UNESCO Response of the Maltese Commission for to Questionnaire re Programme of Action for

Response of the Maltese Commission for
                   UNESCO
   to Questionnaire re Programme of Action for a
                Culture of Peace

The Maltese National Commission for UNESCO

      During the period indicated, 2001 – 2004, the Maltese Commission for
UNESCO in its projects, activities, press releases, publications and networking
supported and promoted various initiatives towards a Culture of Peace.
    In Malta a national coordination office has not been created. The Maltese
National Commission for UNESCO is not in a position to create such a coordination
office as it does not have the premises, nor the financial and human resources
needed for such a national institution. However the Commission does liaise with
various governmental departments, NGOs and other local institutions and can
respond to a number of the questions included in the Questionnaire on the
Implementation of the Programme of Action on a Culture of Peace, addressed to
National Commissions for UNESCO.

    The projects of different institutions approved for the UNESCO participation
programme 2002-2004 by the Maltese National Commission for UNESCO were
related to promoting human rights and environmental research and action. The
Maltese National Commission approved: (1) Lm20,000 for a project coordinated
by the Eden Foundation entitled: “A.P.H.D. Diagnosis, Treatment and Educational
Strategies”; (2) Lm 13,000 to the NGO Inizjamed, for coordinating a project entitled:
” Young People Telling their Stories: Empowering Disadvantaged People by
Encouraging Re-appropriation of their stories”; (3) Lm 25,000 for a project
coordinated by the NGO Birdlife entitled: “Building a Visitor’s Centre at is-Simar
Nature Reserve”; (4) Lm 18,200 for a project on Sand Dunes Habitat Protection
coordinated by the NGO Nature Trust; and (5) Lm 20,000, for a project on setting
up a practical Marine Biology Course as a pilot project within the University of Malta
coordinated by Prof. Patrick Schembri, Dept of Biology.

    During the period 2001-4, the Maltese National Commission sponsored,
organized and collaborated in various cultural and educational programmes and
events related to a Culture of Peace with the co-operation of governmental and
non-governmental institutions and of NGOS. It also sponsored a number of
individuals to enable them to participate in international conferences related to the
promotion of a culture of peace.
   The following are some of the activities initiated and/or financially supported by
the Maltese National Commission. To foster awareness re the “United Nations
Year of Dialogue Among Civilizations” (2001), the Maltese Commission, with the
the Malta Dept. of Education, organized a national painting competition for
schoolchildren on this theme. This was made possible with the cooperation of Mr.
Anthony DeGiovanni who was at the time the coordinator of the UNESCO
Associated Schools Project. An exhibition of these paintings, open to
schoolchildren and to the general public, was held at the hall of the Main Public
Library in Floriana. Christmas Cards, featuring the winning painting and the logo of
the Commission were printed and distributed.

1.
Another initiative was sponsoring a CD containing a digitized facsimile of the Dun
Karm papers produced by the University of Malta Library in 2003. Dun Karm Psaila
is considered the National Poet of Malta, and his verses and other writings
celebrate Malta’s national character, and many times address the moral and civil
fabric of the society to which he belonged and those spiritual values that promote
peace.
         In 2003, on the occasion of the International Day of Peace, the Commission
co-organized and co-supported an exhibition of paintings on the theme of Peace by
artist Lida Sherafatman at the Preluna Hotel, Sliema. In 2003/4, the Maltese
Commission for UNESCO, sponsored another educational CD produced by the
Malta National Library. This CD-Rom was specifically designed for the layman and
the potential researcher in order to encourage easy access to the holdings of the
National Library consisting mainly of: the Archives of the Order of St. John, the
Archives of the Medieval Universitas; the extremely rare books in the Incunabula
section and a vast array of Melitensia, ancient documents, fine bindings and prints.
       Currently the Commission, with the collaboration of Heritage Malta,
has produced and financed an educational pack for school children on a site visit to
the historical Inquisitor’s Palace at Vittoriosa, Malta. This project was created by
Dr. Josanne Vella and includes a teacher’s book and a student’s book written by
Dr. Vella and the editor of the series is Prof. Charles Farrugia. The pact has the aim
of helping children to know, understand and empathize more with the past. To
enhance the children’s interest and involvement in this historical period, various
enjoyable activities, such as role play in costumes, painting, and interactive
discussion are described. A number of costumes of the period have been
produced to help animate the activities and will be available on request to
schoolchildren who visit the site with their teacher. This publication also stimulates
the children to reflect on the limited human rights of those times and to compare the
situation with today’s evolved conception and practice of human rights locally and
internationally. The pack will be launched later this year.
      In its future activities the Maltese Commission for UNESCO plans to support
a publication on Malta’s intangible heritage, to keep co-operating with different
institutions and NGOs, and to sponsor and support other educational ventures that
promote a culture of peace. It also plans to revive the UNESCO Associated
Schools Project. Because of the various new educational projects related to Malta’s
accession to the European Union, participation in the UASP has decreased these
last few years.

   Some national activities accomplished towards a Culture of Peace

    Malta’s accession to the European Union in May 2004 has influenced many
governmental and non-governmental spheres of action which would entail a very
long report beyond the scope of the questionnaire.
     In response to the UNESCO questionnaire the Maltese Commission will
partly answer certain points indicated in the questionnaire and comment on some
of the positive actions towards a culture of peace on a national level in these last
four years. As requested, this report will also consider a number of problems
encountered and will incorporate a few specific activities targeted and planned for
the next years of the Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-Violence for the
Children of the World (2001-10)
                                                                             2.

     In the educational sphere significant and positive changes have been actuated
in the direction of a culture of peace. In October 2003 the Education Division of

the Malta Government created the post of Education Officer for Democracy and
Values. Ms. Josephine Vassallo, the respective E.O. in charge, has since initiated
and coordinated various activities on a national level that promote student civic
participation, students’ councils and Education for Democratic Citizenship.
Staff development sessions were held in different schools, stressing that the
democracy and values ethos should prevail in all matters relating to students,
including teaching and learning, students’ assemblies, social interaction and other
forms of student participation. The sessions elucidated how the school aims should
reflect the aims of democracy, and how democracy should be part of everyday
interaction with students. Human-rights teaching has been part of the Maltese
National Curriculum of state and private schools for many years. The subjects of
social studies, personal and social development and religion particularly address
different human rights. The activities coordinated by the executive officer for
Democracy and Values Education are raising more awareness about human rights
as well as emphasizing the dimensions of teaching in and for human rights.
     Very encouraging results followed the first activities for democracy and values
education. Nineteen state and non-state secondary schools have set up a Student
Council as part of their implementation of democratic principles. A conference
was held at Liceo Maria Regina entitled “Towards Creating a National Council”
and this was attended by these Students’ Councils together with their link teachers.
Different workshops were held, including a discussion on the possibility of
launching a National Students’ Council. Schools were involved in participating
in the World’s Children’s Prize for the Rights of the Child. Two schools participated
in the Global Vote to determine the winner of Global Friends Award and are now
registered as Global Friends of the World’s Children’s Prize.
     Schools were also invited to participate in a Council of Europe project to
develop a European Charter for a Democratic School without Violence. Six schools
participated and students contributed by sending their ideas re the Charter. A
student delegate from each of the two schools selected for the best contributions
was invited to attend a Charter Assembly in Strasbourg 13 –14 July 2004. At this
conference the final charter document was put together and discussed. All the
participating schools later voted through the electronic procedure to adopt the draft
Charter
     An in-service course for teachers on Values and Democracy Education was
held with the active participation of Link and Activity teachers from different
schools supporting Student Councils and project/service/ environment/ human
rights and other issue clubs. A seminar held for Head-teachers aimed to create a
brief experience of learning democratic participation and to encourage participation,
discussion and action by Head Teachers. Head-teachers also completed a brief
questionnaire about the state of student participation in their school, to provide a
benchmark. They also agreed to send in their draft action plans for citizenship and
democratic participation in their schools by early February 2005, for a follow-up
meeting on 22nd and 23rd February.
      Plans for the future by the officer in charge of Democracy and Values
Education include more such activities and educational programmes, also in
collaboration with other countries, with the intention of involving as many local
schools as possible in their active commitment to values education and to the
practice of democracy.
                                                                                3.
      Another laudable initiative in the educational sector was when in 2003 a pilot
project was launched and six Maltese schools started participating in the ECO
schools international programme for environmental education for sustainability.
This project, coordinated by Dr. Paul Pace, was steered by the Malta Environment
Planning Authority of the Ministry of Environment and Rural Affairs and by the
Education Division of the Ministry of Education. While creating more environmental

awareness and enhancing the experience of living in harmony with nature, the
programmes of ECO schools involve full pupil participation in the decision making,
planning and activities.
        In January 2004 the NGO Nature Trust organized a seminar to promote ECO
schools, and the event was attended by head teachers and teachers from 65
primary and secondary schools. Participation of Maltese schools in the ECO school
international programme increased to 20 schools in 2004, including 17 primary and
3 secondary schools. It is estimated that in 2005 about 60 schools in the Maltese
Islands will be participating in this international programme and that more schools
will join in the years to come.
        Malta has been participating in different European Union Educational
Programmes since 2001. In January 2000 the European Programme Unit was
Established by the Malta Ministry of Education in line with EU Commission
requirements. This national structure ensures a coordinated approach to the
management of five EU Programmes: Socrates, Leonardo Da Vinci, Youth,
6th Framework Programme and Culture 2000. Malta’s response to participate in
these programme from 2001 to 2004 was outstanding. A total of 2,981 University
students, youths, workers and vocational educational students benefited from these
programmes. Those who profited from the different educational programmes also
widened their perspectives and their notion of tolerance, and broadened their
multicultural understanding and concept of solidarity.
        At the University of Malta various departments, faculties and institutes, such
 as the Mediterranean Academy of Diplomatic Studies, the Department of
 International Relations of the Faculty of Arts, the Faculty of Education, the Centre
 for Labour Studies, and the Institute of Islands and Small States of the Foundation
 for International Studies have continued to offer and develop undergraduate study
 units and/or postgraduate programmes in their respective fields pertaining to
 human rights, peace studies, workers’ participation, gender studies and
 sustainable development. They also engage in related research, and in their
 educational programmes and activities collaborate with different institutions and
 foreign universities. For a list and description of the different courses and other
 programmes of the University of Malta visit homepage: www.um.edu.mt

       In 2003 a significant step was taken in Malta to implement more fully
children’s rights. A new law enacted by parliament establishing a Commissioner for
Children’s Rights entered into force on the 5th December 2003. Ms. Sonia Camilleri
was appointed the first Maltese Commissioner for Children’s Rights within the
Ministry for the Family, a ministry also newly set up in 2003. The work of the
Commissioner includes the protection of children and youths up to 18 years of age,
the promotion of their rights, and of services for children and youths and ensuring
their participation in their various spheres of activity. The Commissioner’s
duties also include monitoring the developments in Malta in relation to children
within the light of the International Convention on the Rights of the Child which
Malta ratified in 1990.
                                                                                 4.
     Since it was set up in 2004, the Commissioner’s office has been involved in
in collecting and making available different information on children in the Maltese
Islands and elsewhere. It also started to coordinate much of the continual work that
is done locally by the different NGOs, the Church and Government Departments,
to avoid duplication of work. Physical and mental health, the family, social services,
children with disabilities and special needs, education, immigration including
children of illegal immigrants and refugees, are among the areas on which the
Commissioner’s Office is compiling information, monitoring the local situation, and
starting to indicate those aspects of the legal system re children that require some
revision and offering its contributions in this process. The first report of the

Commissioner’s Office is to be published in the coming weeks.
     The Office of the Commissioner for Children’s Rights with the cooperation of
the Ministry for the Family is doing much important work and represents a
breakthrough in ensuring more implementation of children’s rights. Finances at the
moment constitute a problem. Currently the budget voted to the Commissioner’s
Office is limited. With a substantial financial increase more personnel can be
recruited, also launching the Commissioner’s Office in an autonomous and much
better position to keep safeguarding children’s rights and to implement more fully
those areas of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child that require more
attention locally.

     Since 2001 certain actions have been taken by the state re International
Conventions or Protocols regarding children. The reservation on Article 26 of the
UN Convention on the Rights of the Child was withdrawn on 20/08/2001. The
Optional Protocol to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child on the
involvement of children in armed conflict was ratified in 9/05/02 and entered into
force on 9/6/02. The Convention on Contact concerning Children was signed on
15/05/03. On 1/10/04 the Convention on the Protection of Children and Cooperation
in Respect of Inter-country Adoption concluded at the Hague in May1993
(Accession) .

       With collaboration of the Government, other national institutions and NGOs,
various needed and commendable changes have been seen in Malta in these last
four years in relation to the ensuring of equality between women and men.
         In December 2003 a Legal Act to Promote Equality for Men and Women
came into force. The 1991 amendments that were made to the Maltese Civil Code
eliminated the concept of ‘head of household’ which was up to that time used with
reference to the adult male figure, whilst also introducing the concept of joint
administration of the community of acquests and joint rights and responsibilities in
relation to the children of the marriage. The 2003 Act however, extended the notion
of equality outside the scope of the matrimonial home by detailing the ways in
which men and women are to be treated alike at the work place, in the media and in
the educational sphere.
          In January 2004 the National Commission for the Promotion of Equality for
Men and Women was set up as decreed in the Legal Act, with the aim to monitor
the implementation of the Act to Promote Equality for Men and Women, and to
promote equality in spheres where it may be lacking. The Commission is an
autonomous body and now incorporates what were previously known as the
Commission for the Advancement of Women and the Department for Women in
Society. Among its many tasks are to promote and disseminate the values and
                                                                                 5.
practices underlying gender equality, to identify, establish and update all policies
directly or indirectly related to issues of equality between men and women, and to
keep direct and continuous contact with local and foreign bodies working in the field
of equity issues, and with other groups, agencies or individuals as the need arises.
For the first two years, 2004 – 2006, the Commission has identified various
priorities: (1) To undertake a media campaign to raise public awareness of the
Commission, its role and remit together with more information about sexual
harassment laws. (2) Appoint procedures and guidelines for handling complaints
and an adjudicating board to handle such complaints. (3) Liaise and network with
other commissions and authorities and NGOs with respect to areas such as those
of domestic violence, child care facilities, unions, greater participation in labour
market and addressing the wage gap. (4) Undertake a feasibility study on the
implications of introducing targets/quotas with respect to gender in Malta.
(5) Monitor existing legislation and collective agreements with respect to gender

streamlining laws.
       In 2004 the Commission set up a Complaints sub-committee with the specific
 task of addressing the issues arising from the various types of complaints that the
 Commission received. A procedure was also drawn up thus ensuring a fair outcome
 and quality service to clients. During its first year in action the Commission is
 collaborating with other government bodies, NGOs, etc. to actuate its priority areas
 for 2004 - 2006. It has also been working and giving feedback on legislative and
 other proposals forwarded by EU bodies.
        A Bill on domestic violence which will further safeguard victims of violence by
 offering particular protection to victims of violence of the same household or in
 relationship with one another, is expected to be enacted in the near future. This Bill
 will reinforce the relevance of the recently set up Family Court.
       In October 2002, in line with European Union requirements and with the
Drafting of Malta’s Act to Promote Equality for Men and Women, the Employment
and Training Corporation (ETC ) recruited a Senior Officer to focus
solely on gender issues in the labour market. The ETC launched its “Gender
Equality Action Plan 2003 – 2004” promoting equal opportunities in the labour
Market. In Malta gender equality has been an integral part of public policy for many
years. The ETC Action Plan aimed at increasing female participation in the labour
market and “was designed in line with Malta’s gender policy more generally, as well
as its post-Beijing commitments and the guidelines in the European Employment
Strategy.” During the period 2003 – 2004 the ETC engaged in research, consulted
and informed Government Departments and the private sector, offering services
and educational programmes for both governmental and non-governmental
employees. Among the courses organized or co-organized by ETC during this
period were various training programmes relating to pay equity, equal gender
opportunities, and development skills for guidance teachers in different schools.
A manual on Gender Sensitive Vocational Guidance was published in 2004. The
ETC is also focussing on practical measures to facilitate recruiting women in the
labour market, such as bringing about the development of quality childminding
services.
      In the coming years the ETC will proceed with its targets and strategies for
effective gender equality in the labour market. At present Malta has 34 percent
employment for women, among the lowest in Europe. According to the Lisbon
target Malta should have 60 percent employment for women by 2010. Among the
problems to promote gender equality is the local traditional mentality that in certain
ways still adheres to rigid gender stereotyping.                                 6.

Malta has embraced a policy of sustainable economic and social development.
In terms of the Environment Protect Act of 2001, the Malta Government, in 2002, set
up a National Commission for Sustainable Development which has representatives
from, and is in consultation with, different ministries, institutions, authorities, and
NGOs relating to the economic, social and environmental dimensions of sustainable
development. This Commission has the remit to advocate national sustainable
development across all sectres, to review progress in the achievement of such
sustainable development and to build consensus on action needed to achieve
further progress. The NCSD is also charged with identifying relevant processes or
policies which may be undermining sustainable development, and to propose
alternative processes or policies to the Government for adoption. One of the specific
tasks of the Commission is to prepare a National Strategy for Sustainable
Development which is to be developed “through the widest possible participation”.
       Currently the NCSD is monitoring matters and promoting actions conducive to
sustainable development. It has held consultative public events to discuss the

drafting of the national strategy. It has also drawn up a draft sustainable
development strategy for the Maltese Islands in line with ‘Agenda 21’ as devised in
the World Conference on Civil and Environmental Development of Rio De Janeiro of
1992. The ethical dimension of bettering the citizens’ well-being and quality of life
and of ensuring “socially responsible economic development while protecting the
resource base and the environment for the benefit of future generations “ is also
being emphasized.
     The Maltese Commission, in November 2004, organized a conference on
sustainable development in the sister island of Gozo, launching the draft strategy
and again giving the participants from the various walks of life and with different
interests, the opportunity to share their views and express their opinions on what
needs to be done towards a holistic conception and implementation of sustainable
development. Currently the national strategy is being devised, taking into
consideration the different feedback from the various sectors of the community.
       The Sustainability Indicators – Malta Observatory (SI-MO), an NGO
established in 2000 and hosted by the Islands and Small States Institute of the
Foundation for International Studies at the University of Malta, has since been
engaged in conducting research and development work, and in disseminating
information on sustainability indicators for Malta. In matters relating to
sustainable development it has enhanced the cooperation between the public
sector, the University of Malta, and individuals specialized in various fields. Its
valuable work as part of the MED-ERMIS (Malta) project, 2000 – 2002, was very
extensive and included “defining the needs and priorities for systematic monitoring
and management of environmental quality and sustainable development in Malta,
principally by producing updated sustainability indicators based on the methodology
devised by the Mediterranean Commission for Sustainable Development”. The
output of SI-MO included reports on air quality, fresh water and waste water, bio-
diversity and terrestrial and marine ecosystems, solid waste, territories and human
settlements and economic activities.
       The Maltese Islands are very small in size, with a total land area of about 316
square kilometres, and with a high density of population. Malta faces serious
problems regarding the natural environment. Also, in the last 15 years the islands
                                                                                 7.
lost about 11,000 tumoli of arable land to the building industry. Every year the
construction industry generates about 1 million tons of waste. Added to these facts
there are circa 260,000 vehicles causing further pollution. Given Malta’s size, limited
economic resources and environmental situation, to try to skillfully orchestrate the
diverse interests and concerns such as those relating to agriculture and fisheries,
the construction industry, waste separation and management, tourism, the general
economy, environmental conservation, a healthy environment and the well-being of
the individual and of society obviously presents a number of problems and
challenges to the Commission for Sustainable Development and to the various
parties that hold a stake interest. Indicating and presenting ways to surmount these
problems is an important part of the strategy of the Commission.

      Information technology in Malta has made great strides in these last few years,
facilitating the free dissemination of information by civil society and the state.
Web-sites of different NGOs, the Church, political parties, trade unions, the
government, and other institutions have been set up offering information,
communication and some services online. Schoolchildren in their formal education
programmes are trained to be computer literate. Various TV and radio stations,
including those of the two main political parties, are also launching more information
and discussion programmes on topics related to human rights and to local and
international issues of concern. Often the audiences/ listeners are invited to respond
during the live programmes by phoning, emailing or sending messages via mobile

phones and giving their opinions and comments, or by phoning or writing asking for
free legal, medical and other advice. This quick and augmenting flow of
communication and service is increasing the general social and cultural awareness
and participation in current local issues and events, as well as the feeling of
solidarity and sense of national and world citizenship.

      The Catholic Church, which is very influential in Malta, has many organizations
operating on a local, regional, national and international level towards social
justice and betterment, as well as various national commissions in relation to the
different problems and issues facing the Maltese society. Such institutions as the
Church Secretariat for Social and Charitable Action (Caritas, Malta), and the
Emigrants Commission (Refer to List of organizations enclosed) have for many
years been active in their work related to different areas of peace-building
mentioned in the background information to this questionnaire. These church-
directed institutions help to actuate a more just, peaceful, and caring society, and
in their various areas of concern cooperate with other institutions, NGOs and with
different governmental departments.
      The three main political parties, the Nationalist Party, The Malta Labour Party,
and The Green Party have different organizations and clubs promoting and
influencing, in their different ways, social, economic and environmental betterment
on a national level.

      In relation to international security and peace on 7/05/2001 Malta ratified the
Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of
Anti-Personnel Mines and on Their Destruction, and also ratified the Comprehensive
Nuclear Test-Ban-Treaty on 23/07/2001. On 11/11/2001 the International
Convention for the Suppression of Terrorist Bombings came into force (Accession),
and on the 1/11/2001 Malta ratified the International Convention for the Suppression
                                                                                   8.
of the Financing of Terrorism. On 24/04/2003 Malta signed the Additional Protocol
for the Application of Safeguards in Connection with the Treaty on the Non-
Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. The IAEA Convention on the Physical Protection
of Nuclear Material entered into force on16/10/03 (Accession). On 13/08/04 Malta
made the Declaration of Consent to be bound by the Amendment to Article 1 of the
1980 Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons, Protocol ll as amended and
Protocol 1V.
     It is our aspiration that in the near future there will be in the Maltese Islands an
Office to coordinate national efforts towards a Culture of Peace. Our response to
the questionnaire, though far from being comprehensive, is hopefully useful by
(1) indicating a number of areas where practical steps towards a Culture of Peace
have been taken with positive results, (2) briefly outlining some problems and
possible solutions and (3) including a number of plans for the coming years of the
Decade.

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