population are Roman Catholics, and although homosexuality has been decriminalised, significant prejudice remains.

In 2000 the government were criticised by gay rights groups for openly homophobic statements criticising EU proposals for gay equality.

@ PinkNews.co.uk writer

East Wind – Vento Leste with Natasha Marjanovic

At Sunday 24th of June the Jesuit Refugee Service inivited to see the theatre play “East Wind – Vento Leste�. This one women play was performed by the Serbian actress Natasha Marjanovic. Natasha is from ex-Yugoslavia: She was born in Bosnia, grew up in Serbia and married a Croatian. With humour and sadness she told why she had to leave her homeland and how she adapted to the cultural habits of her new country Portugal.

The Jesuit Refugee Service in Malta works with asylum seekers. Many of whoom are in detention. The JRS offers legal assistance, social work services and pastoral care. JRS Malta also works to raise awareness of the situation of refugees and lobbies for a change in current governmnet policy of mandatory, long-term detention of asylum seekers with irregular migration status. After the play the visitors were invited to delicious african food.

East Wind – Vento Leste
Lights/sound:  Ana Braga
Text:   Natasha Marjanovic
Staging:  José Carlos Garcia
Dramaturgy:  Beatriz Quinella
Visual Conception: Ana Lisboa Braga

http://www.jrsmalta.org/

[15.06.2007] - Diversity Truck Tour in Malta

The Diversity Truck, which tours the European Union member states, made its second Malta stop in two years on Friday, June 15 and with it, the Sliema promenade was alive with entertainment and, above all else, the message of diversity and combating discrimination on the grounds of racial or ethnic origin, religion, age, disability, sexual orientation and gender equality.

The agency’s local office, based in Valletta, organised the Sliema truck stop to promote both campaigns and planned an evening of entertaining to attract a large audience so that the message of diversity, anti-discrimination and equality was communicated as widely as possible.

On the stage, which extends out of the giant, fully equipped 30-ton Diversity Truck, singer Miriam Christine (who is also the Maltese Diversity ambassador) and XFM’s Jason Zammit hosted the show. It included acts such as Chiara, Klinsmann, the band The Quacks, the Pippa Dancers and a dazzling display by the Pippa Wheelchair Dancers. Prizes, including three iPods and tickets to the Bryan Adamas concert, were handed out to winners of a karaoke contest and quiz held as part of the well attended event. Guest speakers, highlighting the issues addressed by the campaign included Epifanio Vella from the Federation of Organisations for Persons with Disability, David Herrera, President of the Kunsill Studenti Universitarji, Gabi Calleja and Colette Farrugia Bennett from the Malta Gay Rights Movement and Hanan El Khatib, Vice Chairman of the National Implementation Body of the European Year of Equal Opportunities for All.

The following day saw the Malta launch of the European Year of Equal Opportunities by Social Solidarity Minister Dolores Christina. Epifanio Vella has been appointed as the local face of the campaign.

1Million4Disability in Malta

Make disability discrimination history

The European Disability Forum (EDF) is an independent and unique platform in Europe seeking to protect and defend the rights of disabled persons. Its ambition and day-to-day activities aim to influence European Union legislation, as each EU decision and initiative has a direct impact on the everyday lives of European citizens with disabilities at all levels.

In 2007, the European Disability Forum celebrates its 10th anniversary. On the occasion of this anniversary, the ambition of the EDF is to draw attention to the impact that the European Union has on the lives of persons with disabilities. To do this it has set an ambitious target - to collect 1 million signatures in favour of new EU legislation to combat discrimination. The campaign is entitled "1Million4Disability".

Epifanio Vella, himself a disabled person, has been active for the last 10 years through the "Federation of Organizations for Persons with Disability". He is also one of the "Faces of the Year" for the European Year for Equal Opportunities for All and furthermore a member of the National Working Group for the campaign "For Diversity. Against Discrimination." which makes him a perfect link between these campaigns. The objective for Malta is to collect 822 signatures, but Epifanio hopes to get even more than that number. With many other people he will be at the Truck Stop in Paceville, Malta on the 15th of June and hopes to get in contact with as many people as possible to spread the message of Diversity and Equal Opportunities for All.

To put your signature behind this worthy cause and for more information on the campaign visit: http://www.1million4disability.eu/sign.asp?langue=EN

[08.03.2007] - New premises for equality commission

Rosanne Zammit, The Times of Malta

The National Commission for the Promotion of Equality (NCPE) yesterday inaugurated its new premises at Gattard House in Blata l-Bajda.
The opening, by Family and Social Solidarity Minister Dolores Cristina, was followed by a networking session for members of the diplomatic corps and the judiciary on the theme A Meeting Of Prepared Minds: Networking For Further And Better Collaboration.

Ms Cristina spoke on current challenges including that of the relatively low percentage of working women. To mitigate this problem, the government has introduced family-friendly measures and innovative working patterns to encourage women to get a job or keep it.

It was also promoting entrepreneurship and self-employment, encouraging employers to develop a work/life balance for both sexes, flexibility in employment conditions and lifelong learning and training opportunities.
Equality Commissioner Janet Mifsud described gender relations as multi-dimensional saying they could result in altered perceptions, such as the values and respect given to men and women, their own sense of self-worth, and the way in which men and women made strategic life choices.
The Commission, she said, was taking several steps in conjunction with social, government and civil society partners and international colleagues to tackle these issues.

Another NCPE project was Facilitating Equality Through Education. This was aimed at the public and shows how children can become agents of change, creating a novel approach with respect to gender relations in the family.
NCPE executive director Sina Bugeja referred to networking and highlighted the importance of the presence of the diplomatic corps and the judiciary.
Both had a crucial role to play in the implementation of equality, she said.

The commission can be contacted on 2590 3850 e-mail: gender.equality@gov.mt

[08.03.2007] - Malta with lowest gender pay gap in EU

[25.01.2007] - OF GRADES AND SHADES: Celebrating Diversity

by Mario Mallia, Head of School

At St. Albert the Great College we cater for students from five to sixteen.  This means that the school has the distinct advantage of having most of its students proceeding from primary to secondary naturally, without the need for bumps and jerks brought about by selective exams.  This gives the school a mixed flavour with students of all grades and shades, bringing with them their particular strengths and weaknesses, which as a school we have made it our business to address. 

The shift from selection to comprehensivization is more than just the mix of different greens in a salad bowl.  The shift entails a relentless effort to effect a paradigm shift in the minds of all.  It is above all a process of learning in making the diversities in the classroom not only a challenge but a strength. 

A discourse needs to be created.   We have made it a point to tackle inclusion from a trans-disciplinary perspective.  All situations, both within the overt and the hidden curriculum, are good enough to articulate this discourse.  Once in a while, we formally focus on this aspect in an effort to renew our resolve. 

Last December, students and staff throughout the school were involved in a day of  experiences – "Diversity|:Within and Without ". 

The focus was the use of the Let Me Learn model, that the college adopted for the last three years as a means of understanding and catering for diverse patterns of learning.  The topics engaged with were social issues ranging from child labour to religious and sexual discrimination and immigration.  Solutions to such situations were explored through the emphasis on Fair Trade and the Cooperative model.  These themes were developed through hands-on drama, cooking, and other classroom team activities based on the four patterns of learning outlined in the Let Me Learn model.  Photographs from the 1000 families exhibition touring Europe were also used.  Immigration was touched upon through an exercise through which students traced their surnames’ origins, arriving at the conclusion that immigration is not the fearsome phenomenon it is made out to be. 

A big thank-you to the Let Me Learn team from the University of Malta, Koperattiva Kummerċ Ġust, and Kopin for providing us with more than a helping hand in making this a vibrant educational experience.

[15.02.2007] - The rights of people with a (dis)ability

LUCY CALLEJA, Sydney, Australia

Letter in The Times of Malta, www.timesofmalta.com

My heart goes out to parents like Philip Grech (Talking Point, February 9), who wrote about the predicament of his son Ben, 16. About the time that Ben was born I was fighting a right royal battle, along with my Special Education cadetship cohorts, for the inclusion of students with intellectual disability in elective classes in high school. As the saying goes, "If you can't educate, legislate".

The Act of Parliament for the rights of persons with disability made the job much easier for us, special educators, to advocate on behalf of our students. Mainstream teachers have to cater for all students in their classes. They have no choice. It is the law. Granted, they will have learnt a few skills, as part of their mandatory pre-service training. Also, there's federal funding for support [TAFE-trained Teachers Aides (Special)], as they follow students in mainstream classes to a feasible level. By the end of their Senior High School in Year 12, aged 18, the majority of the students, including those in SSPs, would have functional literacy, numeracy and proficiency in the use of information communication (sometimes augmentative) technology. They are credentialled at the Higher School Certificate by way of a Life Skills special programme of study.

However, those who can manage normal credentialing in any given subject will be GIVEN a certificate with "mixed credentialing". The outcomes for each subject are noted in the record of achievement, so there is no pulling of wool over anybody's eyes. Also they would have compiled am impressive portofolio (mandated federally in the "School to Work" progamme) of participation in a number of suitably chosen work experience placements, as well as an assured place in TAFE (Technical and Further Education) colleges in various vocational fields with recognised (by the Australian Quality Framework) training. By the time they complete in part or in total some accredited course, they would have landed a job where they continue to learn, and live, quite a productive and happy life, with a level of independence and a growing network of support for interdependency.

What's more, they actually become tax-payers, which gives them a great sense of "having made it". Of course there's always going to be a very small percentage of persons who will have high support needs. But for the majority, those with mild or moderate intellectual disability, there's absolutely no reason why, with early intervention and normalization, they do not achieve a sense of well-being, leading a very fruitful life and contributing to society at large. As the poster from last year's Australian campaign says, "Don't dis my Ability". 

[29.01.2007] - Call on media to better portray people with disability

The chairman of the National Commission Persons with Disability Joseph Camilleri

Rosanne Zammit, The Times of Malta, www.timesofmalta.com

In order to be politically correct, one should use the term wheelchair user and not wheelchair bound. This is just one in a series of terms the media was presented with during a working lunch organised by the National Commission Persons with Disability to launch activities marking its 20th anniversary and the European Year of Equal Opportunities.

Chairman Joseph Camilleri called upon the media to make a bigger effort to portray disabled people in a more positive, human and dignified way.
An information sheet distributed to journalists advises against the use of euphemisms, such as visually challenged and mentally incompetent to describe disabled people. It calls on journalists not to use emotional descriptions such as unfortunate and pitiful and proposes that they focus on the individual and not on their impairment or condition.

The paper calls on the media to steer away from writing tear-jerking stories about incurable diseases, congenital impairments or severe injuries. It even asks the media not to portray successful disabled people as superhuman and not to sensationalise a disabled person. Preferred terms to use when writing about disabled people include HIV positive, not AIDS carrier; a person with arthritis rather than crippled with arthritis or arthritic; and personal assistant not carer.

Speaking on the calendar of activities for this year's celebrations, executive director Fred Bezzina said the activities were being financed by the EU's Community Action Programme to Combat Discrimination. Special activities planned this year include a conference in Malta and another in Gozo to take stock of the achievements so far and what remains to be done. There will be a Parliament for disabled persons, a meeting with unions and employers with the aim of improving the job situation of disabled people.

The commission will be holding an in-service course for personal social development teachers and a training seminar for disabled people.
Carmel Cauchi is authoring four reading books for children in Maltese on children with various impairments.

Both Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi and Labour leader Alfred Sant attended the event and praised the commission's work. Dr Sant called for assistance for disabled people who were unable to work once they completed their education. He also said respite services should be expanded to enable the parents of disabled people to be able to take a break.
Dr Gonzi described the disabled as people with rights like anyone else - it was, however, positive that society was now generally acknowledging such a thing.

[24-01-2007] - Discrimination still widespread - survey

Ivan Camilleri in Brussels, The Times, www.timesofmalta.com

Discrimination in Malta based on gender, sexual orientation, age, religious beliefs and disability has diminished greatly over the last five years but is still widespread, according to an opinion survey released in Brussels yesterday.

The results also show that the Maltese in general still consider a different colour of skin as a problem. Nearly seven in 10 agreed that there is still widespread discrimination against people of different ethnic origin. A sample of 500 participants took part in the survey conducted by Misco last July on behalf of Eurobarometer as part of an EU-wide survey. A total of 58 per cent of respondents said that homosexuality is still a taboo subject in our society; 65 per cent feel it is not wise to state a homosexual tendency at the workplace, while 57 per cent feel that a homosexual is less likely to get a job. Being dark or black is also considered to be a disadvantage: 65 per cent agree that people with a different skin colour have more difficulty in finding a job; 59 per cent do not agree that people of a different ethnic origin can enrich Maltese culture.

Overall, the situation is not that different in Europe. According to the EU-wide survey, 64 per cent of all Europeans feel that discrimination is widespread in their country with that based on ethnic origin and sexual orientation felt to be the most widespread. The survey also delved into the knowledge of individual rights, an important tool when addressing discrimination. The Maltese survey showed an exactly even split between those who say that they do not know their rights pertaining to discrimination and harassment (44 per cent) and those who say they do (43 per cent). Maltese respondents show a higher level of knowledge than those in the EU as a whole, where a majority (56 per cent) say that they do not know their rights. Asked whether they would like to see more female participation in politics, 86 per cent of Maltese respondents said yes.

HARMONY IN DIVERSITY: THE POSITIVE SIDE OF IMMIGRATION

Moviment Graffiti is gearing up for a series of seminars, food-tasting activities and a musical event aimed at highlighting the positive aspects of multi-culturalism, as part of a programme to facilitate the inclusion of irregular immigrants in our society. The programme is entitled Harmony in Diversity and it forms part of the EU Youth Programme (Action 3).

Moviment Graffiti already organized a professional food-handling course for immigrant participants and together with the NGO Kopin supported the photographic exhibition entitled 1,000 Families by renowned German photographer Uwe Ommer.

During October, Moviment Graffiti is going to organize various seminars about the integration of irregular immigrants in our society. These seminars will be of specific interest to NGOs and policy-makers. The general public is also invited to attend free of charge.

The supporting organizations for the Harmony in Diversity project are Suret il-Bniedem, Dar Qawsalla and Kopin.

NOT ENOUGH AWARENESS OF EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES ACT - KNPD

The National Commission for People with a Disability (KNPD) launched an information booklet on the Equal Opportunities Act. The aim of this booklet is to create greater awareness of this important piece of legislation.

The Commission’s Executive Director, Alfred Bezzina said that, even though the law was approved by Parliament in January 2000, there are still many people who do not know of its existence.

Amendments to the Criminal Code

INCREASED PUNISHMENT FOR CRIMES AGAINST RACE AND RELIGION

The first group of amendments to the Criminal Code came into force recently. The amendments included harsher punishments for those who commit a crime against a person or property that is motivated by race or religion. These amendments apply both when the victim is a member of a particular race or religion and when the victim works in favor of a certain race or religion.

The Criminal Code amendments entered in force after a number of arson attacks on property related to persons who spoke in favor of illegal immigrants. One of these attacks included the burning of cars owned by the Jesuit Refugee Service. Other attacks took place on the private residence of the Editor of the newspaper Malta Today, Saviour Balzan and the columnist of The Malta Independent, Daphne Caruana Galizia.

Illegal immigrants are a major issue in Malta. The government is determinated to put a stop to all forms of racial discrimination, ensuring a more democratic approach to the much debated issue.

Thassib dwar atti vandali f’pajjizna

Il-komunita Maltija tinsab imhassba wara li sehhew numru ta’ atti vandali fuq residenzi u propjeta` ta’ persuni li huma relatati jew jitkellmu favur l-immigranti llegali. L-ewwel att vandalu kien il-hruq ta’ karozzi li huma propjeta` tal-Jesuit Refugee Service. Din l-organizazzjoni hi maghrufa li toffri ghajnuna fejjieda lir-refugjati f’pajjizna.

Atti vandali ohra sehhet fir-residenza privata ta’ l-Editur tal-gurnal Malta Today, Saviour Balzan u l-artikolista tal-gurnal The Malta Independent, Daphne Caruana Galizia. Hu mifhum li dawn l-atti vandali sehhew wara li l-persuni esprimew l-opinjoni taghhom favur it-trattament xieraq ta’ l-immigranti illegali.

Il-partiti politici, l-ghaqdiet tal-gurnalisti u entitajiet ohra esprimew l-ghadab u l-kundanna taghhom ghal dawn l-atti vandali waqt li awguraw li gesti bhal dawn jieqfu jsiru f’pajjizna.

L-Unjoni Ewropea ilha tahdem is-snin biex tiggieled kull forma ta’ diskriminazzjoni. Ghal hafna snin l-attenzjoni ta’ din l-organizazzjoni kienet mixhuta fuq il-prevenzjoni tad-diskriminazzjoni minhabba n-nazzjonalita` u s-sess.

Wara li dahal fis-sehh it-Trattat ta’ Amsterdam fl-1997, l-Unjoni nghatat poteri godda biex tikkumbatti d-diskriminazzjoni minhabba origini razzjali jew etnika, religjon jew twemmin, dizabilita`, eta` u orjentament sesswali, filwaqt li nfirex aktar il-poter ghall-glieda kontra d-diskriminazzjoni sesswali. Aktar tard fis-sena 2000, il-Kunsill addotta unanimament zewg Direttivi; id-Direttiva ta’ l-Ugwaljanza Razzjali 2000/43/EC u d-Direttiva ta’ l-Ugwaljanza fl-Impjiegi 2000/78/EC