THE ACTING PRIME MINISTER AND MINISTER FOR SOCIAL POLICY OPENS THE GENDER TRAINING SESSION FOR PERMANENT SECRETARIES, DIRECTORS GENERAL AND DIRECTORS, ORGANISED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF WOMEN IN SOCIETY

The Acting Prime Minister and Minister for Social Policy, Dr. Lawrence Gonzi, inaugurated the start of a series of Gender Awareness Training Workshops for senior officials in the Public Service. In his inaugural speech, Minister Gonzi spoke on the Government's programme for implementing Gender Mainstreaming to bring about "a gender focus into the mainstream of public administration" of Maltese Society. Such a focus, together with the formulation of Gender Equality legislation and a commitment towards positive action, were described by Minister Gonzi as the "three pillars" in bringing about "a change which will allow our country to make full use of its very rich human resource potential". He stated that these Gender Awareness Training Workshops, the family-friendly measures instituted in the Public Service, the introduction of Gender Impact Assessments in policy formulation, and other measures were "proof of the commitment with which Government is pursuing its Gender Issues Agenda." Concluding his speech, Minister Gonzi expressed his belief that senior officials in the Public Service "will respond and that they will be catalysts for change" to ensure the full participation of women in public life.

This Project is being organised by the Commission for the Advancement of Women and Department for Women in Society with the technical and financial support of the Commonwealth Fund for Technical Cooperation. Dr. Gwendoline Williams from the Institute of Business at the University of the West Indies will be facilitating eight Workshops that will be taking place between 16^th April and 4^th May, 2001. Dr. Williams has published widely on Gender Development Studies and Management Development and Change.

In her address Dr. Williams stressed the important role of Gender Mainstreaming in the Public Service to achieve gender equality and equity between men and women in Maltese Society. The different Ministries are to take full responsibility for the necessary changes with the National Machinery set up for the purpose by Government providing the requisite support.

Also present for the opening session were Dr. Anna Felice, Vice Chairperson of the Commission for the Advancement of Women, and Ms Renee Laiviera, Department for Women in Society Director, who highlighted the need for collaboration and support of all Ministries and Departments for the effective implementation of Gender Mainstreaming in the Public Service.

The target groups participating in the training for senior public officials within the Public Service include Permanent Secretaries, Directors General and Directors, as well as Focal Points on Gender Equality from all Government Departments and other public entities. This project is another step in a series of initiatives taken by the Maltese Government to bring about effective gender equality and women participation in Maltese Society.