Reaching Out to Girls Today, Empowering Women Tomorrow

‘Reaching Out to Girls Today, Empowering Women Tomorrow’

On Friday, 6th March, the Malta-EU Steering and Action Committee (MEUSAC) organised a Youth Debate, titled ‘Reaching Out to Girls Today, Empowering Women Tomorrow’ at the University. This was one of the events being organised by MEUSAC for the European Year for Development (EYD2015).

When introducing the debate, MEUSAC Head Vanni Xuereb spoke of the theme of the EYD2015 for March – Women and Girls. Dr Xuereb referred to the need to highlight the role of girls and women in Development, gender equality as an integral means of good governance, empowering women through education and the effect of culture on women and girls in the developing world.

The panel for the debate was composed of the Ambassador of the United States of America to Malta, Gina Abercrombie-Winstanley, the CEO of the Foundation for Shelter and Support to Migrants, Ahmed Bugri, and University Lecturer Maria Pisani who is also an activist and the co-founder and director of Integra Foundation. The debate was moderated by Lorna Muscat, Project Manager at SOS Malta.

Reaching Out to Girls Today, Empowering Women Tomorrow

Ambassador Abercrombie-Winstanley posed some very pertinent questions to participants such as how they can address the issue of gender inequality and its implications. She argued that public policy should focus more on Development. She spoke of how both males and females have characteristics which are diverse but not mutually exclusive. In a society, these characteristics should both be given an equal chance. However, according to the Ambassador, empowering women ultimately means women helping other women in their struggle towards progress within societies.

Dr Ahmed Bugri shared many of his own experiences of women and their struggles in developing countries. He recalled his family life in Ghana and explained how culture affected and still affects women and girls’ lives in developing countries. He spoke of the importance of education as a tool which may provide women and girls with countless opportunities. Dr Bugri stated that, unfortunately, girls in developing countries do not have the opportunity to enhance their educational capabilities.

Dr Maria Pisani affirmed that global society is still ‘patriarchal’, in the sense that inequality between women and men, not only pertains to developing countries, but also to ‘developed’ ones as well. According to Dr Pisani, women are the poorest of the poor and they have to work twice as hard to achieve something in life. Although education is one of the answers, Dr Pisani stated that there are many other questions one should ask. She also delved into factors such as forced migration, global inequality and that not everyone has ‘the right to rights’.

Participants also had the opportunity to intervene during the debate. They raised a number of issues relating to gender equality and expression, justice, poverty and discrimination.

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#MyEYD

#MyEYD Slogan Competition Launched
At the start of the Youth Debate, MEUSAC Head Vanni Xuereb officially launched the #MyEYD Slogan Competition.

Students at higher secondary and tertiary education institutions may participate by taking their photo alongside the EYD2015 motto, ‘Our World, Our Dignity, Our Future’ while holding a board where they would have written down their views on the definition or aims of development.

Two competitors will have the chance to win a trip to the EU Institutions in Brussels. This competition will also take place throughout this week at various educational institutions:
• March 9: MCAST, Paola (11:30 – 13:30)
• March 10: Giovanni Curmi Higher Secondary (11:30 – 13:30)
• March 11: MCAST, Mosta (11:30 – 13:30)
• March 12: Sir Michelang Refalo, Gozo (10:00 – 11:30)

For more information about the EYD2015, visit www.meusac.gov.mt.

MEUSAC is the national coordinator of the European Year for Development 2015 in Malta.